About the Song

“In the City” is a haunting track that originally emerged from Joe Walsh’s collaboration with composer Barry De Vorzon for the 1979 film The Warriors. Set against a dystopian New York City backdrop, the song captures the essence of urban survival and isolation.

Walsh, living in Santa Barbara at the time, collaborated with his neighbor De Vorzon, who was crafting the film’s score. “He explained to me that it was about gangs in New York [and] would I do a song for it?” Walsh recalled. Drawing inspiration from the screenplay and Walsh’s personal experiences growing up in New York City and New Jersey, the duo co-wrote the lyrics and produced the song.

The film, based on Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel, follows the harrowing journey of a gang framed for murder as they battle their way back to Brooklyn’s Coney Island. Walsh’s lyrics fit seamlessly into this gritty, chaotic narrative, capturing the tension and vulnerability of urban life. Despite its thematic resonance, the song initially received little attention, as Walsh later noted: “When it first came out, it didn’t really get any recognition, and the song was just on the [film’s] album.”

The song’s potential didn’t go unnoticed by Walsh’s Eagles bandmates, Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Impressed by his work, they decided to re-record “In the City” for their 1979 album The Long Run, giving the track a broader platform. “They said, ‘Let’s redo it and give it the recognition it deserves,’” Walsh explained.

Barry De Vorzon was both thrilled and nervous about the Eagles covering the song. Reflecting on the moment, he said, “Joe calls me up and says, ‘I think the Eagles are gonna do ‘In the City.’ I told him, ‘Don’t mention it again until you can walk into my house with the album in your hand. If it doesn’t make the cut, I’ll be devastated.’”

The Eagles’ version of “In the City” expanded its legacy. Over the years, the song appeared in pop culture, from a 2014 The Simpsons episode to a Rick and Morty parody in 2017. It was also featured on the Eagles’ Hell Freezes Over live album in 1994, cementing its place as a fan favorite.

Ultimately, “In the City” stands as a testament to Joe Walsh’s storytelling and the Eagles’ ability to reimagine and elevate a song. Its evocative themes of survival, resilience, and longing continue to resonate with listeners decades later.

Lyrics

Somewhere out on that horizon
Out beyond the neon lights
I know there must be somethin’ better
But there’s nowhere else in sight
It’s survival in the city
When you live from day to day
City streets don’t have much pity
When you’re down, that’s where you’ll stay
In the city
Oh, oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
In the city
Oh, oh
I was born here in the city
With my back against the wall
Nothing grows, and life ain’t very pretty
No one’s there to catch you when you fall
Somewhere out on that horizon
Faraway from the neon sky
I know there must be somethin’ better
And I can’t stay another night
Ooh
In the city
Oh, oh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
In the city
Oh, oh
In the city
In the city
In the city
Oh, oh