Peaceful Easy Feeling by Eagles

Album: Eagles (1972)

Charted: 22

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A San Diego singer-songwriter named Jack Tempchin wrote this song sometime around 1969. One night after a club gig in nearby El Centro, he waited around trying to hook up with a waitress, but she left and never came back. With no ride home, he crashed on the floor of the club, but couldn't sleep. To kill the time, he grabbed his guitar and started composing this song, writing lyrics on the back of one of his flyers.

He finished the song in stages, and made his way to Los Angeles, where he hung out at the Troubadour along with Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther and various other up-and-comers in the West Coast music scene. He was staying with Browne one day when Frey came over and heard Tempchin playing the song. Tempchin made a cassette recording for Frey, who came back the next day with a demo he had worked up with his band that had been backing Linda Ronstadt - the band that would soon become the Eagles.

"Peaceful Easy Feeling" was included on the Eagles' debut album and released as the third single. Tempchin went on to write "Already Gone" for the Eagles and helped Frey write his solo hit "You Belong To The City." The flyer Tempchin used to start writing the lyrics is now in the Grammy Museum.
Thanks to its title and easygoing vibe, this song evokes a state of tranquility. The lyric, however, is about a girl, with Glenn Frey singing about how he's love for things to work out with her, but thinks she'll probably leave in the end. He'll be OK though, since he has a peaceful, easy feeling and he won't let her ruin it no matter what happens.

In a Songfacts interview with Jack Tempchin, he explained: "It's not a love song exactly. The guy's going, 'Hey, either way it's going to be fine.'"
The opening line came to Jack Tempchin when he went to a street fair in San Diego. He saw a woman with beautiful earrings and wrote:

I like the way your sparkling earrings lay
Against your skin, it's so brown
This song sums up how the group was feeling when they were photographed for the album cover.

Recording the album took just three weeks (a notable contrast to painstaking sessions of their later work), but it was a rough three weeks. The band was sent to London and housed in a small apartment, where they were shuttled back and forth to the studio. Don Henley says the cycle was: work, return to the apartment, drink, sleep, repeat.
This song, like all of those on the Eagles first two albums, was recorded in London, which was a way to minimize distractions for the band. In Joe Smith's Off The Record: An Oral History Of Popular Music, Don Henley talked about recording this first album: "They packed us off to England and stuck us in this little apartment, picked us up, took us to the studio, and then we'd go back to this little apartment and drink ourselves to sleep. Then we'd get up the next day and do it all again."
Jack Tempchin finished writing this song while waiting for his order (a Polish dog) at the Der Wienerschnitzel restaurant in San Diego. On December 1, 2012, the mayor of San Diego declared it "Peaceful Easy Feeling Day" in the city to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the song's release. The ceremony was held at the restaurant, which marked the table where Tempchin wrote it with a plaque. Tempchin was also given a golden wiener, of which he is quite proud. "Lots of people have Grammys," he told us. "But they don't have a solid gold wiener."

The proclamation reads in part:

Jack Tempchin has been a quiet and positive force for the community as he plays almost every charity event presented to him...

Be it resolved, that I, Jerry Sanders, the 34th Mayor of the City of San Diego, do hereby proclaim December 1, 2012, to be "Peaceful Easy Feeling Day" in recognition of its 40th Anniversary and for Jack Tempchin's major contributions to music and to the world.
Glenn Frey cites this as one of his favorite Eagles songs. He says it reminds him of the band Poco, which was one of his musical inspirations. The Eagles would later employ two former members of Poco: Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmit.
Looking back on this song, Jack Tempchin sees his father as an influence. His dad wanted to be a baseball player but World War II derailed those plans and he ended up working as a milkman. "He just had an attitude about life where he wanted to avoid conflict and he wasn't ambitious like most people," Tempchin told the San Diego Union Tribune. "I realized later that the whole 'Peaceful Easy Feeling' approach to life, well, that was him."
The country band Little Texas did a cover of this song, which was included on their 1995 Greatest Hits album. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Jeremy - Devils Lake, ND

