# The 1973 Eagles song Don Henley knew he could never sing: “I missed the whole thing”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-1973-eagles-song-don-henley-knew-he-could-never-sing-i-missed-the-whole-thing/
- Published: 2026-07-30T18:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-30T19:36:49+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1973-eagles-song-don-henley-knew-he-could-never-sing/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Henley felt he could never sing ‘Earlybird’.
- Bernie Leadon performed the 1973 Eagles track.
- The song featured on *Desperado*.

## Summary

Don Henley reportedly felt unable to sing the Eagles’ 1973 song ‘Earlybird’, saying he had missed the moment to take part in it. The anecdote highlights the differing vocal roles within the band during its early years, before Henley became one of the group’s defining lead singers.

‘Earlybird’ appeared on the Eagles’ second album, *Desperado*, released in 1973, and was sung by guitarist Bernie Leadon. Henley later reflected that Leadon had developed the song’s distinctive vocal approach himself, leaving Henley feeling he could not convincingly replicate it.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.