By the very fluid nature of their work, it’s impossible for music artists to engage in their craft without listening to other musicians. Even among the brightest stars, other songs can still stand out to them. For Don Henley, that song was crooned by Trisha Yearwood to great – and tearful – effect.
As a founding member of the rock band Eagles, Henley is the voice behind enduring hits such as “Life in the Fast Lane,” “Get Over It,” and “The Long Run,” to name just a few. His music transcends different varieties of rock, from country to pop to folk. For how emotional some ballads can get, he has named “Dreaming Fields,” performed specifically by Yearwood as the version that gets him teary.
Corn sways, the setting sun shines, rain falls. A scenic and wondrous image painted by “Dreaming Fields,” made even more powerful when Yearwood sings it. “A woman who has recorded a Matraca Berg song called ‘Dreaming Fields’ and this is my favorite version,” Henley mused about this particular rendition. “Matraca did this song, but I like Trisha Yearwood’s version better. I’m sorry, Matraca. I get tears in my eyes every time I hear this song.”
For Henley, the lyrics and Yearwood’s delivery make it all the more personal. “It just kills me because it reminds me of my father and my grandfather,” he explained, “who were both farmers at one point. This is a story, perhaps about Matraca Bergs’ grandfather.”
Of course, it’s impossible to pick just one favorite of anything. Rolling Stones frontman Keith Richards had a whole list of his 10 favorite singers, and Henley has other songs and artists besides Yearwood that inspire him. He named “Silver Wings” by Merle Haggard, “Act Naturally” by Buck Owen, and it all comes back to Matraca Berg with “If I Had Wings.”
Considering the Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in ’98, to get a special mention from a founding member is high praise for any artist. For Yearwood, it’s just another accomplishment piled onto repeated occasions of topping the music charts – not to mention the savory success of her cooking show.
Take a listen to the song that gets Henley teary-eyed below!
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