About The Song
“Best of My Love” is a smooth, soulful soft rock ballad from the Eagles’ third studio album, On the Border. The album was released on March 22, 1974, by Asylum Records. The song was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and J.D. Souther, with lead vocals performed by Don Henley. It runs 4 minutes and 35 seconds and features a laid-back groove, prominent electric piano by Joe Walsh (who joined the band during this album cycle), and the signature multi-layered harmonies that defined the Eagles’ sound in the mid-1970s.
Recording took place primarily at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California, with additional sessions at Olympic Studios in London. The album was initially produced by Glyn Johns but completed with Bill Szymczyk after creative differences led to Johns’ departure. This transition marked the beginning of Szymczyk’s long collaboration with the Eagles. On the Border was the first album to feature Don Felder as a full-time member (he had guested on Desperado) and Joe Walsh, who replaced Bernie Leadon on guitar.
“Best of My Love” was released as the third single from On the Border in November 1974, following “Already Gone” and the title track “On the Border.” It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 79 and slowly climbed over several months, finally reaching No. 1 on February 1, 1975, where it spent one week at the top. This became the Eagles’ first No. 1 single on the Hot 100. The song also peaked at No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 1 on the Cash Box Top 100. It achieved gold certification from the RIAA.
On the Border itself peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA. The album blended country-rock roots with a harder edge, producing other singles like “Already Gone” (No. 32) and “On the Border” (No. 22). “Best of My Love” stood out for its mellow, romantic vibe amid the album’s more rock-oriented tracks, showcasing the band’s versatility.
Lyrically, the song is a bittersweet reflection on a past love, with the narrator expressing lingering affection while acknowledging the relationship’s end. Henley has described it as one of the group’s early attempts at a more sophisticated, adult contemporary-leaning sound that would dominate their later work. The track became a radio staple and a defining hit of the 1970s soft rock era, often cited as a precursor to the polished style of Hotel California.
“Best of My Love” has endured as one of the Eagles’ most beloved classics, frequently included on compilations like Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) (the best-selling album in U.S. history) and The Very Best Of (2003). It remains a concert favorite, often performed with extended instrumental sections highlighting the band’s vocal harmonies.
Video
Lyric
Every night I’m lying in bed
Holding you close in my dreams
Thinking about all the things that we said
And coming apart at the seams
We try to talk it over
But the words come out too rough
I know you were trying
To give me the best of your loveBeautiful faces and loud, empty places
Look at the way that we live
Wasting our time on cheap talk and wine
Left us so little to give
That same old crowd was like a cold dark cloud
That we could never rise above
But here in my heart I give you the best of my loveI’m going back in time
And it’s a sweet dream
It was a quiet night
And I would be all right
If I could go on sleeping
But every morning
I wake up and worry
What’s gonna happen today
You see it your way
And I see it mine
But we both see it slipping awayYou know we always had each other, baby
I guess that wasn’t enough
Oh, but here in my heart
I give you the best of my loveI’m going back in time
And it’s a sweet dream
It was a quiet night
And I would be all right
If I could go on sleeping
But every morning
I wake up and worry
What’s gonna happen today
You see it your way
And I see it mine
But we both see it slipping awayI’m going back in time
And it’s a sweet dream
It was a quiet night
And I would be all right
If I could go on sleeping
But every morning
I wake up and worry
What’s gonna happen today
You see it your way
And I see it mine
But we both see it slipping awayOh-oh-oh sweet darling
You get the best of my love
Oh-oh-oh sweet darling
You get the best of my love
Oh-oh-oh sweet darling
You get the best of my love