Artist: Eagles
Album: Long Road Out of Eden
Released: 2007
Genre: Classic rock
I would like to thank my friend and one of my Aroundtable partners, Philip Teoli for inspiring me with his latest segment called “Well Written Rock Songs” as he highlighted the power of songs. Now, I know that I’m not as disciplined as Philip, and there is no way that I could really break down all the songs that I have heard over the course of my lifetime and categorize them in a Top 10, so, I decided to simply review when one the songs in my numerous playlists grabs me. For my first choice of a “Well Written Rock Song”, here is Waiting in the Weeds.
It took nearly thirty years, but the Eagles managed to put their differences aside and released a new studio album called Long Road Out of Eden (LROOE). The album was met with positive reviews, mostly, but it still had an uphill climb from the get go. How could this new material ever measure up to their classic songs when those songs have not only become radio staples, but have been ingrained into our psyche?
Well in my opinion, I thought that LROOE was a solid album, but the obvious highlight was 7 + minute ballade, Waiting in the Weeds. From the very first time I played the album, Waiting in the Weeds was simply a magical track, which regardless of its run time, reels you in and never lets you go. The song is beautifully orchestrated yet haunting, all at the same time. Waiting in the Weeds is filled with everything I could ever want from an Eagles song. A wide range of metaphors, poignant lyrics, and course their trade mark harmonies.
For some, Waiting in the Weeds could simply be seen as a love song, but it represents so much more. It deals with the passing of time, trials and tribulations of love, the music business and the Eagles’ own journey of getting back together. It’s simply amazing how Don Henley and Steuart Smith intertwined all these parts of life into this song. The song could easily be part of someone’s life as it is about the band waiting for the right time to release new material in the ever-changing musical landscape. I thought the song was the retelling of the classic story of the underdog who was simply waiting for his moment to shine.
If anybody tells you nobody can make music like back in the day, they haven’t heard Waiting in the weeds and if you’ve never heard this song then you owe to your yourself to listen to it. The bottom line, the song is magical and deserves to be placed in your Eagles’ playlist
The Eagles - Waiting In The Weeds (lyrics)
It's coming on the end of August. Another summer's promise almost gone. And thought I heard some wise men say that every dog will have his day, He never mentioned that these dog days get so long. I don't know when I realized the dream was over. Well, there was no particular hour, no given day. You know it didn't go down in flames, There was no final scene, no frozen frame, I just watched it slowly fade away. And I've been waiting in the weeds, Waiting for my time to come around again. And hope is floating on the breeze, Carrying my soul high up above the ground. And I've been keeping to myself, Knowing that the seasons are slowly changing. Even know you're with somebody else, He'll never love you like I do. I've been biding time with the crows and sparrows, While peacocks prance and strut up on the stage. If finding love is just a dance, proximity and chance, You will excuse me if I skip the masquerade. And I've been waiting in the weeds, Waiting for the dust to settle down. Along the back roads, running through the fields, Lying on the outskirts of this lonesome town. And I imagine sunlight in your hair, you're at the county fair, You're holding hands and laughing, And now the Ferris Wheel has stopped, You're swinging on the top, suspended there with him, And he's the darling of the chic, playboy of the week, The flavor of the week is melting down your pretty summer dress, baby what a mess you're making. I've been stumbling though some dark places, And I'm following the cloud. I know I've fallen out of your good graces It's all right now. And I've been waiting in the weeds, Waiting for the summer rain to fall. Upon the wild birds, scattering the seeds, Answering the calling of the Tide's Eternal tune, the phases of the moon, The chambers of the heart, the egg and dart. A small gray spider spinning in the dark, In spite of all the times the web is torn apart. And I've been waiting in the weeds, Waiting for my time to come around again. And hope is floating on the breeze, Carrying my soul high up above the ground. And I've been keeping to myself, Knowing that the seasons are slowly changing. Even know you're with somebody else, He'll never love you like I do.