Eagles: Life in the Fast Lane Meaning

Song Released: 1977

Life in the Fast Lane Lyrics

He was a hard-headed man
He was brutally handsome, and she was terminally pretty
She held him up, and he held her for ransom in the heart
of the cold, cold city
He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude
They said he was ruthless, they...

1. anonymous

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   Apr 18th 2021 !⃝

   Drugs and cochise, I lived this life word torture word and it led to divorce and prison, Thank God I'm alive and the LORD has gave me wisdom, life is the fast lane now going by so fast, was 18 yesterday and today I'm 50, thank you Jesus for this life, I'm not dead like so many I've known,
2. anonymous

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   Nov 28th 2018 !⃝

   It's about coke and if you watched the Eagles documentary, Frye said specifically he got the idea when he and his drug dealer were doing about 110 mph down a highway going to Vegas. When Frey said something, the dealer told him "hey, it's life in the fast lane". The whole band was into coke heavily at the time, and they even said in the documentary it was part of the reason for their break-up.
3. anonymous

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   Aug 23rd 2018 !⃝

   Stevie and Lyndsay, both on coke. He was jealous of her talent, so he held her ransom. She typical victim of a controlling relationship, held him up, even though everyone said he was no good. There were times on stage together, when he would actually make fun of her.
4. anonymous

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   Aug 5th 2018 !⃝

   He was brutally handsome, and she was terminally pretty
   She held him up, and he held her for ransom in the heart
   of the cold, cold city: Both are sociopaths / narcissists that were perfect for each other
   
   
   He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude
   They said he was ruthless said he was crude: Same as above.
   
   They had one thing in common: they were good in bed: Bonnie and Clyde-type relationship
   
   She'd say, "Faster, faster. "The lights are turning red.": Coming off the drug high
   
   Eager for action and hot for the game
   The coming attraction, the drop of a name
   They knew all the right people; They took all the right pills
   They threw outrageous parties; They paid heavenly bills: Partied hard, paid a lot for drugs and in a physical toll on their bodies
   
   Lines on the mirror: Lines of cocaine ready to be snorted
   
   Lines on her face: Cocaine tends to prematurely age you.
   
   They tended not to notice they were caught up in the race: Heavy drug abusers only interested in the next hit, oblivious to everything else
   
   Blowin' and burnin' blinded by thirst
   They didn't see the stop sign; Took a turn for the worst: Didn't know when to stop abusing, became full-blown addicts
   
   She said, "Listen, baby. You can hear the engine ring.
   "We've been up and down this highway; haven't seen a god-damn thing.": They can't get the same high as before because the body builds a tolerance
   
   He said, "Call the doctor. I think I'm gonna crash.": Drug withdrawal
   
   "The doctor say he's coming but you gotta pay in cash.": They've racked up a hefty tab / unpaid debt to their dealer and he won't extend them any more, he wants money upfront
   
   They were rushing down that freeway; Messed around and got lost
   They didn't care they were just dyin' to get off.: Heavy addicts who reached rock-bottom and want to get clean
5. anonymous

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   Aug 27th 2017 !⃝

   It wasn't meth. Definitely Coke. Supposedly the song was also written with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in mind, they broke up after success and she fell in love Joe Walsh. They didn't do "meth" back then like it is now. Just look to her interviews and books. She was deep into cocaine. Same as Don Henley.
6. anonymous

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   Apr 30th 2017 !⃝

   I believe I heard an interview once that joe Walsh, said it came to him when he was on coke heading to vasgas in a drug dealers corvette and they were doing like 160 m/h. If I remember correctly he said it was a brand new white corvette and they were loaded.
7. anonymous

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   Jul 5th 2013 !⃝

   This is one of several songs where the lyrics are talking about a particular drug. Methamphetamine or speed. Joe Walsh has written several songs about this drug, Funk 49 when he was with the James Gang is about speed. There are more I can't think of them off hand right now. Just listen to the lyrics next time and if you have had any experience with that drug it will make perfect sense.
   The doctor says he coming but you gotta pay him cash
   We went rushing down that freeway,turned around and got lost, we didn't care we were just dying to get off and it was
   Life in the fast lane
   surely make you lose your mind
   --everything all the time---
   After the first bit he even asks "Are you with me so far?" Letting you know this ain't a song about a guy and girl who have a lot of sex as one submitter put it.
8. anonymous

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   Jun 25th 2011 !⃝

   It's about a mean ruthless dude and a beautiful woman that have(one thing in common they were good in bed) which is having sex.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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