In 1972, a young songwriter named Jackson Browne penned one of the most beloved lyrics in American music history: “Well I’m standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona/ And such a fine sight to see.”
Just about every American of a certain age can recite the triumphant lyrics that follow.
“It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford / Slowing down to take a look at me.”
Browne described the origin of the song in an interview with Uncut magazine:
“I took a road trip in this old beat-up Willys Jeep and I went to Utah and Arizona. On that trip, I started to write ‘Take It Easy’.”
“When I came back, I played it for Glenn Frey, and he asked if the Eagles could cut it when it was done … It was their first single, and what those guys did with it was incredible.”
The Birth of a Rock Anthem
The atmospheric, country-rock anthem propelled the Eagles to stardom, becoming their signature tune. The song’s quick-picking banjo and relatable lyrics resonated with listeners across the nation.
A Fading Town Reborn
Winslow, Arizona, was a small town of around 8,500 people in the early 1970s, thriving on its location along Route 66. But when Interstate 40 opened in 1979, traffic bypassed the town, leading to an economic decline.
“The freeway bypassed us and then basically downtown Winslow died,” said Stephanie Lugo, a board member for the Standing on the Corner Foundation.
Hundreds of communities along Route 66 suffered the same fate, but Winslow had something unique that set it apart: its connection to a famous song.
Immortalizing ‘Take It Easy’
In 1999, Standing on the Corner Park opened, featuring a life-size statue of a man with a guitar, immortalizing the image of the young man in Browne’s song. Despite the initial skepticism, the park became a major tourist attraction.
“It definitely helped rebuild our downtown. We have several new restaurants and new shops. The downtown has come back to life,” said Lugo.
A New Legacy for Winslow
Instead of becoming a ghost town, Winslow emerged as a destination for rock enthusiasts and selfie-seekers. The town celebrated the song’s impact by adding a statue of Glenn Frey in 2016.
“Wherever we travel and people ask where we’re from and I tell them, ‘Winslow, Arizona,’ they go, ‘Oh my God! That’s The Eagles’ song,” said Lugo.
“They made our town world-famous.”
Today, Winslow proudly wears its connection to “Take It Easy” as a badge of honor. The song not only sparked a rock ‘n’ roll legacy but also played an unexpected role in reviving the spirit of a small desert town.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
