In The Garden of Allah

One of my favorite songs is by Don Henley, from his “Actual Miles” compilation, called “The Garden of Allah.” Now before you get all huffy about it, the song is NOT about the Peace-Loving Religion of Islam. It’s based on the historical Garden of Allah Hotel in Los Angeles, which was used in the early days of Hollywood by stars who wanted to have their debauchery in privacy.

The song presents the Devil, who has discovered that he is no longer relevant, speaking with a narrator discussing his perceptions of the evil of humanity. The line that always catches my attention is Satan telling the narrator:

Today I made an appearance downtown
I am an expert witness, because I say I am!
I will testify for you, I’m a gun for hire,
I’m a saint, I’m a liar
Because there are no facts, there is no truth
Just data to be manipulated.
I can get you any result you like
What’s it worth to ya?
Because there is no wrong, there is no right
And I sleep very well at night
No shame, no solution
No remorse, no retribution
Just people selling t-shirts
Just opportunity to participate in the pathetic little circus
And winning, winning, winning!

The moral of the song is that human beings no longer need a devil because we have perfected deceit and manipulation for evil and no longer need an obsolete idea to rationalize our behavior.

Which always makes me think about things…

[brianofdakota]

I bought the album when it first came out. Check out "Inside Job" on the album by the same name. He was telling us about now back in 2000.

[michaelklein]

Was put off by the songs title originally, watched video with Kirk Douglas and in the comments the the Garden was the Hotel and then the real meaning of Henley's intelectual meanings. The WOW it hit me some of it could be gramed around O.J. Trial.