Eagles’ “Pretty Maids All In A Row” Lyrics Meaning
Eagles’ “Pretty Maids In A Row” tells the tale of certain old friends (who have been apart for a long time) finally reuniting and reliving a lot of memories from the past.
According to Joe Walsh (who is one of the writers of “Pretty Maids In A Row”), the song is a melancholic reflection of the life he has lived thus far.
He revealed this during an interview with BBC which took place in 1981. And accordingly, throughout the song, the narrator reminisces heavily about the interesting happenings of his past days. However, he doesn’t exactly mention any specific memorable event from his past.
The “Pretty Maids All In A Row”
Who are the “pretty maids” the singer talks about? Some analysts believe that the reunited friends in question are actually former lovers (actually a married couple who are now divorced). Now, the couple, having met each other again after a long time, find themselves swimming through memories from their wedding day. Hence the row of beautiful maids.
Some Eagles fans also believe the maids in question are actually the girls The Eagles normally saw lingering outside their hotel rooms whenever they finished performing a show. So the band members are basically reminiscing about those interesting days.
Who sings “Pretty Maids All In A Row”?
Don Henley alongside Glenn Frey sung lead vocals on most of the band’s songs. However, on this one, Joe Walsh handled the lead vocals. Actually this was the first Eagle track he sang all by himself.
Writers
Walsh alongside noted American composer and songwriter Joe Vitale wrote this.
Release Date
It was released in December of 1976 alongside its album (“Hotel California”). It wasn’t a single release as “Hotel California” produced the following three singles only:
- “New Kid In Town”
- “Hotel California“
- “Life in the Fast Lane”
The song is quite a far cry from what Joe Walsh was really known for. Hard rock and roll guitar riffs. It’s very bluesy and melancholy but it’s a good song
my absolutely favorite songs by the eagles
Mine too, Amanda, still to this day as I was 16yo when they released the album. My late girlfriend played it repeatedly, unknowingly etching that Florida summer we spent together eternally on my heart. Pretty Maids then tells my story, as well, a story of anticipation from hope in seeing her again.
Mine too.
I loved this song from the first time I heard it, and never got tired of it. Not sure about the long almost silent intro, but I can overlook that. Joe is the best!
Joe is really deep on his ballads. Too few of them. He is a extremely talented man. The best guitarist of my lifetime. He has kept the Eagles soaring since 1975!
Incredibly beautiful song – seems like I rediscover it every few years. Joe Walsh is one talented, unique dude.
I love this song, always have, and it’s soon gonna be 50 years!
I heard it LIVE two nights ago. ♥️
“Pretty Maids All In A Row”, is mostly about the loss of his daughter Emma. The Pretty Maids, are what was seen when the funeral procession started. He mentions heroes, from the car crash his daughter died in. The wishing well fools part, is about dreams that end. Joe’s much deeper than most people think. He uses humor to cover his pain. He’s a genuinely good man, with a killer sense of humor. But, here he shows his personal blow from life….
His album Barnstorm has “Song For Emma” on it. She would’ve been 51 years old, had she still been alive and well.
“Song for Emma” was from his “So What” album, not Barnstorm. Two absolutely great albums. Loved his solo stuff, never get tired of it.
The song; ‘Song For Emma’ is on ‘So What’ released in ’74 not ‘Barnstorm’.
For “Pretty Maids All In A Row”, Walsh took over the
lead vocal duties and was on piano and synthesiser.
He explained to BBC in 1981, “To make the Eagles
really valid as a band, it was important that we co-
write things and share things. ‘Pretty Maids’ is kind of
a melancholy reflection on my life so far, and I think
we tried to represent it as a statement that would be
valid for people from our generation on life so far.
Heroes, they come and go…. Henley and Frey really
thought that it was a good song, and meaningful, and
helped me a lot in putting it together. I think the best
thing to say is that it’s a kind of melancholy
observation on life that we hoped would be a valid
statement for people from our generation.”
I don’t understand why it says “My but we learn so slow” it shouldn’t say: “My God, we learn…?”
Saying “My God” is using God’s name in vain.
Beautiful song! Holds a deep meaning for me!