Earle was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, and grew up near San Antonio, Texas. His father, Jack Earle, was an air traffic controller. Although he was born in Virginia where his father was stationed, the family returned to Texas before Earle's second birthday. They moved several times but Earle grew up primarily in the San Antonio area.
Earle began learning the guitar at the age of 11 and placed in a talent contest at his school at age 13. He is reported to have run away from home at age 14 to follow his idol, singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt around Texas. Earle was "rebellious" as a youngster and dropped out of school at the age of 16. He moved to Houston with his 19-year-old uncle, who was also a musician, where he married and worked odd jobs. While in Houston Earle finally met Van Zandt, who became his hero and role model.
In 1975, at the age of 20, Earle moved to Nashville and began working as a songwriter. In these early days, he recorded with Guy Clark and Emmylou Harris. He finally scored a country hit in 1981, writing Johnny Lee's top ten cut "When You Fall in Love." Earle's early work as a performer tended towards the rockabilly sound, popular at the time. In 1986, his first proper album Guitar Town was a critical and commercial success. It sold over 300,000 copies and led some to herald him as a saviour of country music.
Earle long struggled with drug abuse. His addiction eventually caused a departure from performing and recording after he was dropped by MCA in 1991. Whilst in jail on drug and firearm charges, he kicked the habit and returned to music after his release in 1994.
Earle's "second, post-jail, musical career" has been more stylistically diverse than his early material, dipping in acoustic, bluegrass, and roots rock sounds. I Feel Alright and Transcendental Blues met with good reviews and decent sales. 2002's somewhat controversial Jerusalem was one of the first albums to directly address the September 11 attacks. It brought Earle's leftist views to media attention, especially the song "John Walker's Blues."
His latest album of original material I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive was released in 2011. Songfacts reports that one of the tracks, This City, got played on HBO’s New Orleans based show Treme several months before the album‘s release. Earle, who plays a recurring street musician, composed the song especially for the drama series.
Earle has also released a tribute album of material written by friend and mentor Townes Van Zandt, entitled Townes.
For more information and photographs of Steve Earle go to his official website, www.SteveEarle.com.
After The Fire Is Gone
Steve Earle Lyrics
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When you find no love at home
And there's nothin' cold as ashes
After the fire is gone
The bottle is almost empty
The clock just now struck ten
Darlin' I had to call you
We know it's wrong for us to meet
But the fire's gone out at home
And there's nothin' cold as ashes
After the fire is gone
Love is where you find it
When you find no love at home
And there's nothin' cold as ashes
After the fire is gone
Your lips are warm and tender
Your arms hold me just right
Sweet words of love you remember
That the one at home forgot
Each time we say is the last time
But we keep hangin' on
And there's nothin' cold as ashes
After the fire is gone
Love is where you find it
When you find no love at home
And there's nothin' cold as ashes
After the fire is gone
The song "After the Fire is Gone" by Steve Earle and Allison Moorer is a reflective and nostalgic song about two people who are in a loveless marriage seeking comfort in each other's arms. The opening lines, "Love is where you find it, when you find no love at home," express the sentiment that when love is absent from one's home life, it can be found elsewhere. The lines "And there's nothing cold as ashes after the fire's gone" symbolize how the initial passion and heat of their relationship has burned out, and all that remains are cold remnants of the love that once was.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the two lovers have repeatedly met each other when they shouldn't have. The line, "We know it's wrong for us to meet," shows that they are aware that their actions are not approved of by society or their partners but continue to find comfort in each other's company regardless. The chorus repeats the idea that "Love is where you find it / When you find no love at home / And there's nothing cold as ashes / After the fire is gone," emphasizing the theme that they are seeking love and warmth that they can't find in their marriages.
The lyrics also paint a picture of a one-sided love story, where the singer's lover has forgotten the words of love and affection that they used to say, but the person outside of their marriage continues to cherish and remember them. These lines, "Your lips are warm and tender / Your arms hold me just right / Sweet words of love you remember / That the one at home forgot" shows how the singer's lover is not getting the love they need at home, and how the person outside of their marriage is the only one making them feel alive and cherished.
Overall, the song is a melancholic take on love, infidelity, and the complexities that come with being in loveless relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is where you find it
Love can be found anywhere, not necessarily at home
When you find no love at home
If there is no love at home, you should look for it elsewhere
And there's nothin' cold as ashes
Nothing is colder or has less passion than a love that has burned out
After the fire is gone
When a relationship has lost its spark, there is nothing left
The bottle is almost empty
There has been a lot of drinking involved in their meetings
The clock just now struck ten
The late hour makes their meeting a secret
Darlin' I had to call you
The singer has a strong desire to see the other person
To our favorite place again
They have met here before, and it's a place where they feel comfortable
We know it's wrong for us to meet
They understand that their actions are not morally right
But the fire's gone out at home
Their current relationships lack passion and excitement
Your lips are warm and tender
The other person is affectionate and caring
Your arms hold me just right
Their embrace is comforting and fulfilling
Sweet words of love you remember
The other person remembers to say loving things, unlike their current partners
That the one at home forgot
Their significant others have neglected to show affection and love
Each time we say is the last time
They keep trying to end things, but they can't resist each other
But we keep hangin' on
They can't let go of the passion and excitement they feel with each other
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: L WHITE, L E WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind