For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams has given us “Best, “Better,” “Good,” and “Great.” As they often do, The Eagles came to mind with their song, “The Best of My Love.”
Written by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and J.D. Souther, “The Best of My Love” was recorded by The Eagles (with Henley singing lead vocals), and included on their 1974 album On the Border. The single became the band’s first Billboard Hot 100 number 1 hit in March 1975.
The song is often thought to be a romantic love song, but if you pay attention to the lyrics, it’s actually a song about breaking up. “You see it your way, and I see it mine, and we both see it slipping away,” is not evidence of a happy ending. It’s about a guy who gave it his best, but things didn’t work out.
Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and J.D. Souther, a good friend of Frey, wrote some of the lyrics over drinks at a Los Angeles restaurant. They studied women and relationships. Henley said that he, Frey, and Souther were “typical, frustrated, young men” at the time.
Here are the lyrics to “Best of My Love.”
Every night
I’m lying in bed
Holdin’ you close in my dreams
Thinkin’ about all the things that we said
And comin’ apart at the seams
We try to talk it over
But the words come out too rough
I know you were tryin’
To give me the best of your love
Beautiful faces
Loud empty places
Look at the way that we live
Wastin’ our time
On cheap talk and wine
Left us so little to give
The same old crowd
Was like a cold dark cloud
That we could never rise above
But here in my heart
I give you the best of my love
Oh, sweet darlin’
You get the best of my love
(You get the best of my love)
Oh, sweet darlin’
You get the best of my love
(You get the best of my love)
I’m goin’ back in time
And it’s a sweet dream
It was a quiet night
And I would be alright
If I could go on sleeping
But every morning’
I wake up and worry
What’s gonna happen today
You see it your way
And I see it mine
But we both see it slippin’ away
You know, we always had each other, baby
I guess that wasn’t enough
Oh oh, but here in my heart
I give you the best of my love
Oh, sweet darlin’
You get the best of my love (the best of my love)
Oh, sweet darlin’
You get the best of my love (the best of my love)
Oh, sweet darlin’
Every night and day
You get the best of my love (the best of my love)
Oh, sweet darlin’ (oh oh)
You get the best of my love (the best of my love)
Oh, sweet darlin’
You get the best of my love
You get the best of my love (the best of my love)
Oh, sweet darlin’
You get the best of my love (the best of my love)
Oh, sweet darlin’
great choice, F. I know a brilliant reggae version of this song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZI2jBuuYEY
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great song 💜
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
A pleasure 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great classic choice, Fandango. It’s funny, I always interpreted as love slipping away. This song has a special place in my memory banks.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is a classic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Eagles are in the top 5 of my favorite bands of all time. There was/is so much talent among the entire group. I thought about this song and glad I chose another. Wonderful to hear it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
The Great Pretender is a fine choice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Getting the best of somebody’s love should be good enough, as not every relationship has to last forever. Nice explanation of what this song is about Fandango and it was great to hear it again.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Jim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a perfect choice! An old favorite that never gets tired 🥰
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Christine.
LikeLike
Can’t go wrong with the Eagles. Great share.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brings back memories I’d rather forget.
But it is a great song!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooh. Sorry about that. Didn’t mean for my song choice to trigger bad memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s okay.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this song – love the Eagles ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YASSSS! This was my other “Best of My Love” option. Such a great song… and awesome group! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
The Eagles are such a great group… perfect song for the prompt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tune by The Eagles. It brings back so many memories…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes it does. Good ones, I hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person