Comments: 32

La Zalewski from PaI always thought Glenn Frey's vocal in this song was weak and quivery. Listen to the last line "..already standing, on the ground..". Probably didn't like it but budgetary concerns prevented from re-recording.
Sonia Daugherty from Sharyland, TexasOct 1./21 This song has always been one of my very favorites. When I played it today it hit home. As I have the same easy feeling right now after I read a text and when I called John..I knew something was wrong.. I knew in my heart it was over.. without knowing it was over… I just knew he was going to walked away… it hurt, but I had that peaceful.. “that easy feeling” in my heart and I knew I was going to be ok either way.. I have a feeling I will never see him again…a true shame because I truly loved him and trusted him completely. But I will be ok..I will never give up on love and I am hopeful one day I will meet my special someone.
Jimmy from El PasoBernie Leadon plays the guitar solo which is unique due to his use of the b-bender guitar. He adopted the b-bender while he was a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers with Gene Parsons and Clarence White who invented the device.
Alan Kelly from Kansas City MoPaul Newman in the 1962 movie Sweet Bird of Youth, is lying in the arms of his hometown sweetheart. She asks him, "What are you thinkin?" He smiles and replies, "Ah, I just, I just feelin kinda peaceful and easy." Seven years later, Tempchin wrote his song "Peaceful, Easy Feeling." No better inspiration than the 60's era Paul Newman. That's for sure.
Brad from OhioPete - the soloist was Bernie Leadon. Also sang bgvs with Meisner. Henley didn’t sing on this.
Pete From Ct from Middletown,ctWho played the guitar solo on peaceful, easy feeling?
Richie From San Marcos Ca. from San Diego AreaIn response to Gary from Usa. You are referring to the wrong "Easy" song. Why are you talking about "Take It Easy" in a thread about "Peaceful Easy Feeling". Good old Jack Tempchin is the sole author of the classic song "Peaceful Easy Felling".
Liz from NySomeone I was with would always write the lyrics in a card or sing them to me. I left him! I had too. I guess he knew it would happen eventually!!
Gary from UsaIn his video-audiobiography in 1994, Jackson Browne claims he started the song and Glenn Frey finished it. There is no mention of Jack Tempchin's contribution. Can anyone shed any light on this conflict. See Jackson Browne's interview at https://youtu.be/NANKBajAaek
Jennifur Sun from RamonaLove this song, wanted to re write it with a friend who died years ago.
Rick from Towson, MdSeldom are relationships Peaceful, Easy. Had one once, but we went our separate ways, yet still feel Peaceful, Easy about her!!
Coy from Palestine, TexasBW Stevenson recorded this song for his album "Lead Free" which was released by RCA on Jan. 1st, 1972. The Eagles recorded it in Feb. 1972 and released it on their self titled album "The Eagles" on June 1st, 1972. It's a mystery how BW got to it first-since Jack Tempchin has said he gave it to Glenn Frey on a cassette. Still, BW's version is just as good, if not better than the Eagle's version. BW was the hard luck kid, he recorded Shambala and Three Dog Night covered it and killed his single. He had one top hit with "My Maria" and then struggled--even though he had a tremendous voice--he tragically died on the operating table in 1988 at the age of 38.
Jeff from HawaiiHeard Jack Tempchin interviewed once and he said he was buying a new car and he had his guitar with him and played a new song he wrote to the salesman. The song he played was "standing on the ground". The salesman said the song should be called "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and so it became.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 12th 1973, the Eagles appeared in concert at the Oxford Polytechnic* in Oxford, England...
And back in the U.S.A. "Peaceful Easy Feeling" was at #54 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, and that was also its last week on the chart...
Just the week before it was at #22 {for 1 week}, and that was its peak position on the Top 100...
* Prior to 1970 the university was known as Oxford College of Technology.
Martin from Fresno, CaThe song is to me about a man who is so secure and does not doubt his girlfriends love for him that he is calm about everything.
George from L.a., CaJack Tempchin solely composed Peaceful Easy Feeling. With Rob Strandlund he co-wrote Already Gone. His 3 other Eagles co-written cuts are The Girl From Yesterday from the Hell Freezes Over 'reunion' release, and also Somebody and It's Your World Now from Long Road Out Of Eden. Tempchin co-wrote a dozen Top20 radio cuts with Frey during the 1980s for Frey's solo career including The One You Love, You Belong To The City and Smuggler's Blues among others.
