About the song
Background on “Those Shoes” by the Eagles
- Release: “Those Shoes” appeared on the Eagles’ 1979 album, The Long Run. This was the first album featuring bassist Timothy B. Schmit and the last full studio album with guitarist Don Felder before his departure in 2001.
- Inspiration: Don Felder, the song’s writer, cited his love of jazz and fellow Eagle Joe Walsh’s musical style as influences. Felder aimed for a minimalist approach, drawing inspiration from Miles Davis’ ability to convey emotion with just a few notes [ultimateclassicrock.com]. The song also prominently features the “talk box” effect, a technique Walsh employed on other Eagles tracks.
Themes in “Those Shoes”
- The power of simplicity: The song’s jazz influence and focus on a catchy melody with sparse lyrics suggest a theme of finding beauty and emotion in the basic elements of music.
- Nostalgia: The lyrics evoke a sense of looking back on the past, with references to simpler times and “worn out blue jeans.”
- The passage of time: The title “Those Shoes” itself hints at something left behind, perhaps a symbol of a bygone era or a younger self.
- Open interpretation: The song’s lyrics are somewhat ambiguous, allowing listeners to project their own meanings onto the imagery and themes.
Video
Lyrics
Tell us what you’re gonna do tonight mamaThere must be someplace you can goIn the middle of the tall drinks and the dramaThere must be someone you knowGod knows you’re lookin’ good enoughBut you’re so smooth and the world’s so roughYou might have somethin’ to loseOh, no pretty mamaWhat you gonna do in those shoes?Got those pretty little straps around your anklesGot those shiny little chains around your heartYou got to have your independenceBut you don’t know just where to startDesperation in the singles barsAll those jerkoffs in their fancy carsYou can’t believe your reviewsOh, no you can’t do thatOnce you started wearin’ those shoes(butt out)(butt out)(butt out)(butt out)(butt out butt out) They’re lookin’ at you leanin’ on you(butt out butt out) Tell you anything you want to hear(butt out butt out) They give you tablets of love(butt out butt out)(butt out butt out) They’re waiting for you got to score you(butt out butt out) Handy with a shovel and so sincere(butt out butt out) Ooh… they got the kid glove(butt out butt out)You just want someone to talk toThey just wanna to get their hands on youYou get whatever you chooseOh, no you can’t do thatOnce you started wearin’ those shoesOh, no you can’t do thatOnce you started wearin’ those shoes(butt out butt out)Umm(butt out butt out)Shoot(butt out butt out)(butt out butt out)Whoa-whoa(butt out butt out)(butt out butt out)(butt out butt out)(butt out)