The End of the Innocence (song): Difference between revisions

"The End of the Innocence"
"The End of the Innocence"
Single by Don Henley
from the album The End of the Innocence
B-side	"If Dirt Were Dollars"
Released	June 6, 1989
Length	5:16
Label	Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Don Henley · Bruce Hornsby
Producer(s)	Don Henley · Bruce Hornsby
Don Henley singles chronology

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"The End of the Innocence" is the lead single and title track from Don Henley's third solo studio album of the same name, released in 1989. Henley co-wrote and co-produced the song with Bruce Hornsby, who also performed piano. Both artists regularly include the song in their live performances. The single peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his fifth solo top-10 hit on the chart. "The End of the Innocence" also became his fourth number-one single on the Album Rock Tracks chart. In Canada, it reached number three on the RPM Top Singles and Adult Contemporary charts.

At the 32nd Grammy Awards in 1990, the song received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The song won the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male.^[1]

Music video

The black-and-white music video for the song was directed by David Fincher and earned Henley an MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1990.^[2]

Henley ensured there would be two political comments in the video:

At the line "they're beating plowshares into swords, for this tired old man that we elected king," a series of campaign posters of U.S. President Ronald Reagan is shown.
At the line "lawyers clean up all details," a television set playing the congressional testimony of Oliver North appears on-screen.

The video directly references the work of Robert Frank's The Americans.

Personnel

Don Henley – vocals, drums
Bruce Hornsby – acoustic piano, additional keyboards
Jai Winding – keyboard bass
Michael Fisher – percussion
Wayne Shorter – soprano sax solo

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989–1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[3]	54
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[4]	3
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[5]	3
Germany (GfK)^[6]	54
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[7]	17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[8]	70
UK Singles (OCC)^[9]	48
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	8
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[11]	2
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[12]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[13]	15
US Billboard Hot 100^[14]	99
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[15]	12

References

^ https://www.grammy.com/awards/32nd-annual-grammy-awards
^ "Sinead O'Connor dominates MTV video music awards".
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6439." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6436." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Don Henley – The End of the Innocence" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 33, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^ "Don Henley – The End of the Innocence" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Don Henley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Don Henley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Don Henley Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2021.

[1] ttps://www.grammy.com/awards/32nd-annual-grammy-awards

[2] "Sinead O'Connor dominates MTV video music awards".

[3] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-4] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6439." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-5] "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6436." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[sc_Germany_Don_Henley-6] "Don Henley – The End of the Innocence" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[7] "Tipparade-lijst van week 33, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 27, 2023.

