Explanation of lyrics

"Remember when the days were long, And rolled beneath a deep blue sky, Didn't have a care in the world, With mommy and daddy standin' by".  In the beginning when he was not in satans trap.  Not even a clue that satan exists.

"But "happily ever after" fails, And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales".  He believes this is not reality and will always fail.  I beg to differ, it only fails if you fall into satans trap.  This is kind of devil philosophy.

"The lawyers dwell on small details, Since daddy had to fly". My guess is his trial by devils ( devils in the details ), convicted him on little things, and God was absent.  Now we know no one is guilty.  If its a court trial, then with new evidence all should be freed.

"Oh, but I know a place where we can go, And wash away this sin, We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by, And tall grass waves in the wind, Just lay your head back on the ground, And let your hair spill all around me".  Probably a mockery of more fairy tales.

"Offer up your best defense, But this is the end, This is the end of the innocence"  When satan starts his war with you to pull you in under his power, the only thing you can do is put up your best defense.  He believes no ones best defense will be good enough against satan.  Probably true in most cases, but I am one case of survival ( till now anyway, and its been 18 years )

"O' beautiful, for spacious skies, Now those skies are threatening". Again how things were in the begining but those days are gone.

"They're beating plowshares into swords.  For this tired old man that we elected king".  Probably talking about Jesus or God.  Again devil philosophy.  Don Henley has really drunk the devils cool aid.

"And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales, The lawyers clean up all details, Since daddy had to lie"  Again he doesn't believe a wonderful life from beginning to end and eternity is reality, therefore God is a liar.  More devil philosophy.  Could be the devil compelled him or has just twisted his mind.  Not everyone falls into satans trap and loses the fairy tale life.  Moreover, I believe its Gods will that all people who got caught in the trap be freed eventually and regain the fairy tale reality.  Time will tell.

"Oh, who knows how long this will last, Now we've come so far, so fast".  At least he does have some hope it's not forever.  And now we know the end has come.  In a little while we begin the journey back to heaven.

"But somewhere back there in the dust, That same small town in each of us, I need to remember this".  The memory of how it was before keeps his hope alive.

"So baby, give me just one kiss, And let me take a long last look, Before we say goodbye".  One last look at paradise lost.