Due to the greater fame of the Eagles' version, Browne often plays the song in this style at his concerts, despite the opinion of many of his long-time fans that his own version is superior.
Take It Easy
Eagles Lyrics
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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 standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed 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 runnin' down the road tryna 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
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh)
Oh, we got it easy
We oughta take it easy
The lyrics of Eagles' "Take It Easy" offer a snapshot of a man caught up in the complexities of life but searching for simplicity and peace. He is running down the road, trying to loosen his load, and has seven women on his mind. Four want to own him, two want to stone him, and one says she is his friend. Clearly, he is struggling with romantic relationships, and the weight of it is taking its toll. He is encouraged to take it easy, to lighten up, find a place to make his stand and not get overwhelmed by the sound of his own wheels.
The second verse finds him standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, where he encounters a "girl in a flatbed Ford" who slows down to take a look at him. He implores her not to say maybe, to open up, and let him climb in so they can take it easy together. He knows that they may lose or win, but they will never be in this moment again, so it is essential to seize it. The chorus then repeats the call to take it easy, to not let the sound of wheels or the complicated relationships in life drive one crazy.
The lyrics of "Take It Easy" may seem simple, but they capture the essence of a human struggle to find peace and contentment in a chaotic world. The message is to slow down, simplify one's life, enjoy the moment, and not get too caught up in the complexities of relationships or the sound of one's own wheels.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm runnin' down the road tryna loosen my load
I'm trying to take things easy by leaving behind some of my responsibilities and troubles and just enjoying life without worrying too much.
I've got seven women on my mind
I have many things that are occupying my thoughts and keeping me from feeling at ease.
Four that wanna own me, two that wanna stone me
Out of the things that I'm thinking about, there are some that I feel I'm responsible for and others that are outright hostile towards me.
One says she's a friend of mine
But there are also people in my life that I can rely on and trust.
Take it easy
This is the main message of the song, reminding us to not get too caught up in our worries and to enjoy life while we can.
Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy
Don't be so consumed by your own concerns that it leads you to anxiety or distress.
Lighten up while you still can
This line encourages us to not take everything too seriously and enjoy life while we can.
Don't even try to understand
Some things in life are just hard to comprehend or make sense of, so don't spend all your energy trying to do so.
Just find a place to make your stand
Find your own way to navigate life and find your place in it.
Well, I'm a standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
This is just a setting for the story, showing us that sometimes it's good to take a break and enjoy the scenery around us.
Such a fine sight to see
Again, this line emphasizes the value of appreciating the beauty around us.
It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford
This is just a detail that adds to the story, but also shows us that sometimes it's the small things in life that can bring us joy.
Slowin' down to take a look at me
Again, another small detail that adds to the story, but also highlights the significance of human connections and interactions.
We may lose and we may win
Life is full of ups and downs, and we have to accept that we won't always come out on top.
Though we will never be here again
This line reminds us to cherish our experiences, because we'll never be able to relive them exactly the same way again.
So open up, I'm climbin' in
This is just another detail in the story, but can also be interpreted as an invitation to live life with an open heart and embrace new experiences.
Got a world of trouble on my mind
This line reinforces the idea that life can be tough, and we can't always avoid our problems or worries.
Lookin' for a lover who won't blow my cover
This is just another worry that the singer has, which adds to his troubles.
She's so hard to find
Reinforcing the idea that sometimes what we're looking for in life is hard to come by or outright elusive.
Oh, we got it easy
This line is a reminder that despite life's challenges, we still have many things to be thankful for and should appreciate what we have.
We oughta take it easy
This is another reminder to not take life too seriously and enjoy what we have while we have it.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind