The Eagles song containing the lyric “So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains” is “Already Gone.”
The song was written by Jack Tempchin and Robb Strandlund and recorded by the Eagles for their 1974 album On the Border. Glenn Frey sings the lead vocal, and the song reflects the album’s shift toward a harder, more guitar-driven sound. It was produced by Bill Szymczyk, who became a major creative force in the Eagles’ classic-period recordings.
“Already Gone” was released as the first single from On the Border in April 1974. It reached No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a durable part of the Eagles’ live repertoire. The lyric is sometimes misremembered as belonging to “Lyin’ Eyes” or “Desperado,” because those songs also use reflective storytelling and relationship-focused themes. However, the quoted line appears in the chorus of “Already Gone.”
The track was also included on Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975), helping introduce it to listeners who knew the Eagles primarily through their compilation albums.