Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nicolas]

Hi, All ,

I have some questions about the lyric of Desperado (Eagles).
Could somebody kindly help me ?

I could find the English lyric but i cannot exactly understand what it means.

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow

Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no youger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home


Here are the questions:
>You been out ridin' fences for so long now
>Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no youger

What do they mean?


Have a nice weekend and
thanks for your help

[Tony999]

>You been out ridin' fences for so long now
The singer is telling someone they are too far from society. Cowboys in the American West spent days, weeks and months out "ridin' fences" far away from any other people, because they were taking care of cows. But in this song I think it is about emotional distance, someone who does not let others reach them emotionally.

>Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no youger
The singer is telling someone, "You are getting too old and reducing your chance of finding love"

I hope this helps,

Tony

[nicolas]

Dear Tony,

Really thanks!


>Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no youger
But why he didn't just sing " you are getting no younger " ?
" you are not getting no younger " is strange, isn't it?

Thanks again
Have a nice day!!

Nicolas

[Tony999]

Songwriters often use grammar that is not strictly correct. "Ain't" is not correct English, and "ain't getting no" is a double negative. But they fit the feeling of the song, and the country background of the person singing.

Also, listen to the accents of the words. It is like poetry, where people use words to fit patterns of accents and emphasis, which makes good poetry sound so good. In poetry and music, people can use language more freely, to improve how it sounds or to fit a certain feeling.

Tony

[nicolas]

Dear Tony,

Thanks a lot!

Have a nice day!