EAGLES - "Tequila Sunrise"

Eagles
"Tequila Sunrise"
Single / B-side: "Twenty-One"
Released: 17 April 1973
Album: Desperado (Released: 17 April 1973)
Writers: Don Henley, Glenn Frey
Label: Asylum

"Tequila Sunrise" is a 1973 song by American rock band the Eagles. It was the first single from the band's second album Desperado.

Eagles' single "Tequila Sunrise", 1973 (front cover)

Eagles - "Tequila Sunrise" (1973)

Glenn Frey and Don Henley wrote this song together, and Frey sang lead. Along with "Desperado," it was one of two songs they came up with the first week that they started writing together. The songs formed the basis for a Western theme, with Frey and Henley comparing the life of a cowboy to that of a musician. "Tequila Sunrise" shows the transient nature of each job, as the singer falls for a woman who just wants to use him and move on. The theme didn't immediately connect with the buying public, but the songs stood the test of time and became staples of the Eagles catalog. Bon Jovi would later borrow the idea for their 1986 hit "Wanted Dead Or Alive."

A Tequila Sunrise is a drink made with Tequila and orange juice. Some grenadine is poured on top to create the red and orange colors of a sunrise. "Tequila Sunrise" is also the name of a 1988 movie starring Kurt Russell and Mel Gibson.

This song, however, doesn't refer to the drink, but is about a guy who has been drinking straight tequila until the sun comes up.

Eagles' single: "Tequila Sunrise" , 1973

Eagles - "Tequila Sunrise" (from the album Desperado)

The line, "Take another shot of courage" refers to how if you drink tequila, it will give you courage to talk to women (although not coherently). The Eagles, who knew their way around a tavern, used to refer to tequila as "instant courage" at a time then they needed some to approach the ladies.

In the liner notes of 2003's The Very Best Of, Don Henley had this to say about the song: "I believe that was a Glenn title. I think he was ambivalent about it because he thought that it was a bit too obvious or too much of a cliché because of the drink that was so popular then. I said, 'No-Look at it from a different point of view. You've been drinking straight tequila all night and the sun is coming up!' It turned out to be a really great song."

Eagles - "Tequila Sunrise" (live)

Eagles, Desperado photo shoot (Photo by: Henry Diltz)

A cover version was recorded by country music singer Alan Jackson on the 1993 tribute album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles. South African singer Ray Dylan included a version on his album "Goeie Ou Country vol 3".

Line-up / Musicians:

Glenn Frey: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Don Henley: Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals

Randy Meisner: Bass, Backing Vocals

Bernie Leadon: Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Backing Vocals

Links / Reviews:

Wikipedia: Tequila Sunrise (song), Desperado - Eagles (album)

Allmusic: Tequila Sunrise by Eagles