[sc_Dutch100_Don_Henley-8] "Don Henley – The End of the Innocence" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[sc_UK_-9] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Don_Henley-10] "Don Henley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Don_Henley-11] "Don Henley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Don_Henley-12] "Don Henley Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[13] "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[14] "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[15] "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2021.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|1989 single by Don Henley}}
-{{Refimprove|date=December 2013}}
 {{Infobox song
-| name       = The End of the Innocence
+| name       = The End of {{nobr|the Innocence}}
 | cover      = Donhenley31994.jpg
 | alt        =
@@ Line 8: / Line 7: @@
 | artist     = [[Don Henley]]
 | album      = [[The End of the Innocence (album)|The End of the Innocence]]
+| B-side     = If Dirt Were Dollars
 | released   = June 6, 1989
-| format     = [[CD]]
+| recorded   =
-| recorded   = 1987
 | studio     =
 | venue      =
-| genre      = [[Soft rock]]
+| genre      = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->
 | length     = 5:16
 | label      = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
-| writer     = Don Henley<br />[[Bruce Hornsby]]
+| writer     = {{nobr|Don Henley{{·}}Bruce Hornsby}}
-| producer   = Don Henley<br />Bruce Hornsby
+| producer   = {{nobr|Don Henley{{·}}Bruce Hornsby}}
 | prev_title = [[Sunset Grill (song)|Sunset Grill]]
 | prev_year  = 1985
 | next_title = I Will Not Go Quietly
 | next_year  = 1989
-| misc       = {{Audio sample
+| misc       =
- | type        = single
- | file        = Don Henley - End of the Innocence.ogg
- | description = "The End of the Innocence"
 }}
+"'''The End of the Innocence'''" is the lead single and title track from [[Don Henley]]'s [[The End of the Innocence (album)|third solo studio album of the same name]], released in 1989. Henley co-wrote and co-produced the song with [[Bruce Hornsby]], who also performed piano. Both artists regularly include the song in their live performances. The single peaked at number eight on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], becoming his fifth solo top-10 hit on the chart. "The End of the Innocence" also became his fourth number-one single on the [[Album Rock Tracks]] chart. In Canada, it reached number three on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles and Adult Contemporary charts.
-}}
-"'''The End of the Innocence'''" is the lead single and title track from [[Don Henley]]'s [[The End of the Innocence (album)|third solo studio album of the same name]], released in 1989. Henley co-wrote and co-produced the song with [[Bruce Hornsby]], who also performed piano; both artists perform the song live in their respective concerts. Henley's version peaked at number eight on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], becoming his fifth solo top ten hit on the chart. "The End of the Innocence" also became his fourth number-one single on the [[Mainstream Rock Tracks]] chart and peaked at number two on the [[Hot Adult Contemporary]] chart.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=114}}</ref> The song features [[Wayne Shorter]] on saxophone.
+At the 32nd Grammy Awards in 1990, the song received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The song won the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male.<ref>https://www.grammy.com/awards/32nd-annual-grammy-awards</ref>
-==Background and content==
-{{original research|section|date=October 2011}}
-Henley's lyrics take the form of a personal remembrance of a close friend or companion, and evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia for the lost innocence of childhood. The music was written by Bruce Hornsby years earlier.  Henley was driving back from Hornsby's ranch in Moorpark when he found out that a friend had been indicted for [[securities fraud]]---at the time the government was going after [[Michael Milken]], thus the references to having to call the lawyers "because Daddy had to lie." The "place where we can go" refers to his 50-acre ranch outside [[Aspen, Colorado]] off Woody Creek Rd.  The reflections and the emotional responses represent the end of the innocence of the [[baby boomer]]s, which for some was coupled with a perception of nihilism, consumerism, and militarism during the Reagan administration. Even as they yearn for the simplicity and values of the past and the uncorrupted people they used to be, the song sees them coming to terms with the responsibilities and challenges facing Americans entering middle-age in the 1980s.
 ==Music video==
-The black and white music video for the song was directed by future film director [[David Fincher]] (''[[Seven (1995 film)|Seven]]'', ''[[Fight Club (film)|Fight Club]]'') and earned Henley an [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video]] in 1990.
+The black-and-white music video for the song was directed by [[David Fincher]] and earned Henley an [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video]] in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/09/07/Sinead-OConnor-dominates-MTV-video-music-awards/7379652680000/|title=Sinead O'Connor dominates MTV video music awards}}</ref>
+Henley ensured there would be two political comments in the video:
-There are two political comments in the video.  At the line "armchair warriors often fail," it shows a TV set showing scenes of the congressional testimony of [[Oliver North]].  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]].  After Reagan had left office, [[Bruce Hornsby]] began singing his version with the line "for the tired old man that is no longer king."
+* At the line "they're beating [[swords to plowshares|plowshares into swords]], for this tired old man that we elected king," a series of campaign posters of [[U.S. President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] is shown.
+* At the line "lawyers clean up all details," a television set playing the congressional testimony of [[Oliver North]] appears on-screen.
+The video directly references the work of Robert Frank's The Americans.