Tommy from Hampton, VaReferencing what others have already noted, to me, this is sung by a man who knows the negativity and ill-nature that can be produced by a bad relationship but he is so incredibly in love with who he is singing this to that he has peaceful, easy feeling that he knows he doesn't need to worry. As we get older, many of us have been in bad relationships that have left us weary and afraid to trust ever again, but this is clearly a case of over coming that fear and being left with a peacefule and easy feeling.
Carolyn from Knoville, TnIt just doesn't get much better than this.
Marlene from Montreal, QcBW Stevenson, who wrote a lot of songs that became hits by OTHER artists (3 dog night e.g) covered this song on his 1972 album, Lead Free.
Erin from Fargo, NdAt camp last year, we sang with the campers the verses of "Amazing Grace" to this tune, then tacked on the chorus. It works surprisingly well.
Oldpink from New Castle, InSmooooooth
The title perfectly encapsulates the feel of this excellent song.
Frey does very well on the vocals, too.
Mayank from Ranchi, IndiaI guess I love playing this song on the guitar more than any other. Had reserved it for playing for a girl I liked, but now that day will never come as she's gone.
Joe from Frankfor, KyTom-me too! I am 41 and I have the most precious little girl in the world (any man with a baby girl will say I am a liar! LOL) She wants her daddy at bedtime (I dread the day when that stops) and I give her a healthy dose of the Eagles, James Taylor and the Beatles in lieu of Itsy Bitsy Spider and Rockabye Baby. I just pray there is a day when I can peak in and hear her sing this song to my grandchild...but then again, that would mean she...oh nevermind I can't think about that! Great song!
Tom from Hershey, PaI love this one and sang it to my young daughter as a goodnight lullaby
Saboh from Ktm, Nepali think the lyric is abt a guy who madly loves a girl, he has expressed his love to her and she knows abt it but hasnt yet replied and so he tells her tht he's standing on the ground and he is in peace because he knows tht she loves him too and tht he is hopeful she wont let him down by not accepting his proposal.("and i found out a long time ago") this line might be a flash back..refers to the time they knew eachother just as friends but at tht time the circumstances werent favorable n tht she couldnt simply be his..n now after suffering for years without her, he understands "what a woman can do to ur soul"..and still he doesnt know how to go..whether it is now or it was then, he" dont already know how to go" . he believes he knows her well as a friend and as a friend but he fears to lose her n not to see her again!!
Darren from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdomare there any songs by the Eagles that aren't worthy of a listen??? - I dont think they wrote a bad tune.
Liz from Smallville, Ksthis song is a great song. It's so relaxing
Tony from Corpus Christi, TxAndy, I think that they're sayin he don't have his head in the clouds. listen from the very start I have always imagined him sitting there on a beach or pool staring at her and he is appreciating her, falling in love with her all over again (or for the first time) and so he has come to peace with being with her and knows she's the one. The lyrics you said was a masturbation reference I think is much deeper than that, having been divorced I think that anyone know what women can do to your soul and he is saying that "she can't take you anyway you don't already know how to go" is refering to the relationship or more likely the path the relationship goes for positive or the negative cause relationships can injure your soul. this song is so well done great lyrics and music arrangement.
Andy from Halesowen, West Midlands, United KingdomLike many Eagles songs and albums, this one features highly in my favourites list.

It is one of those songs that is easy to listen to and not really think about too much, but thinking about it now I do have a few questions.

The lines "And I found out a long time ago
what a woman can do to your soul
Ah, but she can't take you anyway
You don't already know how to go"
always seemd to me to be a reference to masturbation, but is there a more innocent explanation I am missing?

Also the "I'm already standing on the ground" - what is he saying here? Is it that he is in the relationship with his eyes wide open, not expecting much, so he can't be "let down"?
Look forward to your comments.
Dewd from Ontario, OnOf course another one of my favourites i love the classics!!!
Ameer from La, CaSuch a beautiful song that never gets old. So simple and moving which makes you wonder if another song like it will ever come around again.
Guy from Woodinville, WaWonderful song. What great craftsmen the Eagles were/are! 35 years later and their new album has equally well-creafted songs.

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