Don Henley
Don Henley
Don Henley & Axl Rose
Don Henley
Don Henley
Don Henley
Don Henley
Don Henley
Don Henley
Don Henley
“The Heart of the Matter” is the tenth and final track from Don Henley’s 1989 album, The End of the Innocence. It peaked at #21 on the Billboard 100.
The song is about forgiveness. The subject’s ex has found someone new and he needs to forgive her and himself to move on.
[Verse 1]
I got the call today, I didn't wanna 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 these voices outside love's open door
Make us throw off our contentment
And beg for something more?
[Pre-Chorus]
But 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
[Chorus 1]
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
[Verse 2]
Ah, 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
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm learning to live without you now
But I miss you, baby
And the more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I figured out
I have to learn again
[Chorus]
I've been tryin' 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
[Bridge]
There are people in your life
Who've come and gone
They let you down
You know they hurt your pride
You better put it all behind you, baby
Cause life goes on
You keep carryin' that anger
It'll eat you up inside, baby
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
I've been tryin' to get down
To the heart of the matter
Because the flesh will get weak
And the ashes will scatter
So I'm thinkin' about
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Even if, even if
You don't love me
[Outro]
Forgiveness (Yeah)
Forgiveness (Baby)
Forgiveness (Oh, oh)
Forgiveness (Ah, yeah)
Forgiveness (Oh)
Forgiveness
Even if
You don't love me anymore
Forgiveness (Oh)
Forgiveness (Ahh, yeah)
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
(Heyy, yeah)
The Heart of the Matter was written by Mike Campbell & J. D. Souther & Don Henley.
The Heart of the Matter was produced by Danny Kortchmar & Mike Campbell & Don Henley.
Don Henley released The Heart of the Matter on Tue Jun 27 1989.
It’s actually often speculated to be based on the novel “The Heart of the Matter” by Graham Greene, of which Henley is an admitted fan.