Justin Townes Earle, born January 4, 1982 in Nashville, TN, was an American alt-country singer-songwriter who walked the line between old-time country and modern acoustic Indie music by breathing new life into early country, blues and gospel forms.
His first release, Yuma, in 2007 was a stark and beautiful set of songs written while Earle was fresh out of rehab and is now re-released by Bloodshot Records, who have a further three albums on their catalogue.
The Good Life, Midnight At the Movies (Americana award nominee) and the latest Harlem River Blues show Earle's characteristic charm, wit and rhythm to the forefront.
2009 saw him touring with Old Crow Medicine Show, The Felice Brothers and Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings as a member of The Big Surprise tour and he has been touring solidly through 2010 making fans all along the way. In 2011, he received the Americana Music Award in the Song of the Year category for his "Harlem River Blues," from the album of the same name.
His fourth release "Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now", released in 2012 was met with critical acclaim, it was listed at #37 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, saying "The son of country-rock renegade Steve Earle has grown into a songwriter to rival his dad."
Earle died on August 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 38. His death was announced by his label on social media on August 23. The cause of death was not immediately announced, but Nashville police said they were investigating the death as a probable drug overdose. On December 1, 2020, Earle's family confirmed that he died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl-laced cocaine.
Can't Hardly Wait
Justin Townes Earle Lyrics
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Tonight I can't hold a pen
Someone's got a stamp I can borrow
I promise not to blow the address again
Lights that flash in the evening
Through a hole in the drapes
Never buys any smokes
Well, hurry up, hurry up
Ain't you had enough of this stuff
Ashtray floors, dirty clothes, filthy jokes
See you're high and lonesome
Try and try and try
Lights that flash in the evening
Through a hole in the drapes
I'll be home when I'm sleeping
I can't hardly wait
No, I can't wait
I can't wait now
No, I can't wait
I can't wait
The opening to "Can't Hardly Wait", a 2007 song by Justin Townes Earle, establishes the bittersweet theme, as he begins: "Write you a letter tomorrow / Tonight, I can't hold a pen." The song speaks about the feelings of isolation and loneliness that come with the struggles of addiction. The singer's inability to put pen to paper symbolizes his inability to communicate effectively, suggesting how addiction has limited his thoughts and speech.
As the song progresses, his desire to change is evident, as he reaches out for help, borrowing a stamp so he can write a letter. Again, his past failures haunt him, as he promises "not to blow the address again." The singer sees Jesus as a protector, riding alongside him, even as he tries to distance himself from vices like smoking. He begs to be delivered from his current state, repeating "Hurry up, hurry up / Ain't you had enough of this stuff."
The last lines of the song are "I'll be home when I'm sleeping / I can't hardly wait," which is a poignant reminder of the universal struggle for those dealing with addiction – their inability to live in the present, preferring instead to cling onto the hope of a better future. The song's melancholy tone is reinforced by the sluggish tempo and Earle's gravelly voice, both of which highlight the difficulty of the subject matter.
Line by Line Meaning
Write you a letter tomorrow
I will write a letter to you tomorrow
Tonight I can't hold a pen
I am unable to hold a pen tonight
Someone's got a stamp I can borrow
I need to borrow a stamp from someone
I promise not to blow the address again
I will not make a mistake while addressing the letter this time
Lights that flash in the evening
Flashlights are visible in the evening
Through a hole in the drapes
The lights are coming through a gap in the curtains
Jesus rides beside me
I am accompanied by Jesus
Never buys any smokes
Jesus does not smoke cigarettes
Well, hurry up, hurry up
Get a move on, hurry up
Ain't you had enough of this stuff
Are you not sick of this environment or situation?
Ashtray floors, dirty clothes, filthy jokes
The floor is full of ashtrays, the clothes are dirty, and jokes are vulgar
See you're high and lonesome
You appear to be sad and alone
Try and try and try
Despite efforts you keep trying to overcome this feeling
I'll be home when I'm sleeping
I will return home when I go to sleep
I can't hardly wait
I am extremely excited to go back home
No, I can't wait
I cannot wait any longer
I can't wait now
I am in a state of excitement and anticipation
No, I can't wait
I cannot wait any longer
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL WESTERBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind