englishRock
Dirty Laundry Lyrics
by Don Henley
22 views • Published on Oct 3, 2026
Dirty Laundry Lyrics
"I make my living off the Evening News
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em all around
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
comes on at five
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam
in her eye
It's interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough love
Eat your dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff
Kick 'em all around
Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do "The Innuendo"
We can dance and sing
When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing
We all know that Crap is King
Give us dirty laundry!
Meaning of Dirty Laundry
“Dirty Laundry” is a cynical and darkly humorous critique of the American media’s obsession with sensationalism and exploiting human tragedy. Don Henley portrays himself as a participant in this process, a newsroom figure gleefully providing “dirty laundry”—the scandalous details of misfortune—to feed public appetite for drama and destruction. The relentless repetition of "Kick 'em when they're up/down" embodies the callous disregard for individuals’ suffering, highlighting how the media thrives on humiliation and despair. Beneath the surface, there’s a sense of moral decay; the characters are actively involved in manipulating narratives, staging events, and reveling in the misery of others. Henley’s message is ultimately bleak: we don't seek truth but rather consume expertly crafted lies, revealing a disturbing fascination with “crap” and its power to control our perceptions – leaving us with nothing but a void of genuine information.
Tags:
dirty laundry lyricsdon henley lyricsdirty laundry don henley lyricsdon henley songs
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