Well, I'm running down the roadtryin' to loosen my load
I've got seven women on my mind,
Four that wanna own me,
Two that wanna stone me,
One says she's a friend of mine
Take It easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own wheels
drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
don't even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
and take it easy
Well, I'm a standing on a corner
in Winslow, Arizona
and such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flat-bed Ford
slowin' down to take a look at me
Come on, baby, don't say maybe
I gotta know if your sweet love
is gonna save me
We may lose and we may win
though we will never be here again
so open up, I'm climbin' in,
so take it easy
Well I'm running down the road
trying to loosen my load,
got a world of trouble on my mind
lookin' for a lover
who won't blow my cover,
she's so hard to find
Take it easy, take it easy
don't let the sound of your own wheels
make you crazy
come on baby, don't say maybe
I gotta know if your sweet love
is gonna save me,
oh oh oh
Oh we got it easy
We oughta take it easy
Written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey in 1971 - released 1972
© SWALLOW TURN MUSIC
- Glenn Frey: Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Don Henley: Drums, backing vocals
- Bernie Leadon: Lead guitar, banjo, backing vocals
- Randy Meisner: Bass guitar, backing vocals
"Take It Easy" is a song written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, and most famously recorded by the Eagles (with Frey singing lead vocals). It was the band's first single, released on May 1, 1972. It also was the opening track on the band's debut album Eagles and it has become one of their signature songs, included on all of their live and compilation albums. It is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Browne originally began writing "Take It Easy" in 1971 for his own debut album. His friend and then-neighbor Frey heard an early version and liked it so much that Browne gave it to him for his new band. Frey finished the second verse (including the line "It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford ...") and the resulting single climbed to #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Bass player Randy Meisner sings the harmony vocal in the beginning of this verse with Frey, but drummer Don Henley is singing harmony at the end of the verse ("Though we will never be here again...). Bernie Leadon provides the lead guitar and distinctive banjo parts, as well as harmony vocals.
Jackson Browne later recorded the song as the lead track on his second album, For Everyman (1973). It has also been covered by several other artists including Billy Mize, Johnny Rivers, and Travis Tritt. Tritt's version, recorded for the tribute album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles, was released as a single in 1993, and peaked at #21 on the Billboard country music charts. The video for Tritt's version featured the Eagles lineup from 1978 to 1980 (precipitating the Eagles' regrouping for a new album and tour the following year).
The second verse of "Take It Easy" is set in the city of Winslow, Arizona, which responded by erecting a life-size bronze statue and mural commemorating the song, at the Standin' On The Corner Park. The statue stands near a lamp post, securing an acoustic guitar between his right hand and the shoe of his right foot. Above his head, a metal sign, crafted in the style of U.S. Route shields, displays the words "Standin' on the corner". The trompe-l'œil mural on the wall behind the statue is that of a storefront, and includes what would appear to be the reflection of a red Ford pickup truck driven by a blonde-haired woman. The second floor of the mural features an eagle perched in one of the windows.
The "corner" is actually that of North Kinsley Avenue and West 2nd Street (eastbound State Route 99) in downtown Winslow.
The "Take It Easy" statue and mural at 35°1'24.54" N, 110°41'53.02" W in Winslow, Arizona
Beh, sto correndo per la strada
Cercando di alleviare il mio fardello
Ho in mente sette donne
Quattro che vogliono possedermi
Due che vogliono lapidarmi
Una dice di essere mia amica
Non te la prendere, non te la prendere
Non lasciare che il suono delle tue stesse ruote ti faccia impazzire
Sii contento, intanto che puoi
Non cercare di capire
Trova solo un posto che ti vada bene
E non te la prendere
Beh, stavo ad un angolo di strada
A Winslow in Arizona
Ed era proprio una bella vista
Era una ragazza, mio Dio
In una Ford coi sedili ribaltabili
Che rallentava per darmi un'occhiata
Dai baby, non dire forse
Devo sapere se tu dolce amore mi salverai
Potremmo perdere e potremmo vincere
Anche se non saremo più qui
Per cui apri, sto entrando
E non te la prendere
Beh, sto correndo per la strada
Cercando di alleviare il mio fardello
Ho in mente un mondo di problemi
Cercando un'amante
Una che non mi soffi via le coperte
E' difficilissimo da trovare
Non te la prendere, non te la prendere
Non lasciare che il suono delle tue stesse ruote ti faccia impazzire
Dai, baby
Non dire forse
Devo sapere se il tuo dolce more mi salverà
Oh, l'abbiamo presa bene
Dovremmo prenderla bene
