Eagles – Too Many Hands

About The Song

“Too Many Hands” is a rock track from the Eagles’ fourth studio album, One of These Nights, released on June 10, 1975, by Asylum Records. The song was written by bassist Randy Meisner and guitarist Don Felder, with lead vocals performed by Meisner. It runs 4 minutes and 43 seconds and features a world music influence through the use of tablas played by Don Henley.

Recording for One of These Nights took place at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, and Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, California, under producer Bill Szymczyk. This was Szymczyk’s first full album with the Eagles after joining them on the previous record, On the Border. The album marked the full integration of Don Felder as a permanent member, bringing a harder rock edge to the band’s sound.

One of These Nights became the Eagles’ commercial breakthrough, debuting and peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in July 1975. It was certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA for shipments exceeding four million copies in the United States. The album produced three Top 10 singles: the title track “One of These Nights” (No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Lyin’ Eyes” (No. 2), and “Take It to the Limit” (No. 4).

“Too Many Hands” was not released as a single and did not appear on the Billboard charts. However, it was performed live during the band’s 1975 tour supporting the album, initially serving as Randy Meisner’s spotlight song before “Take It to the Limit” was added to the setlist. The track showcases layered guitar work from Felder, Glenn Frey, and Bernie Leadon, contributing to its reputation as one of the album’s stronger rockers.

This was the final Eagles album to feature founding guitarist Bernie Leadon, who departed after the tour due to creative differences over the band’s shift toward mainstream rock. Leadon was replaced by Joe Walsh for the next album, Hotel California. Instrumentation on “Too Many Hands” includes Glenn Frey on lead guitar, Don Henley on drums and tablas, Bernie Leadon on guitars, and Randy Meisner on bass.

One of These Nights received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year in 1976, while “Lyin’ Eyes” won the award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. The album’s success propelled the Eagles to international stardom and solidified their transition from country-rock roots to a more polished rock sound.

Video

Lyric

She’s one of a kind
Sometimes hard to find
Like a rainbow
Well, she’s lost all her glory
And could tell you some stories
That we all should know

And there’s too many hands
Being laid on her
Too many eyes will never see
That it’s dragging her down
But you won’t hear a sound as
She turns ’round

Her beauty all aflight
It always seems to turn the tide
At midnight
And for her there is no rest
We are doing what is best
For our future

One of these days she may not
Be so good to you
One of these days she might
Shake you to the ground
But her fire is still burning
And her heart is still yearning
To be found

Too many hands
Being laid on her
Too many eyes will never see
That it’s dragging her down
Still you won’t hear a sound as
She turns ’round

Too many hands
Too many hands