Life in the Fast Lane
Encyclopedia
"Life in the Fast Lane" is a song written by Joe Walsh
, Glenn Frey
and Don Henley
and recorded by the American rock band Eagles on their 1976 studio album Hotel California
. It was the third single released from this album, and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
, lines on her face") to the edge. On In the Studio with Redbeard
, Glenn Frey revealed that the title came to him one day when he was riding on the freeway with a drug dealer known as "The Count". Frey asked The Count to slow down and the response was, "What do you mean? It's life in the fast lane!" In that same interview, Frey indicated that the song's central riff
was played by Joe Walsh while the band was warming up in rehearsals and Walsh was told to "keep that, it's a song".
The song was also recorded for an MTV special as part of the Eagles 1994 reunion tour and Hell Freezes Over album.
The third verse features the line "Haven't seen a goddamn thing." Radio stations censor the swear word with some guitar notes. While another edit, has the word "god" removed, and it was worded as "Haven't seen a damn thing."
covered
the song on her album Music Row
.
The track Livin' It Up on Limp Bizkit
's album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water samples the phrase life in the fast lane throughout. Frey, Henley, and Walsh are credited in the "lyrics by" portion of the liner notes.
The song's title was the inspiration for Life on the Fast Lane
, an episode from the first season of the TV series The Simpsons
.
Rascal Flatts
and Carrie Underwood
sang the song at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
The song was used as the soundtrack for the roller coaster
Eagles-Life in the Fast Lane, opened at Hard Rock Park in May 2008. It was SBNO (Standing but not Operating), but reopened on May 23, 2009, as The Iron Horse.
The song is featured on the 1978 FM
soundtrack.
In the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High
a band covers the song at the graduation dance.
This song
is featured as a downloadable song for the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour.
The country music group Williams Riley
released their version of the song to country radio on August 23, 2010.
In a Cocoa Pebbles commercial, Barney Rubble
's pun is "That's life in the first lane." before he ran off and Fred Flintstone
gave chase.
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
and Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
and recorded by the American rock band Eagles on their 1976 studio album Hotel California
Hotel California
Hotel California is the fifth studio album released by the American rock band the Eagles, in late 1976. It is the first Eagles album without founding member Bernie Leadon and the first album with Joe Walsh. It is also the last album featuring original bass player and singer Randy Meisner...
. It was the third single released from this album, and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Content
It tells the story of a couple that takes their excessive lifestyle ("there were lines on the mirrorCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, lines on her face") to the edge. On In the Studio with Redbeard
In the Studio with Redbeard
In the Studio with Redbeard is a North American radio program, produced and hosted by Dallas, Texas based rock and roll disc jockey Redbeard....
, Glenn Frey revealed that the title came to him one day when he was riding on the freeway with a drug dealer known as "The Count". Frey asked The Count to slow down and the response was, "What do you mean? It's life in the fast lane!" In that same interview, Frey indicated that the song's central riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
was played by Joe Walsh while the band was warming up in rehearsals and Walsh was told to "keep that, it's a song".
The song was also recorded for an MTV special as part of the Eagles 1994 reunion tour and Hell Freezes Over album.
The third verse features the line "Haven't seen a goddamn thing." Radio stations censor the swear word with some guitar notes. While another edit, has the word "god" removed, and it was worded as "Haven't seen a damn thing."
Personnel
- Don HenleyDon HenleyDonald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
: Lead vocals, drums - Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
: Clavinet, backing vocals - Joe WalshJoe WalshJoseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
: Lead Guitar - Don FelderDon FelderDonald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
: Rhythm guitar - Randy MeisnerRandy MeisnerRandy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
: Bass guitar, backing vocals
Covers and references
In 2007, Jill JohnsonJill Johnson
Jill Anna Maria Johnson, , is a Swedish country- and pop-singer and songwriter. She performed the Melodifestivalen 1998 winning song Kärleken är, and represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 with that song, which finished 10th with 53 points. In 2003 she again entered Melodifestivalen...
covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
the song on her album Music Row
Music Row (Jill Johnson album)
Music Row is a cover album by Jill Johnson, recorded in Nashville and released on 28 November 2007. The album sold platinum in Sweden.-Track listing:#Rhythm Guitar - 3.20#Jolene - 3.30...
.
The track Livin' It Up on Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
's album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water samples the phrase life in the fast lane throughout. Frey, Henley, and Walsh are credited in the "lyrics by" portion of the liner notes.
The song's title was the inspiration for Life on the Fast Lane
Life on the Fast Lane
"Life on the Fast Lane", also known as "Jacques To Be Wild", is the ninth episode of The Simpsons first season, which originally aired on March 18, 1990. It was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by David Silverman. Albert Brooks guest starred as Jacques, a French bowling instructor, with...
, an episode from the first season of the TV series The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
.
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
and Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
sang the song at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
The song was used as the soundtrack for the roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
Eagles-Life in the Fast Lane, opened at Hard Rock Park in May 2008. It was SBNO (Standing but not Operating), but reopened on May 23, 2009, as The Iron Horse.
The song is featured on the 1978 FM
FM (film)
FM is a 1978 directed by John A. Alonzo, and starring Michael Brandon, Eileen Brennan, Alex Karras and Cleavon Little. The screenplay was written by Ezra Sacks.This film was produced by Universal Pictures, and originally released to movie theaters in 1978....
soundtrack.
In the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Cameron Crowe and adapted from his 1981 book of the same name...
a band covers the song at the graduation dance.
This song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
is featured as a downloadable song for the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour.
The country music group Williams Riley
Williams Riley
Williams Riley is an American country music band composed of Steve Williams , Derek George , Charlie Hutto , Joe Rogers , Dave Guidry , Travis Thibodaux and Nick Buda...
released their version of the song to country radio on August 23, 2010.
In a Cocoa Pebbles commercial, Barney Rubble
Barney Rubble
Bernard "Barney" Rubble is the deuteragonist of the television animated series The Flintstones. He is the diminutive blonde-haired caveman husband of Betty Rubble and father of Bamm-Bamm Rubble...
's pun is "That's life in the first lane." before he ran off and Fred Flintstone
Fred Flintstone
Frederick Joseph “Fred” Flintstone, also known as Fred W. Flintstone or Frederick J. Flintstone, is the protagonist of the animated sitcom The Flintstones, which aired during prime-time on ABC during the original series' run from 1960-66. He is the husband of Wilma Flintstone and father of Pebbles...
gave chase.