How Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey Made Winslow’s Cornertacularly Famous through Music Iconicacy

In an interview with British music site Uncut in 2013, American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne revealed the origin of his famous lyrics “Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona / And such a fine sight to see” from his debut single for The Eagles. He explained that he wrote these lines during a road trip in an old beat-up Willys Jeep through Utah and Arizona in 1972. Glenn Frey then added the second verse about “the girl, my Lord, in the flatbed Ford” when Browne played it for him before The Eagles recorded their first single – making history by achieving immediate stardom with this iconic song of all-American country rock anthem complete with quick picking background banjo. Winslow’s brief fame continued after Interstate 40 opened in 1979, as the city was effectively wiped off the map due to its location on Route 66 being bypassed, resulting in a decrease of activity around downtown. However, the iconic line from Browne and Frey’s song has given Winslow pop-culture immortality unlike that any other place; such recognition attracted countless travelers from various countries wanting to capture its beauty through photos annually numbering between 300 people upwards in holiday weekends or summertime when kids are out of school. The town now boasts a bustling atmosphere and a flourishing commercial area filled with fresh businesses following the introduction, as early as 1999, of Standin’ on the Corner Park which features statues representing Browne (complete with guitar) between his legs alongside seven women that have caught his fancy. In honor of Frey who passed away in 2016, Winslow erected another statue to commemorate him as well. The park has played a significant role in revitalizing the town’s downtown area by attracting new restaurants and shops into its vicinity; thus reinvigorating commerce within it since Frey made their humble place famous with this unforgettable line “It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford / Slowing down to take a look at me.”