Raised in San Antonio, Texas, Earle first taught herself to play a ukulele. She was given a guitar as a Christmas present when she was 16 years old, and, when she became a mother at 17, she continued to play and sing at home, developing her own style of finger picking.
When she was 29 years old, she moved to Nashville to live with her brother Steve Earle and sang backing vocals and played rhythm guitar on his 1991 album The Hard Way, and for the subsequent world tour. She appeared on her brother's subsequent albums: Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator and Transcendental Blues.
After returning from tour, she wrote songs and performed them at writer's nights in Nashville. Later, she set up her own songwriters' night to get some more time on stage. During this time, she met fellow guitarist and singer Mark Stuart who became her partner in running the events and then later became her second husband.
Earle signed a contract with Nashville's Ten Ten Music Group as a staff songwriter and received notice for her song "For Years", which appeared on Sammy Kershaw's 1996 CD Politics, Religion and Her.
Her first album, Simple Gearle (1999), was created for distribution at concerts; she felt bad that the fans were going home empty-handed. Albums that followed include: Dancin' With Them That Brung Me (2000), Never Gonna Let You Go (2003), Must Be Live (2003), and Communion Bread (2005). Much of her music is a joint venture with Mark Stuart, whom she met through her brother; there are several albums released by Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart.
Both Earle and Stuart were members of Steve Earle & The Dukes as well performing with their own band, The Jewels (named after Earle's grandmother Jewel Earle).
Just Another Day
Stacey Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's four in the morning, so closing my eyes
I rolled over on my other side
Ten o'clock came fast
Heard a noise down the hall
Sounds just like broken glass
And for no reason at all
A picture had fallen from the wall
Guess I'll spend it in the garden
Why, I can make this day mine
And later at the market
Where I know I can find
A place to spend more than just time
Everyone is in a hurry
They're grabbing only what they need
Their faces poured with worry
Please sir, go ahead of me
I really have no place I need to be
No, it's just another day
Three o'clock came slow
I heard a knock at the door
So I opened it real slow
He said say no more
I must not be who you're hoping for
Why, could it be you're expecting company
Ma'am if I may
Have you sign right here please
And as he walked away
He said, Oh have a lovely day
Yes have a lovely day
Six o'clock rolled around
I hear the traffic building up
It's all around the town
Driving like there is no giving up
Arriving home to the ones they love
Table set, please sit down everyone
Won't come to bed until the dishes are done
And turning out lights all but one
I like to read some
Won't fall to sleep until my day is done
It was just another day
But I've enjoyed it anyway
Just another day
I'll always find a way
Why I can sleep in tomorrow
Stacey Earle's song "Just Another Day" is a reflection on the simplicity and mundanity of daily life. The singer wakes up early in the morning and questions why they woke up so early. The hours pass by uneventfully, with a picture falling from the wall as the only disruption. The singer spends part of the day in the garden, then goes to the market where they witness the rushing and anxiety of those around them. A delivery man arrives and leaves; the day passes on. The final section of the song finds the singer at home with their family, reading before bed.
The song has a sense of detachment, as if observing oneself from a distance. The repetition of "just another day" emphasizes the ordinariness of the day and the singer's acceptance of it. The mention of rushing and worry in the market contrasts with the singer's laid-back attitude toward the day.
Despite the uneventfulness of the day, the singer finds enjoyment in it and looks forward to sleeping in the next day. The song suggests that there is value in finding pleasure in the simple moments of life, even if they are "just another day."
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up early this morning, I asked myself why
Starting my day in confusion and puzzlement
It's four in the morning, so closing my eyes
Still too early, need more rest for a while
I rolled over on my other side
Trying to find the most comfortable position in bed
Ten o'clock came fast
The day is already progressing quickly
Heard a noise down the hall
Sensing disruption and disturbance
Sounds just like broken glass
Hearing something fall and break
And for no reason at all
Unexplainable reason for the noise
A picture had fallen from the wall
Discovering the source of the sound
Oh, it's just another day
Realizing that it's nothing unusual or alarming
Guess I'll spend it in the garden
Having the simple plan to enjoy nature
Why, I can make this day mine
Feeling empowered to take charge of the situation and make the most of the day
And later at the market
Planning a shopping trip
Where I know I can find
Anticipation of getting what is needed
A place to spend more than just time
Finding a satisfying destination
Everyone is in a hurry
Noticing the fast pace of the world around me
They're grabbing only what they need
People's activities are limited to essentials
Their faces poured with worry
Experiencing the stress and anxiety of others
Please sir, go ahead of me
Allowing others to proceed before me
I really have no place I need to be
Feeling content with not having anywhere urgent to be
No, it's just another day
Confirming the prevailing normalcy
Three o'clock came slow
The day's progress seems to be slowing down
I heard a knock at the door
Receiving unexpected visitors
So I opened it real slow
Responding cautiously
He said say no more
The visitor expressed no more words greeting
I must not be who you're hoping for
The person at the door is not the one being waited for
Why, could it be you're expecting company
The person at the door confused with the unexpected visitors
Ma'am if I may
Visitor requesting permission to proceed
Have you sign right here please
Visitor asking for a signature
And as he walked away
The visitor taking leave
He said, Oh have a lovely day
Greetings upon departure
Yes have a lovely day
Responding positively
Six o'clock rolled around
Arriving close to the end of the day
I hear the traffic building up
Noticing the feeling of rush and urgency
It's all around the town
The traffic situation affecting most people
Driving like there is no giving up
People driving with perseverance and determination
Arriving home to the ones they love
People's eagerness to reunite with their loved ones
Table set, please sit down everyone
Eager to gather everyone to sit and enjoy dinner together
Won't come to bed until the dishes are done
Willingness to finish household chores
And turning out lights all but one
The only lighting left in the house
I like to read some
Preferring to read before sleep
Won't fall to sleep until my day is done
Finishing the day strong and satisfied
It was just another day
The day ends with a realization that it was no different from previous days
But I've enjoyed it anyway
Despite the normalcy, finding enjoyment in the day
Just another day
The day is, in fact, nothing exciting or extraordinary
I'll always find a way
A willingness to find positivity in any situation
Why I can sleep in tomorrow
Looking forward to a relaxed and leisurely day tomorrow
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STACEY EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind