‘Heart of the matter’

I was sitting at the hairdresser’s the other day when the Don Henley song, ‘Heart of the Matter’ came on. And I realized that I always stop whatever I’m doing (I was reading at the time) to listen and really tune in, even sing along, if I’m alone.

I think it’s one of the deepest songs ever and, forgive me this, but does get right to the ‘heart of the matter’ for me. It’s got a great musical bridge, which I always look for in songs. I love the melody and Don Henley’s voice. And I think the lyrics are ‘spot on’ (though I kind of hate when Americans use that expression to try to sound cool, like our British friends and coworkers – lol).

Anyway, here’s the song on YouTube. You may know it. And here are the lyrics, with some of the ones I truly take to heart and think about often, bolded … ‘for what it’s worth’ (to steal the title of another great, Buffalo Springfield song). While about a break up, on the surface, it’s broadly about so much more and absolutely timeless to me …

I got the call today, I didn’t want to hear
But I knew that it would come
An old, true friend of ours was talkin’ on the phone
She said you found someone

And I thought of all the bad luck
And the struggles we went through
And how I lost me and you lost you

What are those voices outside love’s open door
Make us throw off our contentment
And beg for something more?

I’m learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand,
All the things I thought I knew, I’m learning again

I’ve been tryin’ to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it’s about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don’t love me anymore

These times are so uncertain
There’s a yearning undefined
And people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age?

Ah, the trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness
They’re the very things we kill, I guess
Oh, pride and competition
Cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us, you know it doesn’t keep me warm

I’ve been trying to get down
To the heart of the matter
But everything changes
And my friends seem to scatter
But I think it’s about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don’t love me anymore

There are people in your life
Who’ve come and gone
They’ve let you down
You know they’ve hurt your pride
You better put it all behind you now
‘Cause life goes on

You keep carryin’ that anger
It’ll eat you up inside …

I’ve definitely been there, have you?