Someone is going to take my heart/
But no one is going to break my heart again.

“I Used to Be King” is written by Gram Nash who is a member of the famous Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. They are one of the great bands of all time and we will see their names throughout this list.

“I Used to be a King” takes the form of a letter. It is a list of things he wants to say to his ex-girlfriend. Nash says he was on top of the world and everything has turned to dust. What happened? It appears his ex broke his heart. He used to be a king where everything he touched turned to gold, now he’s left without a hand to hold. He is singing to the girl that “I did love you” and “I miss you late at night”. But he wants to act cool in front of her too: “I’m okay, how are you?”

Nash reflects on why things went wrong in the relationship: It’s because “I built my life on sand.” Is this “foundation of sand” the partying lifestyle, or the traveling? Nash doesn’t say. He promises that “someone is going to take my heart, but no one is gonna break my heart again.”

He sounds defiant. He isn’t singing about how his going to change the foundation of sand. He is singing to the heavens  vowing that no one is going to screw him over again. It is cathartic. These are the things you say when you’re still hurt, before rational reflection.

I Used to Be King Lyrics

I used to be a King and everything around me turned to gold
I thought I had everything and now I’m left without a hand to hold
But it’s all right I’m O.K. How are you
For what it’s worth I must say I loved you

And in my bed late at night, I miss you
Someone is going to take my heart
But no one is going to break my heart again
I used to be a King and everything around me turned to rust

It’s ’cause I built my life on sand
And I watched it crumble in the dust
But it’s all right I’m O.K. and I want to know how you are
For what it’s worth I must say I loved you as you are

And in my bed where are you
Someone is going to take my heart
But no one is going to break my heart again
I used to be a King and everything around me turned around
But I know all I have to do is sing

And I’ll life myself way off the ground
But it’s all right I’m O.K. How are you?
For what it’s worth I must say I loved you
And in my bed where are you
Someone is going to take my heart
But no one is going to break my heart again

Songwriters: Graham Nash

And what can I tell you my brother, my killer
What can I possibly say?
Sincerely, L. Cohen

Does it seem like Leonard Cohen leads a much more exciting life than you? “Famous Blue Raincoat” is a letter that he is writing to a former friend. He is asking how he is doing. His friend “went clear”: he disconnected from the people in his life. Cohen had a troubled relationship with his friend.

His friend had a fling with his wife Jane. Cohen notices that it brings happiness to her that he thought she would never find again. He feels that he lost a part of her because of it. Oh yeah, and Jane says “hello”.  It is a pretty crazy story. It’s great drama.

One interesting aspect is how he seems to show more affection towards his friend than towards Jane. He calls his friend “my brother” and says he forgives him but seems rather apathetic about Jane’s philandering. He noticed that she came back “nobodies wife”, yet he stays with her.

Perhaps this just wouldn’t be the place to say anything about his feelings about Jane. (That is, in a letter to his friend). But the primary emotion I feel that Cohen has towards Jane is relief. Like he is thankful to his friend that he snapped Jane out of her depression. She must have been quite an emotional burden.

Cohen’s best song might have been a cover by another artist.

Famous Blue Raincoat Lyrics

It’s four in the morning, the end of December
I’m writing you now just to see if you’re better
New York is cold, but I like where I’m living
There’s music on Clinton Street all through the evening

I hear that you’re building your little house deep in the desert
You’re living for nothing now, I hope you’re keeping some kind of record

Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night that you planned to go clear
Did you ever go clear?

Ah, the last time we saw you you looked so much older
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder
You’d been to the station to meet every train, and
You came home without Lili Marlene

And you treated my woman to a flake of your life
And when she came back she was nobody’s wife

Well I see you there with the rose in your teeth
One more thin gypsy thief
Well, I see Jane’s awake
She sends her regards

And what can I tell you my brother, my killer
What can I possibly say?
I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you
I’m glad you stood in my way

If you ever come by here, for Jane or for me
Well, your enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free

Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes
I thought it was there for good so I never tried
And Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night that you planned to go clear
Sincerely, L Cohen

Songwriters: Leonard Cohen

City girls just seem to find out early/
How to open doors with just a smile.

“Lyin Eyes” is from the early period of The Eagles work. The Eagles work is best understood as before Joe Walsh and after. This is before, Hotel California was after. Notice the country stylings. The Eagles were very much a southern rock band in the beginning…but from California rather than Alabama.

Lyin’ Eyes is a great ‘story song’ about a young woman who takes an older husband—presumably for his money—but still keeps another lover on the side. This girl is not painted kindly in the song. The great opening lyrics above paint her as a woman who uses her sexuality to get everything she wants in life. They euphemistically call her a city girl. Today we’d call her a sugar baby (I guess?).

The story is interesting because of the little details: it appears that she loves her boyfriend and promises to leave her husband, it also appears that the husband is aware of the affair and perhaps turns his head to it due to indifference or due to powerlessness. Regardless, you can see the lie in her eyes. She does not come across as a sympathetic character.

This song shows off some of the great harmonizing that the Eagles produced. While they weren’t on the level with the all-time best (in terms of harmonizing), they were one tier below. They sing some pretty complex harmonies here. The bassline does a lot to drive this song, though it is not fancy. This is good work by Randy Meisner. Glenn Frey or Don Henley were responsible for most of their songs and this might be Frey’s best.

Lyin’ Eyes Lyrics

City girls just seem to find out early,
How to open doors with just a smile.
A rich old man
And she won’t have to worry,
She’ll dress up all in lace and go in style.

Late at night a big old house gets lonely-
I guess every form of refuge has its price.
And it breaks her heart to think her love is only
Given to a man with hands as cold as ice.

So she tells him she must go out for the evening-
To comfort an old friend who’s feelin’ down.
But he knows where she’s goin’ as she’s leavin’,
She is headed for the cheatin’ side of town.

You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes,
And your smile is a thin disguise.
I thought by now you’d realize,
There ain’t no way to hide your lyin’ eyes.

On the other side of town a boy is waiting,
With fiery eyes and dreams no one could steal.
She drives on through the night anticipating,
‘Cause he makes her feel the way she used to feel.

She rushes to his arms, they fall together.
She whispers that it’s only for awhile.
She swears that soon she’ll be comin’ back forever,
She pulls away and leaves him with a smile.

You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes,
And your smile is a thin disguise.
I thought by now you’d realize,
There ain’t now way to hide your lyin’ eyes.

She gets up and pours herself a strong one,
And stares out at the stars up in the sky.
Another night, it’s gonna be a long one.
She draws the shade and hangs her head to cry.

She wonders how it ever got this crazy.
She thinks about a boy she knew in school.
Did she get tired or did she just get lazy?
She’s so far gone she feels just like a fool.

My oh my, you sure know how to arrange things.
You set it up so well, so carefully.
Ain’t it funny how your new life didn’t change things?
You’re still the same old girl you used to be.

You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes,
And your smile is a thin disguise.
I thought by now you’d realize,
There ain’t no way to hide your lyin’ eyes.
There ain’t no way to hide your lyin’ eyes.
Honey, you can’t hide your lyin’ eyes.

Songwriters: Glenn Frey / Don Henley