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.
Midnight at the Movies
Justin Townes Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The man in the back is putting bets out over the phone.
And I ain't got nowhere to be. Ain't nobody waiting at home for me,
And there's nothing lonelier than midnight at the movies, again.
There's a girl named Martha who meets me here on Saturday nights.
She never says too much, she just sits down beside me and puts her hand in mine.
She's got a gentle way that keeps me from feeling so alone.
And I never watch her leave. I just close my eyes and pretend I'm asleep until the second feature begins. Midnight at the movies, again.
So it's half-price, double feature. Two and quarter after seven o:clock.
And there's no smoking, no drinking. Get your candies and your red-hots. I said, get your candies and your red-hots.
So shut out the lights and tell those fools down front to take a seat.
And if you see my Martha, tell her I'm in the corner, and just wake me if I'm asleep.
The song "Midnight at the Movies" by Justin Townes Earle is a mournful reflection on loneliness and escape. The singer finds himself alone at a movie theater, surrounded by strangers and empty seats. He observes the other patrons - a couple fighting, a gambler, and others - but ultimately feels adrift and disconnected from them. The only bright spot in his routine is a girl named Martha, with whom he shares a wordless companionship. She never stays long enough for him to truly connect with her, and he finds solace in pretending to sleep and waiting for the second feature to start.
The lyrics are poignant and heart-wrenching in their simplicity. The singer's sense of isolation is palpable, and his longing for human connection is made all the more devastating by his resigned acceptance of his situation. The references to old-fashioned movie theaters and candy concessions evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era, reinforcing the song's theme of longing for a simpler, more authentic time.
Overall, "Midnight at the Movies" is a beautifully crafted song that captures the bittersweet nature of loneliness and human connection. It's a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there can be moments of light and grace.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the couple in the corner have been going at it all night long.
A couple seated in the corner have been fighting all night long.
The man in the back is putting bets out over the phone.
There is a man placing bets over the phone in the back of the theater.
And I ain't got nowhere to be. Ain't nobody waiting at home for me,
The singer has no obligations or responsibilities waiting for them at home.
And there's nothing lonelier than midnight at the movies, again.
The artist feels lonely being at the movies in the middle of the night without anyone to share it with.
There's a girl named Martha who meets me here on Saturday nights.
A girl named Martha meets the artist at the theater on Saturdays.
She never says too much, she just sits down beside me and puts her hand in mine.
Martha is not much of a talker but is affectionate towards the singer.
She's got a gentle way that keeps me from feeling so alone.
Martha has a calming presence that makes the singer feel less lonely.
She always shows up late and leaves before the credits roll.
Martha arrives late and leaves before the movie is over.
And I never watch her leave. I just close my eyes and pretend I'm asleep until the second feature begins.
The artist doesn't want to watch Martha leave so they pretend to be asleep until the next movie starts.
So it's half-price, double feature. Two and quarter after seven o:clock.
The theater is offering a double feature at half the price, starting at 7:15.
And there's no smoking, no drinking. Get your candies and your red-hots. I said, get your candies and your red-hots.
Smoking and drinking are not allowed in the theater, but snacks like candy and red-hots are available.
So shut out the lights and tell those fools down front to take a seat.
The lights are being turned off and people in the front are being asked to take their seats.
And if you see my Martha, tell her I'm in the corner, and just wake me if I'm asleep.
If someone sees Martha, they should tell her that the singer is in the corner and to wake them up if they fall asleep.
Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.