Who was the Eagles song ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ about?
On first listen, the 1975 Eagles hit song ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ seems like the classic story of a jilted lover. A bittersweet ballad with lush harmonies emoting the painful truth revealed in its subject matter. This combination took it all the way to number two in the US singles chart, hot on the heels of the band’s first two number ones.
The song features the chorus line “You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes”, addressing its subject directly. Singer and guitarist Glenn Frey, who bandmate Don Henley credits with most of the composition, must have suffered the ignominy of being cheated on and then lied to about it, we assume. Either that, or he’s writing about himself when he sings, “Your smile is a thin disguise”.
But no. On the contrary, the song came apart during a particularly laid-back moment for Frey and the rest of the band. They were enjoying a meal at Dan Tana’s Italian restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, which was frequented by the rich and famous.
The Eagles used to eat there regularly and were familiar with seeing young women accompanying much older men who were ostentatiously displaying their wealth. On one occasion, Frey noticed a “stunning young woman” being trailed by “a much older, fat, rich guy” and burst out laughing.
Penned on a napkin
At that point, one of the band exclaimed, “She can’t even hide those lyin’ eyes”. They were suggesting the woman was pretending to be in love with the older man for his money. Henley attributes this statement to Frey, while Frey himself claims it was someone else from the band.
From that single line, the rest of the idea for the song came naturally. “We all began grabbing for cocktail napkins to write down lyrics to go with that great observation,” Frey added in his audio commentary for the Hell Freezes Over concert film.
It wasn’t the first time Dan Tana’s had served as the birthplace of an Eagles classic. A booth in the restaurant had been Henley’s writing desk for the lyrics of their doting lullaby ‘Best of My Love’. He even made sure to credit Tana’s staff in the song’s liner notes.
Later that evening, Frey and Henley went back to the house they shared and finished off the song together. “Lyrics just kept coming out,” Frey recounted, describing it as one of the easiest Eagles songs to write. Yet as simple as the songwriting session may have been, recording the track proved to be a nightmare for Frey, as he continually stumbled over the first line.
Perhaps his heart wasn’t quite in it, given that he hadn’t written the song from personal experience. We’ll never know the name of that young woman he took a shine to, or her much older dinner date. Nevertheless, the track remains a classic, showcasing some of the best harmonies the Eagles ever recorded.
