And do you feel me beside you in your bed
There beside you where I used to lay
I’ve long looked forward to writing about today’s featured track, Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough. I’ve always admired the songwriting in this rock ballad, especially the lyrics, and I was eager to find out the story behind it. I first listened to this song a lot in 1993 on a road trip from Canberra to Brisbane where my friend Michael and I stopped at various camping sites along the way. My Mum always got so emotional when she played the Anne Murray song – You Need Me and I too with Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough which made me so melancholy, glassy-eyed and weak at the knees, but in a good way – like it was healing for the soul.
I was always curious to know why that love wasn’t enough to sustain their relationship. There are some cues when Henley starts singing, ‘Yes, I may have hurt you‘. One things for certain, it’s much easier to fall in love than to stay in love. This song nails that perfectly.
I really like Henley’s voice in this. I always preferred his music post Eagles in the 80’s which culminated in two of the finest rock ballads I have had the privilege to hear – The End of the Innocence and The Heart of the Matter.
Now, I don’t wanna lose you
But I don’t wanna use you
Just to have somebody by my side
And I don’t wanna hate you
I don’t wanna take you
But I don’t wanna be the one to cry
And that don’t really matter
To anyone anymore
But like a fool I keep losing my place
And I keep seeing you walk through that door
But there’s a danger in loving somebody too much
And it’s sad when you know it’s your heart you can’t trust
There’s a reason why people don’t stay where they are
Baby, sometimes love just ain’t enough
Now, I could never change you
I don’t want to blame you
Baby, you don’t have to take the fall
Yes, I may have hurt you
But I did not desert you
Maybe I just want to have it all
It makes a sound like thunder
It makes me feel like rain
And like a fool who will never see the truth
I keep thinking something’s gonna change
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
And there’s no way home
When it’s late at night and you’re all alone
Are there things that you wanted to say
And do you feel me beside you in your bed
There beside you where I used to lay
Most of the following has been extracted from the Wikipedia reference below:
Smyth is the lead singer for the band Scandal and she had previously provided backing vocals on Henley’s solo albums Building the Perfect Beast (1984) and The End of the Innocence (1989). Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough was written by Smyth and Glen Burtnik and was released as a single in August 1992. It reached No. 1 in Canada, where it was the most successful single of 1992, and peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard. It remained in the top 40 for 20 weeks. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Pop Vocal.
‘She played him a demo version of the song that she recorded with Burtnik, and Henley loved it. Glen explained: “There was the harmony part I was singing with Patty which he learned and sang beautifully when he agreed to appear on her record. I feel forever indebted to Don Henley for his appearing on her recording. He was at the peak of his solo years and I believe it drew attention to the song which might not have happened otherwise.”
– Glen Burtnik – Songfacts
References:
1. Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough – Wikipedia
2. Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough – Songfacts
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I’ve had this song in my scheduled posts for 6 months…I love her and her voice…don’t care much for him but she is wonderful. I liked her in Scandal as well.
I don’t know anything about her apart from her output here. I differ on you re. Henley in this period. He couldn’t put a foot wrong. All class post Eagles.
Oh I like his solo work…better than his Eagles stuff…I just don’t like him whatsoever…but he is a great singer and songwriter.
You don’t like him as a person? Can I ask why?
Sure… he admits…he hires a room full of lawyers (his words) to scope youtube and to turn anyone in that has any type of Eagles songs. I’ll give you two examples. A bass player was trying to show other bass players how to play Hotel California…without playing the song! Just showing them on bass…boom he is cited and gets a strike because of Henley and his merry band of lawyers.
First reaction videos…where young people listen to older music and respond what they think. They will play maybe a minute of a song…stop it and talk about it and then play some more…so it’s not straight through…you couldn’t record it. He should be happy that people are sharing his music on youtube because that leads to sales…but no.
The other Eagles do not do that.
How did you find out about all that Max?
Could it have been because they had been burnt big time by a copyright infringement previously?
I have no problem if they so desire to take down unauthorised copies or full replicas of their songs, but when they police people who are making instructional videos and such as you allude to, then that seems crazy and disheartening to those involved.
Documentaries…and interviews with Don.
I agree with you…if they didn’t authorize a complete song yes…but Don is against the free usage law where you are allowed a few seconds of use of a song…not counting selling anything.
He comes off as a greedy ass.
I see. Thanks for clarifying.
I hope Dodgers don’t let this one get away from them.
Oh they will lose tonight…but they travel tomorrow and go back to LA on Friday…that is when I think they will win.
What an innings!!! 3 of the worst Yankees errors in just one innings. Spectacular.
I’m not bitiching! lol… Ohtani HAS to wake up in the next game…they need him to hit.
Ohtani’s still carrying that shoulder injury it appears.
Yea that might be it…he did hit it to the wall last night. He wasn’t really hitting before…but some players go into slumps during the playoffs.
Two bad missed zone calls means they get on base. Pathetic.
Legendary comeback, season and WS. Huge! Well done to you guys to win it 12 miles from the Dodgers original home.
That is a cool thing about it being 12 miles away. WHEW….it feels GREAT!
Great song. I also like Patty Smyth album on which it appeared and got it on CD in 1993 after I had come to the U.S. While I’ve forgotten the circumstances, I assume it was because of that song, “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough.” Smyth and Don Henley sound perfect together!
BTW, I’m also with you when it comes to Henley’s solo album “The End of the Innocence.” Out of his first three solo albums, which I all like, “The End of the Innocence” is my favorite overall.
I’m afraid I am unfamiliar with her other music, but it’s saying a lot if you and Max are singing her praises and hence worth checking out.
‘The End of the Innocence’ as an album is fantastic, but the title track is a solo masterpiece of songwriting IMHO.
A long-time favorite of mine.
I have always loved this song!