The end of the innocence ( song ) - wikipedia The end of the innocence ( song ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2013 ) `` The End of the Innocence '' Single by Don Henley from the album The End of the Innocence Released June 6, 1989 Format CD Recorded Length 5 : 16 Label Geffen Songwriter ( s ) Don Henley Bruce Hornsby Producer ( s ) Don Henley Bruce Hornsby Don Henley singles chronology `` Sunset Grill '' ( 1985 ) `` The End of the Innocence '' ( 1989 ) `` I Will Not Go Quietly '' ( 1989 ) `` Sunset Grill '' ( 1985 ) `` The End of the Innocence '' ( 1989 ) `` I Will Not Go Quietly '' ( 1989 ) Audio sample file help `` The End of the Innocence '' is the lead single and title track from Don Henley 's third solo studio album of the same name, released in 1989. Henley co-wrote and co-produced the song with Bruce Hornsby, who also performed piano ; both artists perform the song live in their respective concerts. Henley 's version peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his fifth solo top ten hit on the chart. `` The End of the Innocence '' also became his fourth number - one single on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number two on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart. The song features Wayne Shorter on saxophone. Contents 1 Background and content 2 Music video 3 Chart performance 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Year - end charts 4 See also 5 References Background and content This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. ( October 2011 ) Henley 's lyrics take the form of a personal remembrance of a close friend or companion, and evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia for the lost innocence of childhood. The music was written by Bruce Hornsby years earlier. Don was driving back from Bruce 's ranch in Moorpark when he found out that a friend had been indicted for securities fraud -- - at the time the government was going after Michael Milken, thus the references to having to call the lawyers `` because Daddy had to lie. '' The `` place where we can go '' refers to his 50 - acre ranch outside Aspen, Colorado off Woody Creek Rd. The reflections and the emotional responses represent the end of the innocence of the baby boomers, which for some was coupled with a perception of nihilism, consumerism, and militarism during the Reagan administration. Even as they yearn for the simplicity and values of the past and the uncorrupted people they used to be, the song sees them coming to terms with the responsibilities and challenges facing Americans entering middle - age in the 1980s. Music video The black and white music video for the song was directed by future film director David Fincher ( Seven, Fight Club ) and earned Henley an MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1990. There are two political comments in the video. At the line `` armchair warriors often fail, '' it shows a TV set showing scenes of the congressional testimony of Oliver North. At the line `` they 're beating plowshares into swords, for the tired old man that we elected king, '' it shows a series of posters of President Ronald Reagan. After Reagan had left office, Bruce Hornsby began singing his version with the line `` for the tired old man that is no longer king. '' Also in the video, there are shots of Henley singing in front of the Texas School Book Depository in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas. To Henley, this is where the `` end of the innocence '' can be found. A portion of the video was also filmed in the town of Waxahachie, Texas, just south of Dallas at the historic Rogers Hotel, where Bonnie and Clyde stayed and where the movies Places in the Heart and Tender Mercies were filmed. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1989 - 1990 ) Peak position Canadian RPM Top Singles Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary UK Singles Chart 48 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 8 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks Year - end charts Chart ( 1989 ) Position Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 15 See also Ronald Reagan in music References Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2002 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 - 2001. Record Research. p. 114. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989 ''. RPM. December 23, 1999. Retrieved November 22, 2017. Don Henley Studio albums I Ca n't Stand Still Building the Perfect Beast The End of the Innocence Inside Job Cass County Compilation albums Actual Miles : Henley 's Greatest Hits The Very Best of Don Henley One of These Nights : Boston 1993 Singles `` Johnny Ca n't Read '' `` Dirty Laundry '' `` The Boys of Summer '' `` All She Wants to Do Is Dance '' `` Not Enough Love in the World '' `` Sunset Grill '' `` The End of the Innocence '' `` New York Minute '' `` The Last Worthless Evening '' `` The Heart of the Matter '' `` The Garden of Allah '' `` Everybody Knows '' Guest singles `` Leather and Lace '' `` Sometimes Love Just Ai n't Enough '' `` Walkaway Joe '' `` Inside Out '' See also Discography Eagles Bruce Hornsby Albums The Way It Is Scenes from the Southside A Night on the Town Harbor Lights Hot House Spirit Trail Here Come The Noise Makers Big Swing Face Halcyon Days Intersections ( 1985 - 2005 ) Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby Camp Meeting Levitate Bride of the Noisemakers Rehab Reunion Songs `` Every Little Kiss '' `` The Way It Is '' `` Mandolin Rain '' `` The Valley Road '' `` Jacob 's Ladder '' `` The End of the Innocence '' `` Barren Ground '' Related articles Grateful Dead The Other Ones Jerry Garcia Sonny Emory Christian McBride Jack DeJohnette Ricky Skaggs Pat Metheny Branford Marsalis Bonnie Raitt Steve Kimock David Mansfield Joe Puerta John Molo John Hornsby Don Henley Huey Lewis Béla Fleck Films directed by David Fincher Alien 3 ( 1992 ) Seven ( 1995 ) The Game ( 1997 ) Fight Club ( 1999 ) Panic Room ( 2002 ) Zodiac ( 2007 ) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ( 2008 ) The Social Network ( 2010 ) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ( 2011 ) Gone Girl ( 2014 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_End_of_the_Innocence_(song)&oldid=843211818 '' Categories : 1989 songs 1989 singles Don Henley songs Billboard Mainstream Rock number - one singles MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video Songs written by Bruce Hornsby Songs written by Don Henley Music videos directed by David Fincher Black - and - white music videos Geffen Records singles Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from December 2013 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats Articles that may contain original research from October 2011 All articles that may contain original research Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 27 May 2018, at 17 : 19. 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Question: who sings this is the end of the innocence
Answer: Don Henley