-Also in the video, there are shots of Henley singing in front of the [[Texas School Book Depository]] in [[Dealey Plaza]], [[Dallas, Texas]]. To Henley, this is where the "end of the innocence" can be found. A portion of the video was also filmed in the town of [[Waxahachie, Texas]], just south of Dallas at the historic [[Rogers Hotel]], where [[Bonnie and Clyde]] stayed and where the movies ''[[Places in the Heart]]'' and ''[[Tender Mercies]]'' were filmed.
+==Personnel==
-==Chart performance==
+* Don Henley – vocals, drums
+* Bruce Hornsby – acoustic piano, additional keyboards
+* Jai Winding – keyboard bass
+* Michael Fisher – percussion
+* [[Wayne Shorter]] – soprano sax solo
+==Charts==
 {{col-begin}}
 {{col-2}}
 ===Weekly charts===
-{| class="wikitable"
+{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
+!scope="col"|Chart (1989–1990)
+!scope="col"|Peak<br/>position
 |-
+!scope="row"|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref>
-! Chart (1989-1990)
+|54
-! Peak<br>position
 |-
+{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|3|chartid=6439|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2020}}
-| Canadian ''RPM'' Top Singles
-| align="center"| 3
 |-
+{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|3|chartid=6436|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2020}}
-| Canadian ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary
-| align="center"| 3
 |-
+{{single chart|Germany|54|artist=Don Henley|song=The End of the Innocence|songid=15437|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2020}}
-| UK Singles Chart
-| align="center"| 48
 |-
+!scope="row"|Netherlands ([[Dutch Top 40|Dutch Top 40 Tipparade]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/1989/week-33|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 33, 1989|lang=dutch| publisher=[[Dutch Top 40]]|access-date=March 27, 2023}}</ref>
-| U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100
+|17
-| align="center"| 8
 |-
+{{single chart|Dutch100|70|artist=Don Henley|song=The End of the Innocence|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2020}}
-| U.S. ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary Tracks
-| align="center"| 2
 |-
+{{single chart|UK|48|date=19890805|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2020}}
-| U.S. ''Billboard'' Album Rock Tracks
-| align="center"| 1
 |-
+{{single chart|Billboardhot100|8|artist=Don Henley|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2020}}
+|-
+{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|2|artist=Don Henley|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2020}}
+|-
+{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Don Henley|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2020}}
 |}
 {{col-2}}
 ===Year-end charts===
-{| class="wikitable sortable"
+{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
-!align="left"|Chart (1989)
+!scope="col"|Chart (1989)
-!align="center"|Position
+!scope="col"|Position
 |-
+!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6684&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6684.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6684|title=Top 100 Singles of '89|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|publisher=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref>
-|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6684&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989|work=RPM|date=December 23, 1999|accessdate=November 22, 2017|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907032648/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6684&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|archivedate=September 7, 2017|df=}}</ref>
+|15
-| style="text-align:center;"|15
+|-
+!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-12-23.pdf|title=1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=101|issue=51|page=Y-22|date=December 23, 1989|access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref>
+|99
+|-
+!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1989/adult-contemporary-songs|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1989|work=Billboard|access-date=March 15, 2021}}</ref>
+|12
 |}
 {{col-end}}
 ==See also==
+* [[Ronald Reagan in music]]
-*[[Ronald Reagan in music]]
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
 {{Don Henley}}
 {{BruceHornsby}}
+{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:End Of The Innocence, The}}
-[[Category:1989 songs]]
 [[Category:1989 singles]]
+[[Category:1989 songs]]
+[[Category:Black-and-white music videos]]
 [[Category:Don Henley songs]]
-[[Category:Billboard Mainstream Rock number-one singles]]
+[[Category:Geffen Records singles]]
 [[Category:MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video]]
+[[Category:Political songs]]
+[[Category:Music videos directed by David Fincher]]
+[[Category:Ronald Reagan]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Bruce Hornsby]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Don Henley]]
-[[Category:Music videos directed by David Fincher]]
-[[Category:Black-and-white music videos]]
-[[Category:Geffen Records singles]]

v t e Don Henley
Studio albums	I Can't Stand Still Building the Perfect Beast The End of the Innocence Inside Job Cass County
Compilation albums	Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits The Very Best of Don Henley
Singles	"Johnny Can't Read" "Dirty Laundry" "The Boys of Summer" "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" "Not Enough Love in the World" "Sunset Grill" "The End of the Innocence" "New York Minute" "The Last Worthless Evening" "The Heart of the Matter" "The Garden of Allah" "Everybody Knows" "Taking You Home"
Guest singles	"Leather and Lace" "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" "Walkaway Joe" "Inside Out"
Related articles	Discography Eagles

v t e Bruce Hornsby
Albums	The Way It Is Scenes from the Southside A Night on the Town Harbor Lights Hot House Spirit Trail Here Come The Noise Makers Big Swing Face Halcyon Days Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby Camp Meeting Levitate Bride of the Noisemakers Rehab Reunion
Songs	"Every Little Kiss" "The Way It Is" "Mandolin Rain" "The Valley Road" "Jacob's Ladder" "The End of the Innocence" "Across the River" "Barren Ground"
Compilation albums	Greatest Radio Hits Intersections (1985–2005)
Related articles	Discography