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.
Amerika V. 6.0
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, take a look in the mirror now tell me what you see
Another satisfied customer in the front of the line for the American dream
I remember when we was both out on the boulevard
Talkin' revolution and singin' the blues
Nowadays it's letters to the editor and cheatin' on our taxes
Is the best that we can do
Come on
Look around
There's doctors down on Wall Street
Sharpenin' their scalpels and tryin' to cut a deal
Meanwhile, back at the hospital
We got accountants playin' God and countin' out the pills
Yeah, I know, that sucks Ã??Ã?? that your HMO
Ain't doin' what you thought it would do
But everybody's gotta die sometime and we can't save everybody
It's the best that we can do
Four score and a hundred and fifty years ago
Our forefathers made us equal as long as we can pay
Yeah, well maybe that wasn't exactly what they was thinkin'
Version six-point-oh of the American way
But hey we can just build a great wall around the country club
To keep the riff-raff out until the slump is through
Yeah, I realize that ain't exactly democratic, but it's either them or us and
And it's the best we can do
Yeah, passionely conservative
It's the best we can do
Conservatively passionate
It's the best we can do
Meanwhile, still thinkin'
Hey, let's wage a war on drugs
It's the best we can do
Well, I don't know about you, but I kinda dig this global warming thing...
In the song Amerika V. 6.0 by Steve Earle, he reflects on how the American dream has changed over time. Earle urges listeners to take a good look at themselves, asking them to question what they see in the mirror. He notes that people used to talk about revolution and sing the blues, whereas now they only write letters to the editor and cheat on taxes.
Earle touches on the healthcare system in America, highlighting how doctors on Wall Street are making deals while accountants at hospitals are counting pills. He acknowledges the issues with HMOs, but reminds listeners that everyone has to die sometime and saving everyone is not possible. Earle then shifts his focus to the founding of America, specifically the idea that all men are created equal, noting that in today's version of America, it feels like equality only exists for those who can afford it. He suggests building a wall around the country club to keep the "riff-raff" out, ending with the lines "And it's the best we can do."
Overall, Earle's lyrics convey a sense of disappointment and resignation to the current state of America. He acknowledges the issues but suggests that this is the best the country can do. While he highlights various problems in society, he doesn't offer solutions, leaving the listener to ponder what can be done to create a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at ya
The singer is asking the listener to consider themselves.
Yeah, take a look in the mirror now tell me what you see
The singer wants the listener to self-reflect and honestly assess themselves.
Another satisfied customer in the front of the line for the American dream
The singer sees the listener as just another person eagerly pursuing the American ideal.
I remember when we was both out on the boulevard
The artist reminisces about a past time when they and the listener were more proactive in their actions.
Talkin' revolution and singin' the blues
The artist and listener would discuss change and the marginalized groups who are not experiencing the great part of America.
Nowadays it's letters to the editor and cheatin' on our taxes
The singer believes the listener has grown complacent in their efforts to enact change, instead taking easy routes like writing a letter to the editor, and not paying tax properly.
Is that the best that we can do?
The singer is questioning the lack of meaningful change, hoping for better efforts in the future.
There are doctors down on Wall Street
The artist notes that doctors are present in powerful places such as Wall Street.
Sharpenin' their scalpels and tryin' to cut a deal
The artist is implying that these doctors are making unhealthy compromises for financial gain.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital
The artist changes subjects to focus on those who are receiving medical care.
We got accountants playin' God and countin' out the pills
The singer is highlighting the absurdity of people who are not medically trained making decisions that will impact someone's health.
Yeah, I know, that sucks - that your HMO / Ain't doin' what you thought it would do
The artist is acknowledging that the healthcare system is not always what people expect, and often fails to follow through on providing proper medical care for everyone.
But everybody's gotta die sometime and we can't save everybody / It's the best that we can do
The singer recognizes the inevitability of death, and the fact that it is impossible to save everyone. The best thing to do is to provide the best medical care we can, with the resources available.
