Doolin-Dalton is a song about the life of famed outlaws of the late 19th century, Bill Doolin and Bill Dalton. Eagles compare themselves to outlaws, as they too live exciting lives, are pictured on posters, and all too often, die young. Instead of choosing to live average lives, they both choose to...
[Intro]
They were dueling, Doolin-Dalton
High or low, it was the same
Easy money and faithless women
Red-eye whiskey for the pain
[Verse 1]
Go down, Bill Dalton, it must be God's will
Two brothers lying dead in Coffeyville
Two voices call to you from where they stood
Lay down your law books now, they're no damn good
[Verse 2]
Better keep on moving, Doolin-Dalton
'Til your shadow sets you free
And if you're fast, and if you're lucky
You will never see that hanging tree
[Bridge]
Well, the towns lay out across the dusty plains
Like graveyards filled with tombstones, waiting for the names
And a man could use his back or use his brains
But some just went stir crazy, Lord, 'cause nothing ever changed
[Verse 3]
'Til Bill Doolin met Bill Dalton
He was working cheap, just biding time
Then he laughed and said, "I'm going"
And so he left that peaceful life behind, 'hind
[Outro]
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, mhm
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Doolin-Dalton was written by Jackson Browne & Don Henley & J. D. Souther & Glenn Frey.
Doolin-Dalton was produced by Glyn Johns.