It’s safe to say that no rock artist can boast about the simplicity of every track they write. Writing songs can be a challenging process, especially when you find yourself spending hours in the studio with little progress to show for it. There are moments when a little extra motivation is necessary to persevere. Don Henley would have preferred to call it a day rather than continue working on The Eagles’ ‘On the Border’.
Henley focused extremely on his career, standing out among the Eagles. Although Henley enjoyed his fair share of fun, his main focus was creating timeless songs. He preferred this over-relying on live performances for audience participation.
During the production of On the Border, the band was in search of a secret weapon. After the disappointing performance of their previous record, doubts lingered about their ability to create a timeless masterpiece. The album as a whole may not flow seamlessly, but ‘On the Border’ stands out as one of the more daring tracks. It exudes a groovy style reminiscent of classic soul songs.
That is, once the band finally completed it. Despite having songs like ‘Already Gone‘ and ‘Best of My Love‘ ready to go, Henley felt that he could have put in more effort to fully develop the tune. However, his perspective changed when some friends introduced him to the drug Black Molly. It was a popular choice among truckers for staying awake during long hours.
Don Henley believed that this particular drug had a remarkable effect on songwriters. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he recalled, “I remember it was one of the last things to be recorded.” He had to meet an immovable deadline.” I managed to acquire a truck driver pill known as a Black Molly and spent the entire night working on the song. I was desperate to go home, that’s for sure.
Based on his narrative, the article has a sense of someone eager to wrap up the entire ordeal. There is undeniably potential in the track, and the band does take a few clever jabs at Richard Nixon on the record. However, there is always a certain quality about the song that sets it slightly below the other beloved classics by the Eagles.
It seems the group deliberately emphasized the tension within, possibly to highlight the level of conflict present. Bernie Leadon contemplating his departure, ‘On the Border’ captures the band members’ musical aspirations. It results in a convergence of styles that finds a harmonious middle ground.
Henley discovered a soulful sound while working on the album One of These Nights. The title track became a staple in the band’s live performances. When it came to working on the album The Long Run, the use of harder drugs like cocaine may have come into play. However, ‘On the Border’ is widely regarded as one of the remarkable outcomes that amphetamines contributed to the creative process.
