About The Song
“Last Good Time in Town” is a track by the American rock band Eagles, appearing as the fifth song on disc one of their seventh studio album, Long Road Out of Eden. The double-disc album was released on October 30, 2007, by Lost Highway Records in collaboration with Eagles Recording Company II, serving as the band’s first full studio effort in 28 years following The Long Run in 1979. Sessions took place intermittently from 2001 to 2007 after the 2001 dismissal of guitarist Don Felder amid band tensions. Self-produced by the Eagles (with key roles from Glenn Frey and Don Henley), the album ran over 90 minutes and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling more than 711,000 copies in its opening week despite exclusive initial US distribution via Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the band’s website—a move that led to a temporary Billboard policy change. It earned 7× Platinum certification from the RIAA for 3.5 million units shipped and reached number one in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Norway. The project received 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.”
“Last Good Time in Town” was not issued as a single and did not enter individual Billboard charts. Supporting singles from the album 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). Clocking in at 7:07, the song is one of the Eagles’ longer recordings and features Joe Walsh on lead vocals with band harmonies. Songwriting credits are shared by Joe Walsh (verses) and J.D. Souther (chorus), marking it as the only track on the album solely credited to Walsh as a writer. Souther, a frequent Eagles collaborator since the 1970s (co-writing hits like “Heartache Tonight” and “Victim of Love”), contributed the chorus to complement Walsh’s humorous verses. Production involved the band along with engineer Richard Davis, drummer Scott Crago, and multi-instrumentalist Steuart Smith.
Musically, the track is a laid-back, mid-tempo rock number with prominent guitar work from Walsh, light percussion, and a relaxed groove that evokes his signature style. The lyrics humorously reflect on aging and shifting priorities: once eager for nightlife and partying, the narrator now finds contentment in staying home, working crosswords, turning off the phone, and enjoying quiet domestic life—declaring it “the last good time in town.” This self-deprecating take serves as a lighthearted sequel to Walsh’s 1978 solo hit “Life’s Been Good,” updating the party-rock persona to one embracing maturity and solitude. The song’s extended length allows for instrumental stretches, including guitar solos that highlight Walsh’s distinctive playing.
Positioned amid the album’s mix of introspective ballads, social commentary, and rockers, “Last Good Time in Town” provides comic relief and personal reflection. It emerged during the Eagles’ post-reunion era, following the 1994 Hell Freezes Over tour and amid legal and lineup challenges. In hindsight, Long Road Out of Eden became the final studio album featuring Glenn Frey, who passed away in 2016. Sources like Genius, Songfacts equivalents, and album reviews praise the track for its witty lyrics and vintage Walsh energy, with some noting its contrast to the album’s more serious themes. Overall, it encapsulates the band’s later-phase evolution, blending seasoned humor with rock craftsmanship in their mature catalog.
Video
Lyric
I like to go out every now and then
I can’t wait to do it again
But I haven’t had the time
LatelyI like to step out, feel the wind in my hair
I like to go crazy, I don’t care
But lately, I’ve been stayin’ at home
Workin’ the crosswords
Turn off the phoneI like the way that sounds
It’s a perfect occupation
For me
I don’t mind being by myself
If there’s no one else around
It’s the last good time in townI like to dream I’m on vacation
I like the way that sounds
It’s a perfect occupation
For me
I don’t mind being by myself
‘Cause I know you’ll come on down
It’s the last good time in townLately I’ve been stayin’ at home
Workin’ the crosswords
Turn off the phone
I like the way that sounds
It’s a perfect occupation
For me
I don’t mind being by myself
If there’s no one else around
It’s the last good time in town