About The Song
This song tells the story of the infamous Wild West gang, The Dalton Gang. Formed in 1888, the gang consisted mainly of train robbers in what was the Oklahoma Territory and included the Dalton brothers, Bill Doolin, Bittercreek Newcomb and many other famous outlaws. In 1892, after many members of the gang had already been killed, 5 members including 3 of the Dalton brothers were ambushed and killed in Coffeyville. Bill Doolin, Bill Dalton, Bittercreek Newcomb and Charlie Pierce, the last surviving members, recruited 7 more outlaws and formed the Doolin-Dalton Gang to exact revenge on the deaths and continue on with their lives of crime. The song ends here, leaving what happens afterward unknown, but in real life, by 1898, every member had been killed.
Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther, Don Henley and Jackson Browne are the writers on this song. Frey, Souther and Browne lived in the same apartment complex in Los Angeles before the band formed, which is when they started writing this song. After they wrote the song “Desperado,” Henley and Frey decided to work on this one to go with their Old West theme, which also included the song “Tequila Sunrise.” It marked one of the first songwriting collaborations for Henley and Frey, who didn’t write together on the Eagles first album. “Doolin-Dalton” was used as the first track on their second album.
Don Henley and Glenn Frey share the lead vocals on this song. Frey also played the harmonica on the track.
Video
Lyric
Well, the stage was set, the sun was sinkin’ low down
As they came to town to face another showdown
The lawmen cleared the people from the street
“All you bloodthirsty bystanders, will you try to find your seats?”
Watch ’em duelin’ (duelin’), Doolin-Dalton (Dalton)
High or low (high, low) it’s all the same
Easy money and faithless women
You will never kill the pain
Go down, Bill Doolin, don’t you wonder why
Sooner or later, we all have to die?
Sooner or later, that’s a stone-cold fact
Four men ride out and only three ride back
The queen of diamonds let you down, she was just an empty fable
The queen of hearts you say you never met
Your twisted fate has found you out, and it’s finally turned the tables
Stole your dreams and paid you with regret
Desperado (is there gonna be anything left, is there gonna be anything?)
You sealed your fate up a long time ago
(Ain’t it hard when you’re all alone in the center ring?)
Now there’s no time left to borrow (is there gonna be anything left?)
Only stardust (maybe) maybe tomorrow
Maybe tomorrow
Desperado
Desperado
Desperado
Desperado
Desperado
Desperado
Desperado
Desperado
Desperado