This Johnny Rodriguez cover of the Eagles song "Lyin' Eyes" was written by Eagles bandmates, Glenn Frey and Don Henley. The title and idea for the song came when Frey and Henley were in their favorite Los Angeles restaurant/bar, frequented by many beautiful women.
They were talking about beautiful women who were cheating on their husbands. They saw a beautiful young woman with a much older wealthy man, and Frey said: "She can't even hide those lyin' eyes." Johnny's version
has to be one of the best covers on this song by anyone.
The song was a #2 hit for the Eagles in 1975 and Johnny recorded the song and released it on the album "Reflecting" the following year in 1976.
The album made it to number eleven on the US Country charts. Three songs off the album all made the top five, however, this really well done Lyin' Eyes cover song never got any real recognition.
Johnny Rodriguez "Lyin' Eyes" vinyl memories, a classic song by the Eagles, tells the tale of a beautiful woman trapped in a loveless marriage with an older, wealthy man.
Despite the comforts and luxuries her husband provides, she finds herself unfulfilled and yearning for true love and excitement. Seeking solace, she embarks on a clandestine affair with another man.
In a small, upscale town, the woman, let's name her Sharon, fills her days with shopping, charity events, and social gatherings. Her husband, Gary, is a successful businessman who is often away on trips and preoccupied with his work. Sharon's striking beauty and charm make her the envy of many, but beneath her polished exterior lies a deep sense of loneliness.
Sharon finds herself drawn to Michael, a handsome, rugged outdoorsman who lives on the outskirts of town. The secrecy and thrill of their romance provide an escape from her gilded cage. Michael, enamored by her allure, listens attentively as she shares her feelings and dreams, offering a contrast to the cold and distant relationship she has with Gary.
As their affair deepens, suspicions begin to arise within their tight-knit community. Gossip spreads like wildfire, and Sharon feels the pressure of maintaining her double life. Despite her careful planning and well-rehearsed lies, she starts to slip. The once immaculate facade begins to crack, revealing the truth behind her "lyin' eyes."
Sharon's eyes, windows to her tormented soul, betray her. As much as she tries to hide her deceit, her emotions are etched in her gaze.
At social events and dinners with her husband, she catches herself glancing at Michael, her longing and guilt surfacing. Gary, though often preoccupied, notices the change. He sees the spark missing from Sharon's eyes when she's with him and the way she lights up when she's elsewhere in her thoughts.
The story reaches a crescendo when Gary decides to confront Sharon. With a heavy heart, he tells her, "You can’t even hide those lyin' eyes." The confrontation forces Sharon to face the mess she has created and the pain she has caused.
In the end, Sharon faces a choice: continue living a lie that leaves her empty or find the courage to make a change. The storyline of "Lyin' Eyes" is a poignant reminder of the consequences of deceit and the importance of facing one's truth, no matter how painful it may be.
I love doing cover songs because there are some covers that are actually better than the original artist or group. The really good covers are a matter of opinion, but the covers I have added to my vinyl record memories are good enough, I believe, to change a few minds.
The producers changed the arrangement, added different instruments and bingo, same song with a distinctive new sound. The classic music lyrics by Frey and Henley makes "The Eagles" an easy pick as one of the premier bands of all time and the lyrics to this song are "cheatin' perfect."
On this song it would be hard for anyone to out shine the Eagles original recording. However, Johnny took it, put a country twist on it, and turned it into the best Johnny Rodriguez cover of this song I have ever heard. Again, just my opinion.
Side Note: Enjoy this Johnny Rodriguez video and take note that he did some re-arranging with the lyrics but I added the lyrics as they were written by Frey and Henley.
The single version of the song is shortened quite a bit from the album version. Top 40 Radio in 1975 didn't usually play songs longer than 4 minutes so the run-time on the 45RPM label needed to be shorter.
This
song has one of the better story lines and could be the reason this
song is over five minutes long, but well worth the listen.
Turn the clock back with some of our favorites...
I hope you find the time to visit my other stories about growing up in the 50s, 60s and 70s. You can start here....
Return to Johnny Rodriguez main page.
A Little Bit of Nostalgia in your inbox each month.
Visit the Vikki Carr page and listen to her beautifully done cover of "Love Me With All Your Heart" in Spanish. Read more here...
Watch Luis sing his upbeat version of this classic love song, "Cuando Calienta El Sol." Includes a Great video! Read more.
Johnny Rodriguez Cover - Lyin' Eyes
Songwriters: Glenn Frey - Don Henley
Released off album "Reflecting" in 1976
City girls just seem to find out early
How to open doors with just a smile
A rich old man...And she won't have to worry
She'll dress up all in lace and go in style
Late at night a big old house gets lonely
I guess every form of refuge has its price
And it breaks her heart to think her love is only
Given to a man with hands as cold as ice
So she tells him she must go out for the evening
To comfort an old friend who's feelin' down
But he knows where she's goin' as she's leavin'
She is headed for the cheatin' side of town
You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin eyes
On the other side of town a boy is waiting
with fiery eyes and dreams no one could steal
She drives on through the night anticipating
'Cause he makes her feel the way she used to feel
She rushes to his arms
They fall together
She whispers that it's only for awhile
She swears that soon she'll be comin' back forever
She pulls away and leaves him with a smile
You can't hide your lyin' eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide you lyin' eyes
She gets up and pours herself a strong one
And stares out at the stars up in the sky
Another night, it's gonna be a long one
She draws the shade and hangs her head to cry
She wonders how it ever got this crazy
She thinks about a boy she knew in school
Did she get tired or did she just get lazy?
She's so far gone she feels just like a fool
My, oh my, you sure know how to arrange things
You set it up so well, so carefully
Ain't it funny how your new life didn't change things
You're still the same old girl you used to be
You can't hide your lyin eyes
And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes
Honey, you can't hide your lyin' eyes
Listen to Connie Francis give her beautiful rendition of this Spanish classic. Read the story here...
Just creamy harmony and seamless pleasure returns you to the days when easy listening was called "dinner music." A Love Song...
This beautiful love song was recorded in the presence of Buddy's wife, and should be appreciated for the impact of this great song, and the love that inspired it. Read the story here.