By Tam Music 
About the song
Glenn Frey on Songwriting – Reflections from a 1986 Interview
(The Roy Faires Collection, No. 39)
In the mid-1980s, several years after the breakup of the legendary band Eagles, guitarist and songwriter Glenn Frey sat down for a thoughtful conversation that would later become part of The Roy Faires Collection. The 1986 interview offered a rare glimpse into Frey’s creative philosophy, revealing how one of rock music’s most influential songwriters approached the art of writing songs.
By that time, Frey was already responsible for helping shape some of the most recognizable music of the 1970s. Alongside fellow Eagle Don Henley, he had written and performed songs that defined a generation—tracks like Take It Easy, Lyin’ Eyes, and the haunting classic Hotel California.
Yet when Frey spoke about songwriting in the interview, he did not describe it as something mystical or mysterious. Instead, he explained that writing songs was a craft—something that required discipline, collaboration, and a deep understanding of storytelling.
Frey often emphasized that great songs begin with simple ideas.
During the conversation, he explained that many of the Eagles’ most famous songs started with everyday observations. A phrase overheard in conversation, a scene from life on the road, or a moment of emotional reflection could become the seed for a new song. Once that seed existed, the real work began.
For Frey, songwriting was about shaping those ideas into something universal.
He believed that listeners connected most strongly with songs that reflected real experiences. Whether the subject was love, loneliness, ambition, or regret, the story had to feel authentic.
That philosophy can be heard clearly in songs like “Lyin’ Eyes,” which tells the story of a woman trapped in a life she no longer wants, or “Take It Easy,” a song that captured the carefree optimism of young musicians chasing dreams across America.
Frey explained that collaboration played a huge role in the Eagles’ songwriting process.
While he often brought ideas to the table, his partnership with Don Henley helped refine those concepts. Henley’s thoughtful lyrical style balanced Frey’s instinct for melody and structure. Together, they created songs that combined narrative depth with unforgettable hooks.
The two writers often challenged each other creatively.
Frey described how songwriting sessions could involve long conversations about lyrics, structure, and emotional tone. They would debate which lines worked best, experiment with different arrangements, and continue revising until the song felt complete.
Sometimes that process took hours.
Other times, it took months.
But Frey believed that patience was essential.
In the interview, he also reflected on how the Eagles’ success changed the expectations surrounding their songwriting. After albums like Hotel California achieved massive commercial success, every new song carried the pressure of living up to that legacy.
For some artists, that pressure might have been overwhelming.
Frey, however, viewed it as motivation.
He explained that the goal was not to repeat the past but to continue evolving as writers and musicians. Each new song offered an opportunity to explore different emotions, stories, and musical ideas.
By 1986, Frey was also developing a successful solo career. Songs like The Heat Is On and You Belong to the City had introduced his music to a new generation of listeners, proving that his songwriting instincts remained strong even outside the Eagles.
Yet despite those achievements, Frey remained grounded in the fundamentals of the craft.
He often stressed that songwriting was about communication.
A song, he believed, should connect with people immediately—whether through a memorable melody, a compelling lyric, or an emotional atmosphere that draws listeners into the story.
That belief explains why so many Eagles songs continue to resonate decades after they were first recorded.
Frey understood that music becomes timeless when it reflects something universal about human experience.
Looking back now, the 1986 interview feels especially meaningful. It captured Glenn Frey during a reflective moment in his career—after enormous success but still deeply engaged with the creative process.
The insights he shared about songwriting reveal not only how the Eagles created their music but also why those songs have endured for generations.
Great songwriting, Frey suggested, is not about chasing trends or trying to impress audiences with complexity.
Instead, it is about honesty.
It is about telling stories that people recognize from their own lives.
And for Glenn Frey, that simple philosophy helped create some of the most enduring songs in rock history—songs that continue to echo long after the final note fades.
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