Eagles – Is It True?

About The Song

“Is It True?” is a mid-tempo country rock ballad written and sung by Randy Meisner. It appears as track 8 on the Eagles’ third studio album, On the Border, released on March 22, 1974, by Asylum Records. Produced by Bill Szymczyk (with Glyn Johns on select tracks), the song was recorded during sessions at the Record Plant in Los Angeles and Olympic Studios in London. Running 3 minutes and 14 seconds, the arrangement features acoustic guitars, pedal steel, and the band’s signature harmonies, with Meisner delivering a plaintive lead vocal supported by Glenn Frey and Don Henley.

The track marks a transitional point on On the Border, which saw the Eagles incorporating harder rock elements through the addition of guitarist Don Felder and new producer Szymczyk. The album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200, achieved 2× Platinum certification from the RIAA, and spawned three singles: “Already Gone” (number 32), “James Dean” (number 77), and “Best of My Love” (number 1 on the Hot 100 in 1975). Though not released as a single itself, “Is It True?” contributed to the album’s diverse sound, blending lingering country influences with emerging rock edges.

Lyrically, the song explores regret and disbelief over a lost relationship. The narrator questions his former lover’s new romance, wondering why she stays with someone who mistreats her, while reflecting on their past carefree youth and his own realization of love too late. He admits his wild ways and offers to change, culminating in repeated pleas of “Is it true?” regarding her fading feelings and potential departure. The structure includes three verses building emotional intensity, with a repeating chorus emphasizing doubt and heartache.

Randy Meisner, the Eagles’ founding bassist and high-harmony specialist, penned the song solo—his only full writing credit on the album. Coming after contributions like “Certain Kind of Fool” on Desperado (1973), it showcased his growing songwriting voice amid the dominance of Frey-Henley compositions. Meisner later highlighted his vocal range on hits like “Take It to the Limit” (1975), but “Is It True?” remains a standout for its personal, introspective tone during the band’s early evolution.

Critics have praised the track’s emotional sincerity and Meisner’s tender delivery, with reviews from AllMusic and Ultimate Classic Rock noting it as a hidden gem on an album bridging country rock to arena rock. It appears on compilations such as Selected Works: 1972–1999 (2000) and the 2013 remastered On the Border. Though rarely performed live due to Meisner’s 1977 departure, the song endures as evidence of his integral role in the Eagles’ harmony-rich sound before lineup changes shifted focus.

No major covers have charted, but the track’s relatable theme of romantic regret aligns with the band’s early storytelling style, solidifying On the Border as a pivotal release in their ascent to superstardom.

Video

Lyric

How come you love him when he
Takes you for a fool
He’s only lookin’ for a good time
How can he love you when he
Treats you mean and cruel
He’s not the best thing that you could find

Is it true?
I can’t believe it
Is it true?
I just can’t see it
Is it true?
Is that you?

When we were young, we didn’t really have a care
You were hung up, I had a good line
I never knew it then but, man, I was in love
How could I know it was the right time?

Is it true?
You’ve lost that feelin’?
Is it true?
You might be leavin’?
Is it true?
Don’t wanna find out

Yes, I was so wrong
For leading you on
There wasn’t much I could do
I was a wild one, but I can change some
If that’s important to you

Is it true?
You’ve lost that feelin’?
Is it true?
You might be leavin’?
Is it true?
Is it true?

She’s really leavin’
She’s really leavin’