By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ The Eagles were blessed with three great singer-songwriters: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Joe Walsh. And then there as Randy Meisner, who quietly penned, or contributed to some memorable efforts, not least one of the band’s signature hits, “Take It to the Limit.”
Also with a rare lead vocal from Meisner, featuring his revelatory falsetto, the 1975 song was the first Eagles’ hit not sung by Henley or Frey and was a concert anchor (often an encore) that was so synonymous with the shy bassist that when he refused to sing it in later years (due in part to the physical and mental stress of hitting the high notes), it led to animosity and a split with the band.
After Meisner’s departure, Frey took over occasional performances of the song – albeit in a different key to reflect a vocal range that couldn’t match Meisner., but it was never the same.
Another Meisner classic was the similarly flighty “Try and Love Again” from Hotel California the following year, though Henley provided the vocals.
Here is Meisner at the high note of his powers.
Lyrics
I’m alone at the end of the evening
And the bright lights have faded to blue
I was thinking ’bout a woman
Who might have loved me, and I never knew
You know I’ve always been a dreamer
(Spent my life running ’round)
And it’s so hard to change
(Can’t seem to settle down)
But the dreams I’ve seen lately
Keep on turning out and burning out
And turning out the same
So put me on a highway
And show me a sign
And take it to the limit one more time
You can spend all your time making money
You can spend all your love making time
If it all fell to pieces tomorrow
Would you still be mine?
And when you’re looking for your freedom
(Nobody seems to care)
And you can’t find the door
(Can’t find it anywhere)
When there’s nothing to believe in
Still you’re coming back, you’re running back
You’re coming back for more
So put me on a highway
And show me a sign
And take it to the limit one more time
Take it to the limit
Take it to the limit
Take it to the limit
One more time
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