"Heartache Tonight" is a song written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bob Seger and J. D. Souther, recorded by the Eagles and features Glenn Frey on lead vocals. The track was included on their album The Long Run and released as a single in 1979. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in November of that year and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America representing one million copies sold. It was the Eagles' final chart-topping song on the Hot 100.

The recording received a 1979 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

The song originated from an electric jam session between Glenn Frey and J. D. Souther who would visit Frey's home in Los Angeles whenever he was in town on tour. Frey and Souther wrote the first verse while listening to Sam Cooke songs. In the heat of jamming, Frey called Bob Seger on the phone and sang him the verse. Seger then blurted out the chorus.

According to Frey, "J.D. [Souther], Don and I finished that song up. No heavy lyrics - the song is more of a romp - and that's what it was intended to be."

Lyrics

Somebody's gonna hurt someone

before the night is through

Somebody's gonna come undone.

There's nothin' we can do.

Everybody wants to touch somebody

if it takes all night.

Everybody wants to take a little chance,

Make it come out right.

There's gonna be a heartache tonight,

a heartache tonight, I know.

There's gonna be a heartache tonight, I know.

Lord, I know.

Some people like to stay out late

Some folks can't hold out that long

But nobody wants to go home now.

there's too much goin' on.

This night is gonna last forever.

Last all, last all summer long.

Some time before the sun comes up

The radio is gonna play that song.

There's gonna be a heartache tonight,

A heartache tonight, I know.

There's gonna be a heartache tonight,

A heartache tonight, I know.

Lord I know.

There's gonna be a heartache tonight,

the moon's shinin' bright

so turn out the light, and we'll get it right.

There's gonna be a heartache tonight, a

heartache tonight I know.

Heartache baby,

Somebody's gonna hurt someone, (somebody)

Before the night is through

Somebody's gonna come undone,

There's nothin' we can do

(Everybody) Everybody wants to touch somebody

if it takes all night

Everybody wants to take a little chance

To make it come out right

There's gonna be a heartache tonight

A heartache tonight, I know

There's gonna be a heartache tonight,

A heartache tonight ,I know

Let's go.

We can beat around the bushes;

we can get down to the bone

We can leave it in the parkin' lot,

but either way, there's gonna be a

heartache tonight, a heartache tonight I know.

There'll be a heartache tonight

a heartache tonight I know.