The Heart of the Matter

I heard this song on the radio today. It's an old favorite of mine that caused me to think of all the things that are going on in my life. It's well written and just as pertinent now as it was then.


I got the call today I didn't want to hear
But I knew that it would come
An old true friend of ours was talking on the phone
She said you'd found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck
And the struggles we went through
How I lost me and you lost you
What are these voices outside loves open door
Makes us throw off our contentment and beg for something more

I'm learning to live without you now but I miss you sometimes
The more I know the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew I'm learning again

I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak and my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
Even if you don't love me anymore

These times are so uncertain there's a yearning undefined
And people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age
The trust and self assurance that lead to happiness
They're the very things we kill I guess
Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us you know it doesn't keep me warm

I'm learning to live without you now but I miss you baby
And the more I know the less I understand
All the things I thought I figured out I have to learn again

I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter
But everything changes and my friends seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness even if you don't love me anymore

There are people in your life who've come and gone
They let you down you know they hurt your pride
You'd better put it all behind you baby because life goes on
You keep carrying all that anger it'll eat you up inside baby

I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter
Because the flesh will get weak and the ashes will scatter
So I'm thinking about forgiveness even if you don't love me anymore

- Don Henley