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.
City Of Immigrants
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't need to go travelin'
Open my door and the world walks in
Livin' in a city of immigrants
Livin' in a city that never sleeps
My heart keepin' time to a thousand beats
Singin' in languages I don't speak
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of black
City of white
City of light
City of innocents
City of sweat
City of tears
City of prayers
City of immigrants
Livin' in a city where the dreams of men
Reach up to touch the sky and then
Tumble back down to earth again
Livin' in a city that never quits
Livin' in a city where the streets are paved
With good intentions and a people's faith
In the sacred promise a statue made
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of stone
City of steel
City of wheels
Constantly spinnin'
City of bone
City of skin
City of pain
City of immigrants
All of us are immigrants
Every daughter, every son
Everyone is everyone
All of us are immigrants - everyone
Livin' in a city of immigrants
River flows out and the sea rolls in
Washin' away nearly all of my sins
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of black
City of white
City of light
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of sweat
City of tears
City of prayers
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of stone
City of steel
City of wheels
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of bone
City of skin
City of pain
City of immigrants
All of us are immigrants, all of us are immigrants
The song City of Immigrants by Steve Earle is a celebration of the multicultural melting pot that is New York City. Earle sings about the diversity and energy of the city, which is filled with people from all over the world. The lyrics emphasize the idea that we are all immigrants in some way, with different backgrounds and cultures, but united as New Yorkers.
The opening line of the song "Livin' in a city of immigrants" is repeated throughout, serving as a chorus and a testament to the diversity of the city. Earle describes how he doesn't need to travel far to experience different cultures because they are all around him in New York City. He notes that the city is always bustling, never sleeping, and that he can hear people singing in languages he doesn't understand. Earle also touches on the hardship of immigration, referencing the sweat and tears of those who have come before him and the pain that they have endured.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "City of [insert noun]" with each line painting a different aspect of the city. Earle refers to the city as both a city of black and a city of white, highlighting the racial divide that still exists in some areas. He also calls it a city of light and a city of sweat, showing the contrast between the glitter of Manhattan and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Overall, the song is a tribute to the vibrant and complex city of New York, and the people who call it home.
Line by Line Meaning
Livin' in a city of immigrants
Living in a city where people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds coexist.
I don't need to go travelin'
There's no need to travel around the world to experience different cultures because of the diversity present in the city.
Open my door and the world walks in
The city's diversity is so vast that it's like the whole world is present in the city.
Livin' in a city that never sleeps
Living in a city that's always bustling with people and things to do.
My heart keepin' time to a thousand beats
The rhythm of the city is so fast-paced and exciting that it feels like your heart is beating to the rhythm of the city itself.
Singin' in languages I don't speak
Hearing people sing in languages that you don't understand, which shows the beautiful diversity of the city.
City of black
A city where black people have a strong presence.
City of white
A city where white people have a strong presence.
City of light
A city that shines bright with energy and vibrancy.
City of innocents
A city where people come with their dreams and aspirations to start anew.
City of sweat
A city where people work hard in order to make a better life for themselves and their families.
City of tears
A city where people cry over their struggles and hardships.
City of prayers
A city where people come to seek solace and hope through their faith.
Livin' in a city where the dreams of men
Living in a city where people come to pursue their hopes and dreams.
Reach up to touch the sky and then
People have high aspirations and ambitions in the city.
Tumble back down to earth again
Despite high aspirations, many people are unable to achieve success in the city.
Livin' in a city that never quits
Living in a city that's always moving and never stops its hustle and bustle.
Livin' in a city where the streets are paved
Living in a city where people have good intentions and positive outlook.
With good intentions and a people's faith
People in the city have a positive approach towards life and believe in making things better for everyone.
In the sacred promise a statue made
Refers to the Statue of Liberty which is a symbol of hope and opportunity for immigrants coming to the USA.
City of stone
A city where people have built structures and monuments that stand strong and hold meaning to people.
City of steel
A industrial city where steel is the chief product.
City of wheels
A city that never stops moving with cars, trains and buses always on the go.
Constantly spinnin'
The wheels of the city are constantly in motion which causes the city to constantly spin and evolve.
City of bone
The foundation of the people and the city as a whole.
City of skin
Refers to people's identities, colors, and ethnicity.
City of pain
Refers to the struggles, hardships, and challenges that people face in the city.
All of us are immigrants
Acknowledging the fact that everyone has an immigrant history, directly or indirectly.
Every daughter, every son
Every person born in a new environment has to adopt that culture and environment as their own.
Everyone is everyone
Every individual in the city has the right to coexist and equally benefit from it.
River flows out and the sea rolls in
The city is located near a body of water and people come from around the world, on ships and boats, to visit and settle in the city, creating a diverse and multicultural environment.
Washin' away nearly all of my sins
The city is like a cleansing force washing away all the past hardships and struggles of the people.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind