Most artists don’t write songs just to climb the charts. While millions of fans singing along is a pop star’s dream, true artists often push boundaries, creating music that connects deeply with listeners or challenges what’s possible.
Don Henley, already a celebrity with the Eagles, crafted one of his most poignant songs in Building the Perfect Beast with “A Month of Sundays.” It remains one of his most heartfelt tracks.
By the time Henley started working on the album, he still needed a major hit to stay in the spotlight.
While his first solo album produced some hits like “Dirty Laundry,” he knew he needed something more substantial.
When he heard Mike Campbell’s demo of “The Boys of Summer,” with its synthesizers and slick guitar licks, Henley found the cornerstone of his solo career.
The rest of the album, however, retains much of the Eagles’ classic sound—rootsy rock and roll with a deeper touch.
Like “The Last Resort” from Hotel California, “A Month of Sundays” offers a broader message, reading more like a slice-of-life poem set to music.
Henley, the son of blue-collar workers in the South, often reflected on the farmland and rural landscapes of his youth. But he doesn’t pretend to equate rock and roll with the life of a farmer.
Instead, “A Month of Sundays” is Henley’s way of capturing the sweeping changes happening all around him, particularly in the world he came from.
Having stayed close to his roots in Texas, Henley crafted a surreal reflection on what people took for granted as times changed.
As MTV ushered rock and roll into the digital age, Henley speaks from the perspective of a simple farmer who watches in disbelief as the world around him transforms.
Though songs like this can easily come across as out-of-touch or nostalgic rants, Henley avoids being preachy. He tells the story from one man’s point of view, and it’s heartbreaking to see this man feel like life has passed him by.
After working tirelessly for years, he watches his methods replaced by assembly lines. It’s a sad fact of life, but Henley captures the melancholy beautifully.
The song’s protagonist now spends his days sitting on his porch, reflecting on his life, wondering if he’ll ever see his other half again.
Henley doesn’t give us specifics about whether his partner has passed away, but we don’t need the details. We just know the man is alone, questioning what impact he made in his lifetime.
In today’s world, where people are quick to voice their frustrations on social media, the message may seem less urgent.
But in “A Month of Sundays,” it’s not about fighting or pushing back—it’s about a deep sadness and reflection.
Even if you don’t fully agree with the song’s perspective, it’s hard not to feel sympathy for a man at the end of his life, wondering where it all went wrong.
Henley has never been afraid to back up his message with action. Outside of music, he’s been dedicated to causes like the Walden Woods Project, which aims to preserve America’s natural habitats rather than seeing them paved over for industrial use.
While progress is key to societal growth, “A Month of Sundays” is a stark reminder that not everything should be lost to modernization.
Henley’s message isn’t about personal struggles but about retaining our humanity, even when making difficult decisions.
