Written by Don Henley/Bruce Hornsby
Capo First Fret G Remember when the days were long C and rolled beneath a deep blue sky G Didn't have a care in the world C D With mommy and daddy standing by G But happily ever after fails C and we've been poisoned by these fairy tales G The lawyers dwell on small details Em C D Since daddy had to fly Em7 Bm7 Am7 Ah but I know a place where we can go Em7 Cmaj7 D That's still untouched by man Em7 Bm7 Am7 We'll sit and watch the clouds go by Em7 Cmaj7 D and the tall grass wave in the wind G D C you can lay your head back on the ground Em7 Bm7 Am7 And let your hair fall all around me G D C Offer up your best defense Em7 Bm7 Am7 Cmaj7 D But this is the end, This is the end G Of the Innocence Repeat Intro Oh beautiful for spacious skies But now those skies are threatening They're beating plowshares into swords For this tired old man that we elected king Armchair warriors often fail And we've been poisoned by these fairytales The lawyers clean up all details Since daddy had to lie But I know a place where we can go And wash away the sin We'll sit and watch the clouds go by And the tall grass wave in the wind You can lay your head back on the ground Let your hair fall all around me Offer up your best defense But this is the end, This is the end Of the Innocence Who knows how long this will last Or how we've come so far so fast But somewhere back there in the dust That same small town in each of us I need to remember this So baby give me just one kiss And let me take a long last look Before we say goodbye Just lay your head back on the ground And let your hair fall all around me Offer up your best defense But this is the end This is the end of the Innocence Repeat Intro to end.