Two icons of Outlaw Country turned a classic Eagles rock song into a wistful, country-tinged whisper.
In 1983, two of the greatest figures in Outlaw Country — Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings — released their third duet album, Take It To The Limit. Rather than relying solely on their own compositions or traditional country tunes, the album took an unexpected turn by borrowing its title from a legendary Eagles hit and transforming it into a tender, deeply introspective country ballad.
The song “Take It To The Limit,” written by Eagles members Randy Meisner, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey, became famous for Meisner’s soaring vocals. Yet in Nelson and Jennings’s rendition, the difference in tone is striking. The two “outlaws” stripped away the grandeur and high notes of the original, opting instead for a slower, rawer, and more down-to-earth arrangement that emphasized the weariness and melancholy in the lyrics.
The story behind this cover aligns perfectly with both artists’ shared spirit: a fearless defiance of musical boundaries. Choosing a 1970s rock anthem for a country album was a bold declaration of artistic freedom. It proved that a great song — with its universal themes — can transcend genres when interpreted through a new lens. Though it didn’t achieve the same commercial success as their first duet album, Waylon & Willie (1978), Take It To The Limit still climbed to No. 3 on the country charts.
In their hands, the song’s meaning grew more profound. Its lyrics — about always pushing oneself “to the limit” before life runs out of chances — took on a new resonance. For Willie and Waylon, who had lived through addiction, loss, and financial turmoil, the song became less of a romantic plea and more of a life philosophy. Their weary, soulful voices turned that “limit” into the fragile line between resilience and surrender — between fighting on or giving in.
This cover stands as one of the duo’s final collaborations, leaving behind a legacy of artistic daring and emotional depth that few in country music have ever matched.