The Meaning Behind The Song: Those Shoes by Eagles

May 2024 · 5 minute read

To the uninitiated listener, “Those Shoes” by Eagles could easily be mistaken for a simple rock and roll love song about a woman’s love of fashion. However, a closer listen to both the lyrics and the context in which the song was written reveals a much deeper and more complex meaning. In this article, we’ll dive deep into “Those Shoes”, examining its lyrics, its place in the Eagles’ discography, and the cultural context in which it was released, to uncover the full meaning behind this iconic song.

Table of Contents

Lyrics Analysis

At first glance, “Those Shoes” is a song about a woman’s obsession with fashion, specifically her love of shoes. The first verse sets the stage:

Tell us what you’re gonna do tonight, mama
There must be someplace you can go
In the middle of the tall drinks and the drama
There must be someone you know

This verse paints a picture of a woman preparing to go out on the town, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a busy city. The second verse narrows the focus to the woman’s love of shoes:

He’s got a full house on a Friday night
Looks like a prison on a Saturday
Might be a stranger in the crowd
Might be a devil in disguise

The reference to a “full house” suggests that the woman is out at a club or bar, and the line “Looks like a prison on a Saturday” could be interpreted as a comment on the oppressive nature of the fashion industry, which can make women feel pressured to conform to certain beauty standards. This interpretation is backed up by the chorus:

Those shoes, ain’t nobody gonna walk all over you
Those shoes, nobody’s gonna tell you what to do

These lines imply that the woman is using fashion, specifically shoes, as a way to assert her independence and autonomy. She refuses to be walked all over or told what to do, and instead uses her shoes as a means of self-expression and empowerment.

The second half of the second verse and the third verse add more depth to the song’s meaning. In these verses, the woman encounters a man who seems to be interested in her for shallow reasons:

She’s everybody’s angel
Loaded gun, won’t set you free
No one can hold back the man
Who won’t hear the plea

This man sees the woman as a conquest, someone he can add to his list of conquests, rather than as a person with her own thoughts and feelings. However, the woman ultimately refuses to be objectified:

She’s comin’ on like a hurricane
White lightning’s flashing across the sky
She’s comin’ on like a lion
No one’s gonna try to tame her

These lines suggest that the woman is a force to be reckoned with, and refuses to be tamed or controlled by anyone, particularly a man who sees her as a mere object. Overall, “Those Shoes” is a song that reflects upon the complex relationship between fashion, gender, and empowerment.

The Eagles’ Discography

To fully understand the meaning of “Those Shoes”, it’s important to look at its place in the Eagles’ discography. Released in 1979 as part of their album “The Long Run”, “Those Shoes” came at a pivotal moment in the band’s history. They had experienced massive success with their previous album, “Hotel California”, but were struggling with internal tensions and creative differences as they worked on their follow-up album.

In this context, “Those Shoes” takes on even greater significance. The song can be seen as a commentary on the pressures and expectations that come with fame and fortune, particularly for women. The woman in the song is using fashion, specifically shoes, as a means of asserting her independence and defiance against male-dominated industry pressures.

Furthermore, “The Long Run” represented a departure from the Eagles’ traditional style, with a greater emphasis on hard rock and funk influences. “Those Shoes” reflects this new sound, with its driving guitar riffs and funky rhythm section. The song’s stylistic departure mirrors the band’s own evolution, as they sought to push the boundaries of their music and expand their sound.

Cultural Context

Finally, to fully understand the meaning of “Those Shoes”, it’s important to examine the cultural context in which it was released. The late 1970s were a time of significant social and cultural change in America, particularly in regards to gender roles and expectations. The women’s liberation movement, which had gained significant traction in the 1960s and 1970s, was challenging traditional gender roles and empowering women to assert their independence and autonomy.

“Those Shoes” can be seen as a reflection of these changing attitudes towards gender and empowerment. The woman in the song is using fashion, specifically shoes, as a means of asserting her independence and autonomy, refusing to be controlled or objectified by men. This echoes the larger cultural shifts happening at the time, as women were fighting for greater equality and autonomy in all aspects of their lives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Those Shoes” by Eagles is a song with a complex and multifaceted meaning. While it may appear at first glance to be a simple rock and roll love song about a woman’s love of fashion, a closer look at the lyrics reveals a much deeper commentary on the relationship between fashion, gender, and empowerment. When placed in the context of the Eagles’ discography and the cultural context of the late 1970s, “Those Shoes” takes on even greater significance as a reflection of the changing attitudes towards gender and empowerment in American society. Even today, this iconic song continues to resonate with listeners, as a testament to the enduring power of music to reflect and comment upon the world around us.

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