Four score and a hundred and fifty years ago / Our forefathers made us equal as long as we can pay
The singer references the founding fathers and their intentions to create equality among the populace. However, this equality becomes limited via financial ability.
Yeah, well maybe that wasn't exactly what they was thinkin' / Version six-point-oh of the American way
The singer is saying that the current version of America may not be what the founding fathers intended, and that a new version of the American ideal has replaced the original one.
But hey we can just build a great wall around the country club / To keep the riff-raff out until the slump is through
The artist is using sarcasm when suggesting the idea of building walls to promote exclusivity in a time of economic hardship, rather than helping those who are struggling.
Yeah, I realize that ain't exactly democratic, but it's either them or us and / And it's the best we can do
The artist is aware that such exclusivity is not democratic, but believes that it is necessary for the greater good, as this is the best course of action for the time being.
Yeah, passionely conservative / It's the best we can do
The singer highlights the conservative nature of many Americans, implying that their conservatism is due to their belief that this is the best way to move forward.
Conservatively passionate / It's the best we can do
The singer believes that many Americans are passionate about conservatism as they see it as the best way to achieve progress.
Meanwhile, still thinkin' / Hey, let's wage a war on drugs
The artist is being cynical as they question the government's priorities in waging a 'war on drugs'
It's the best we can do
The artist's tone suggests that the 'war on drugs' is not an appropriate solution, and only the best that can be done at the moment.
Well, I don't know about you, but I kinda dig this global warming thing...
The artist is using irony to suggest that people are more focused on individual pleasure and leisure rather than addressing pressing social issues like global warming, perhaps this is due to their struggles as addressed before.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
loomis mayfield
Look at ya
Yeah, take a look in the mirror now tell me what you see
Another satisfied customer in the front of the line for the American dream
I remember when we was both out on the boulevard
Talkin' revolution and singin' the blues
Nowadays it's letters to the editor and cheatin' on our taxes
Is the best that we can do
Come on
Look around
There's doctors down on Wall Street
Sharpenin' their scalpels and tryin' to cut a deal
Meanwhile, back at the hospital
We got accountants playin' God and countin' out the pills
Yeah, I know, that sucks Ã??Ã?? that your HMO
Ain't doin' what you thought it would do
But everybody's gotta die sometime and we can't save everybody
It's the best that we can do
Four score and a hundred and fifty years ago
Our forefathers made us equal as long as we can pay
Yeah, well maybe that wasn't exactly what they was thinkin'
Version six-point-oh of the American way
But hey we can just build a great wall around the country club
To keep the riff-raff out until the slump is through
Yeah, I realize that ain't exactly democratic, but it's either them or us and
And it's the best we can do
Yeah, passionely conservative
It's the best we can do
Conservatively passionate
It's the best we can do
Meanwhile, still thinkin'
Hey, let's wage a war on drugs
It's the best we can do
Well, I don't know about you, but I kinda dig this global warming thing...
James McKeon
This song plays over the end credits of the John Sayles movie "Silver City." That's one of the things I love about John Sayles. Not only is he a great writer and movie director but he really has a fantastic ear for music. Good music, that is.
Prince Albert In A Can
That's where I just heard it for the first time. I like it.
darwinjr
They said Earle was too country for rock stations and too rock for country stations, but he found a loyal audience and critical raves anyway. This is one of his best, especially because he's so pissed off.
Jason Covington
This track always buffering. Of course they can deny it. Report this to YouTube please.
nobodys baby
Accurate too.
Gert Straaten, van der
He's right to be pissed off!
Al Del Grosso
This song was ten years ahead of it's time.
bloodinthewater
Prescient.
R B
Evergreen.
MuddyG
The fact that this is a riff on 'Satisfaction' works perfectly with the theme of the song. It's hard to get any Satisfaction with what's going on in today's Amerika.