“The Heart of the Matter” is the tenth and final track from Don Henley’s 1989 album, The End of the Innocence. It peaked at #21 on the Billboard 100.

The song is about forgiveness. The subject’s ex has found… Read More [Verse 1]

I got the call today

And I didn't wanna hear

But I knew that it would come

An old true friend of ours

Was talkin' on the phone

She said you found someone

And I thought of all the bad luck

And the struggles we went through

And how I lost me

And you lost you

What are these voices

Outside love's open door

Make us throw off our contentment

And beg for something more?

[Pre-Chorus]

But I'm learning to live without you now

But I miss you sometimes

And the more I know

The less I understand

All the things I thought I knew

I'm learning again

[Chorus]

I've been tryin' to get down

To the heart of the matter

But my will gets weak

And my thoughts seem to scatter

But I think it's about

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Even if, even if

You don't love me anymore

[Verse 2]

Ah, these times are so uncertain

There's a yearning undefined

And people filled with rage

We all need a little tenderness

How can love survive

In such a graceless age?

Ah, the trust and self-assurance

That lead to happiness

They're the very things

We kill, I guess

Ah, pride and competition

Cannot fill these empty arms

And the work I put between us

You know it doesn't keep me warm

[Pre-Chorus]

But I'm learning to live without you now

But I miss you, baby

And the more I know

The less I understand

All the things I thought I figured out

I have to learn again

[Chorus]

I've been tryin' to get down

To the heart of the matter

But everything changes

And my friends seem to scatter

But I think it's about

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Even if, even if

You don't love me anymore

[Bridge]

There are people in your life

Who've come and gone

They let you down

You know they hurt your pride

You better put it all behind you, baby

'Cause life goes on

You keep carryin' that anger

It'll eat you up inside, baby

[Chorus]

I've been tryin' to get down

To the heart of the matter

But my will gets weak

And my thoughts seem to scatter

But I think it's about

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Even if, even if

You don't love me

I've been tryin' to get down

To the heart of the matter

Because the flesh will get weak

And the ashes will scatter

So I'm thinkin' about

Forgiveness, forgiveness

Even if, even if

You don't love me

[Outro]

Forgiveness (Yeah)

Forgiveness (Baby)

Forgiveness (Oh, oh)

Forgiveness (Ah, yeah)

Forgiveness (Oh)

Forgiveness

Even if you don't love me anymore

Forgiveness (Oh)

Forgiveness (Ah, yeah)

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Hey, yeah