The end of the innocence
Henley Don Lyrics

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Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by
When "happily ever after" fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly

Oh, but I know a place where we can go
Still untouched by man
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass waves in the wind
You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And they've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie

Oh, but I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
The tall grass waves in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby, give me just one kiss
And let me take a long last look
Before we say good bye

Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense

But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Henley Don's song "The end of the innocence" reflect on the loss of innocence and the corrupt nature of our world. The first few lines take us back to a time when life was carefree and simple, and the days were long and full of possibilities. The innocent days of childhood are gone, replaced by a harsh reality where the concept of "happily ever after" is nothing more than a fairytale. The song reflects on how we have been poisoned by these fairy tales only to be shattered by the harsh realities of life.

The use of fairy tales and their creatures such as fairies, princesses, and dragons have always been used as metaphors for life. In this song, the lyrics reflect on how the failure of "happily ever after" has caused us to turn to other things, such as lawyers who dwell on the small details of life. As time goes on, innocence is lost, and we are left with the burden of the world on our shoulders.

The chorus of the song is powerful, with the lyrics "This is the end of the innocence" being repeated twice. It drives home the fact that we are now living in a world where innocence is no longer possible, and we are forced to defend ourselves against the harsh realities of life. Even the idea of America, the land of the free, is no longer what it used to be. The lyrics reflect on how the skies are threatening and how plowshares are being beaten into swords, and how our rulers are nothing but tired old men, worn out by the weight of the world.

Overall, the lyrics of "The end of the innocence" reflect on how the world has changed, and how we have lost our innocence along the way. The song is a powerful and poignant reminder of just how much we have lost along the way.

Line by Line Meaning

Remember when the days were long And rolled beneath a deep blue sky Didn't have a care in the world With mommy and daddy standing by
The carefree days when we were safe and secure with our parents, watching the sky roll by.

When 'happily ever after' fails And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales The lawyers dwell on small details Since daddy had to fly
Realizing that fairy tale endings aren't always the case, and how the smallest details can become important in cases involving lawyers and divorce.

Oh, but I know a place where we can go Still untouched by man We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by And the tall grass waves in the wind
A peaceful escape from the issues of the world, where nature remains untouched and we can enjoy the simple beauty of tall grass and clouds.

You can lay your head back on the ground And let your hair fall all around me Offer up your best defense But this is the end This is the end of the innocence
A gentle gesture of allowing oneself to relax, and recognizing that this moment signifies the end of a naive, innocent mindset.

O' beautiful, for spacious skies But now those skies are threatening They're beating plowshares into swords For this tired old man that we elected king
A lament for the current political climate, where beautiful, spacious skies have turned threatening, symbolized by the transformation of peaceful plowshares into weapons.

Armchair warriors often fail And they've been poisoned by these fairy tales The lawyers clean up all details Since daddy had to lie
Critical commentary on those who talk big about war and military matters but who would fail in the field, the same individuals who've become disillusioned by reality after being fed lies, and lawyers who manipulate details to gain upper hand making it harder for people to believe real justice is possible.

Oh, but I know a place where we can go And wash away this sin We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by The tall grass waves in the wind
The chance to escape from the guilt and shame that all people carry with them, retreating into a natural environment that comforts and consoles.

Just lay your head back on the ground And let your hair spill all around me Offer up your best defense But this is the end This is the end of the innocence
A hopeful, romantic moment where a couple connects, as well as acknowledging the end of naïveté and embracing a bit of vulnerability.

Who knows how long this will last Now we've come so far, so fast But somewhere back there in the dust That same small town in each of us I need to remember this So baby, give me just one kiss And let me take a long last look Before we say good bye
Reflecting on the swift passage of time and the fear of losing connection to one's past, and a plea to memorialize the moment with a kiss and final gaze before it's lost forever.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bruce Hornsby, Don Henley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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