Willie Nelson is a prolific and gifted songwriter. His work is undeniably classic. But there is one song in particular in his oeuvre that really deserves your attention. It's from the 1983 album Take It to the Limit by Nelson and Waylon Jennings, The title song was actually not penned by Nelson himself, but was written by Eagles members Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley. Everybody knows it by heart.
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According to willienelson.com, "Despite the fact that neither singer was in top artistic form and Jennings' most successful days were already over, the record managed to chart, peaking at #3 on the country charts...."
The Nelson-Jennings Version Of The Song Has A Lovely Country Feel
The way these two masters handle the song, it oozes country. The gentle, easy pacing, the relaxed mood, and the the seamless blend of their voices is highly effective. They do this Eagles song proud!
'Take It To The Limit' Has An Interesting History
The song was sung by Randy Meisner when the Eagles did it. Per Songfacts, he said, "The line 'take it to the limit' was to keep trying. You reach a point in your life where you feel you've done everything and seen everything - it's part of getting old. And just to take it to the limit one more time, like every day just keep punching away at it. That was the line, and from there the song took a different course."
Randy Meisner Sang It For The Eagles
Meisner exited the band in 1977. The intense, hectic, demanding lifestyle was not to his liking, it seems. As Don Felder, another Eagles member said per the outlet, "Really the only thing you can do when you're in the Eagles is eat, breathe, and sleep Eagles. I mean, you're either on the road, writing in the studio, or doing press - it's just all consuming."
In addition, there was an artistic issue. Meisner found it tough to hit a high note at the end of "Take It To The Limit," especially if he was jittery when the band did the song in concert. According to the outlet, "At one point, he asked to take the song out of the set, which became a source of contention and a factor in him leaving the band."
Glenn Frey And Randy Meisner Had A Fight When Meisner Balked At Singing The Song As An Encore At A Concert
According to Songfacts via the documentary History of the Eagles, Glenn Frey and Randy Meisner had a fight backstage about Meisner's refusal to perform the song. Evidently Don Henley was the referee, keeping security at bay until the two warring members of the band could resolve the situation.
