The 1974 Eagles song played at Glenn Frey’s funeral: “Look up into the sky”
Most music fans have occasionally, somewhat morbidly, dreamt up a setlist for their funeral. Soundtracking one’s life with a constantly atmosphere-appropriate ream of tunes is part of what makes devoted music lovers tick. While imagining this dreary day isn’t a pleasant thought process, it’s still an opportunity to curate one final playlist and bow out with a bang.
While we mere mortals have to rely on songs made by others, Glenn Frey’s last outing was soundtracked by a track from Eagles‘ canon.
Trying to pick a favourite song to be remembered may feel challenging; nailing down which set of notes might accurately represent one’s entire life and perhaps choke up a few ex-lovers with tear-inducing regret is tough, after all. But trying to pick a song to symbolise your life when you are, in fact, apart of one of the best-selling bands of all time, must have been treacherous for all who have faced the daunting challenge.
For artists like Glenn Frey, whose music became intertwined with the lives of millions, selecting one defining song carries an even greater emotional weight. Eagles tracks had long served as soundtracks to road trips, heartbreaks and moments of reflection for listeners across generations, making the idea of one of those same songs accompanying Frey’s farewell feel particularly poignant.
Frey died in 2016, aged 67, after developing rheumatoid arthritis. He also reportedly suffered from colitis and pneumonia, which were attributed as causes of his death. It was a tragic end to a musician who had given so much joy to millions of listeners with his work. A life spent devoted to music seemed to have been cruelly cut short.
At the time of his death, Don Henley, his bandmate in Eagles, emotionally said: “He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved.”
Henley continued: “We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry — and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed. But, Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan.”
The memorial ceremony took place at The Forum in Los Angeles. It was attended by many illustrious figures in the music industry, ranging from unsung heroes who operate behind the scenes to stars of the stage, such as Stevie Wonder and his fellow Eagles. Although it was a private send-off, many details have emerged from Frey’s funeral.
A fitting tribute to Eagles legend
In true rock and roll spirit, rather than being a sombre and humbling affair, the pulpit represented something closer to a stage and there were performances throughout the ceremony, including from Wonder, Henley and Randy Newman. At the end of the funeral, many musicians joined forces for a special version of The Eagles song ‘Already Gone’, a fitting way to wave goodbye to their friend.
The choice of ‘Already Gone’ carried an added layer of symbolism because it reflected the sense of freedom and release that Frey himself associated with the song. Although Eagles were often known for their polished harmonies and melancholic storytelling, tracks like this captured a looser, more optimistic side of the band that became central to Frey’s identity as both a songwriter and performer.
Although Frey performed lead vocals on the track, he did not write the song. Interestingly, it was written several years before by songwriting pairing Jack Tempchin and Robb Strandlund, who eventually found a home for their creation with Eagles. They had previously penned ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ for the band before collaborating again on ‘Already Gone’. Frey was in the studio when he called Tempchin to enquire about the track. “He says, ‘Do you know that country song you wrote? I think that’d be a good rock song,'” Tempchin told Songfacts. “Then he held up the phone to the speakers in the studio and there was their version of ‘Already Gone.'”
The titling of the track is enough to make it feel appropriate for the ceremony, but the track is also streaked with emotional moments of reflection as it asks a girl to “look up into the sky” because the protagonist is “already gone”. However, perhaps the real reason is that it was one of Frey’s most beloved songs to sing, claiming that when he hit the vocal on the track “that’s me being happier; that’s me being free.”
