Eagles – “Peaceful Easy Feeling”
About the Song
Written by Jack Tempchin, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” became a timeless classic after being recorded by the Eagles and released as a single on December 1, 1972. Its warm, laid-back vibe captures a universal sense of calm and hope, making it one of the band’s most beloved tracks.
The song’s origins trace back to Tempchin’s days playing in folk music clubs around San Diego. During a gig in El Centro, California, a chance encounter with a waitress sparked the first inspiration. However, when the waitress left without him, Tempchin found himself alone, sleeping on the club floor. It was then that he began scribbling the lyrics to “Peaceful Easy Feeling” on the back of a poster created by a friend.
Back in San Diego, Tempchin refined the song while living with a group of “music hippies.” Watching women at a bus stop and reflecting on the elusive nature of love further shaped the lyrics. At a street fair in Old Town San Diego, the sight of a woman wearing turquoise earrings inspired the song’s opening lines. Tempchin later completed the final verse in the parking lot of a Der Wienerschnitzel fast-food restaurant on Washington Boulevard.
The turning point came when Tempchin shared the song with Glenn Frey while staying at Jackson Browne’s house in Los Angeles. Frey, impressed by the heartfelt lyrics, asked to perform it with his new band, the Eagles, which had only been together for eight days. Frey returned the next day with a cassette of the band’s version, stunning Tempchin with their harmonies and arrangement.
The song was later included on the Eagles’ debut album and became their third single. Tempchin first heard his creation on the radio while traveling with his girlfriend in a Volkswagen bus. Decades later, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” has become a cultural touchstone, embodying the easygoing California sound the Eagles are known for.
Legacy
On December 1, 2012, the 40th anniversary of the song’s release, the city of San Diego officially declared the date “Peaceful Easy Feeling Day.” Jack Tempchin was honored with a ceremony at the Hillcrest Der Wienerschnitzel, where he completed the song. The event featured free Polish dogs for attendees, a commemorative plaque, and even a gold-plated hot dog presented to Tempchin.
From its humble beginnings to its enduring legacy, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” remains a testament to the beauty of capturing universal emotions in song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV7etMcdDjE
Lyrics
I like the way your sparkling earrings lay
Against your skin so brown
And I want to sleep with you in the desert night
With a billion stars all around
‘Cause I got a peaceful easy feelin’
And I know you won’t let me down
‘Cause I’m already standin’
On the ground
And I found out a long time ago
What a woman can do to your soul
Aw but she can’t take you any way
You don’t already know how to go
And I got a peaceful easy feelin’
And I know you won’t let me down
‘Cause I’m already standin’
On the ground
I get this feelin’ I may know you
As a lover and a friend
This voice keeps whisperin’ in my other ear
Tells me I may never see you again
‘Cause I get a peaceful easy feelin’
And I know you won’t let me down
‘Cause I’m already standin’
I’m already standin’
Yes, I’m already standin’
On the groundAdvertisement
