About The Song
“Fast Company” is a track by the American rock band Eagles, appearing as the ninth song on their seventh studio album, Long Road Out of Eden. The double-disc album was released on October 30, 2007, by Lost Highway Records (in partnership with Eagles Recording Company II), marking the band’s first full studio release in 28 years since The Long Run in 1979. Recording sessions spanned from 2001 to 2007, following the 2001 dismissal of guitarist Don Felder amid longstanding internal conflicts. Produced primarily by the band members themselves (with Glenn Frey and Don Henley taking lead roles), the album exceeded 90 minutes in length and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling over 711,000 copies in its first week despite initial exclusive distribution through Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the band’s website in the US. It achieved 7× Platinum certification from the RIAA for 3.5 million units shipped and topped charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Norway. The album earned two Grammy Awards: Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “How Long” and Best Pop Instrumental Performance for “I Dreamed There Was No War.”
“Fast Company” was not released as a single and did not chart individually on Billboard lists. Album singles included “How Long” (number 23 on Hot Country Songs, number 101 on Hot 100) and “Busy Being Fabulous” (number 28 on Hot Country Songs, number 12 on Adult Contemporary). The song runs approximately 4:00 in duration and features a mid-tempo rock arrangement with prominent guitar work, keyboards, and harmonies characteristic of the band’s later style. Songwriting credits are shared by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, with Henley handling primary lead vocals. An early studio version of “Fast Company” first appeared in 2006 as part of a bonus audio CD included with the special Walmart-exclusive DVD release Farewell 1 Tour: Live from Melbourne, alongside “No More Cloudy Days” and “Do Something”—tracks later included on Long Road Out of Eden. This preview release helped build anticipation for the full album.
The track’s lyrics address themes of youthful recklessness and the pitfalls of rushing through life in pursuit of superficial success or thrills, delivered with a paternal, advisory tone from an older perspective warning against “fast company” leading nowhere. Musically, it incorporates elements like alto saxophone by Al Garth, adding texture to the Eagles’ signature blend of rock and country influences. The song emerged during the band’s post-reunion period after the 1994 Hell Freezes Over project, a time marked by legal disputes, lineup changes, and a focus on new material amid extensive touring. In interviews around the album’s release, Henley described the lengthy production process as exhausting, noting in a 2007 CNN appearance that it might be the band’s last studio effort—a statement that held true following Glenn Frey’s death in 2016, making Long Road Out of Eden their final studio album with the classic lineup.
Additional details include its placement on disc one of the double album, amid a mix of reflective ballads, social commentary tracks, and upbeat rockers. Sources like Songfacts and Genius highlight its straightforward rock structure and lyrical cautionary message. While not a standout commercial single, “Fast Company” contributes to the album’s overall narrative of maturity and introspection. The album’s exclusive initial distribution sparked controversy and a last-minute Billboard rule change allowing it to block other releases from the number-one spot. Overall, the song represents the Eagles’ evolved sound in their later career phase, blending seasoned musicianship with themes relevant to aging rock stars reflecting on life’s pace.
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Lyric
Now, where you going?
Now, what’s the rush?
You listen here
No, you just hush
I know what you think
That man don’t know anything
But I’ve been around a while
I know what’s happeningEverybody want to check you out
Everybody want to be your friend
And all this pressure
Where do I fit in?
They don’t know nothing you don’t know
But soon enough you will see
You better watch your step now
Or you’ll end up just like meFast company
You’re going nowhere
You’re going nowhere fast
Now it’s alright to have some fun
This is your turn
Your life has just begunFast company
You’re going nowhere
You’re going nowhere fast
You think the grass is greener
But it’s greener over the septic tank