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 standing byWhen happily ever after fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to flyBut I know a place where we can go
Still untouched by man
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the windYou can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the endThis is the end of the innocence
O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swordsFor this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all detailsSince daddy had to lie
But I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll byAnd the tall grass wave in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defenseBut this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fastBut, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kissAnd let me take a long last look
Before we say good bye
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around meOffer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
Songwriters
BRUCE HORNSBY, DON HENLEYPublished by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.