The End of the Innocence (song)

Infobox Single
Name = The End of the Innocence


Caption =
Artist = Don Henley
from Album = The End of the Innocence
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 1989
Format = CD
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 5:16
Label = Geffen
Writer =
Producer = Don Henley and Bruce Hornsby
Certification =
Chart position = * #8 (US)
Last single = "Sunset Grill"
(1985)
This single = "The End of the Innocence"
(1989)
Next single = "I Will Not Go Quietly"
(1989)
Misc = "The End of the Innocence" was the lead single and title song from Don Henley's third solo, studio album, "The End of the Innocence" in 1989. The song was written by Bruce Hornsby, with lyrics added by Henley, and both perform the song live in their respective concerts. The Henley version became his fifth solo Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, which is more than any of the other Eagles members, peaking at number 8 on the chart.

There are two political comments in the video by Henley. At the line "they're beating plowshares into swords, for the tired old man that we elected king", it shows a series of posters of President Ronald Reagan, and at the line "armchair warriors lead us into war" it shows a TV set showing scenes of the congressional testimony of Oliver North.

After George H. W. Bush became president, instead of the lyric "they're beating plowshares into swords, for the tired old man that we elected king" Bruce Hornsby began singing his version with the line " for the tired old man that is no longer king" since Reagan was out of office.The music video for the song was directed by future film director, David Fincher ("Se7en", "Fight Club") and earned Henley an MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1990.