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.
Come Home To Me
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, baby, baby, please come home to me
Another blue and lonesome night
Baby, baby, baby, please come home to me
I knew I'd cry, when you were gone
Baby, baby, baby please come home to me
Thought I'd survive but I was wrong
Just as soon as you were out that door
I remembered what my life was like before
Now nothin's gonna be the same again
'Cause I'm lonelier than I was then
And I can't ever let this feelin' go
'Cause now I know
I stay up late wake up alone
Aw baby, baby, baby please come home to me
No matter what I say or do
I know I'll never get over losin' you
So I'm crossin' my heart and promisin'
If I get you in my arms again
I'm not ever gonna let you go
'Cause now I know
The doors unlocked
The light is on
Baby, baby, baby, please come home to me
Baby, baby, baby, please
The song "Come Home To Me" by Steve Earle is about a man who is desperately missing his lover and begging her to come back to him. The lyrics paint a picture of a lonely man who is yearning for the company of his love. The opening lines of the song, "Yellow moon, amber light, baby, baby, baby please come home to me, another blue and lonesome night, baby, baby, baby please come home to me," express the loneliness and yearning that the man is feeling.
The lyrics continue to describe how the man feels now that his lover is gone. He thought he would be okay without her, but he was wrong. He remembers what his life was like before she came into it and how lonely he was then. He knows that he can never let this feeling go because he knows what it's like to have someone to love and be loved by.
The man promises that if his lover comes back to him, he will never let her go. The final verse of the song, "The doors unlocked, the light is on, baby, baby, baby, please come home to me," shows that the man is ready and waiting for his lover to return. He wants her to know that he will always be there for her, no matter what.
Overall, "Come Home To Me" is a heartfelt plea from a man who is missing the love of his life. It's a reminder that love is powerful and has the ability to make us feel whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Yellow moon, amber light
Describing the mood and atmosphere of the night, urging the loved one to return.
Baby, baby, baby, please come home to me
Repeating the request for the loved one to come back home, emphasizing the desperation and longing felt by the singer.
Another blue and lonesome night
Describing the emotional state of the singer without the loved one, reinforcing the desire for the loved one to return.
I knew I'd cry, when you were gone
Expressing the inevitability of the singer's sadness after the departure of the loved one.
Baby, baby, baby please come home to me
Repeating the same request for the loved one to come back, highlighting the desperation felt by the singer.
Thought I'd survive but I was wrong
Admitting to the wrong assumptions made by the singer about their ability to cope without the loved one, confessing to the emotional turmoil experienced due to their absence.
Just as soon as you were out that door
Recalling the moment when the loved one left, underscoring the suddenness and severity of the emotions that have been felt.
I remembered what my life was like before
Reflecting on the life of the singer prior to the arrival of the loved one and how different it was from the present.
Now nothin's gonna be the same again
Stating the emotional impact of the loved one's absence on the singer's life going forward, stressing the importance of their return.
'Cause I'm lonelier than I was then
Comparing the current loneliness of the singer to the loneliness they felt before the loved one arrived.
And I can't ever let this feelin' go
Asserting the perspective of the singer on the importance of the loved one to their life before and after their departure.
'Cause now I know
Concluding the verse with the singer's newfound knowledge of the importance of the loved one to their life.
I stay up late wake up alone
Describing the difficulty keeping to a normal sleeping and waking schedule without the presence of the loved one.
Aw baby, baby, baby please come home to me
Repeated appeal for the loved one to come back home, emphasizing the strength of the feelings of the singer.
No matter what I say or do
Acknowledging the futility of the singer's attempts to move on from the loved one.
I know I'll never get over losin' you
Admitting the impossibility of ever coming to terms with what it means to lose the loved one.
So I'm crossin' my heart and promisin'
Making a solemn pledge to the loved one that convinces them to return.
If I get you in my arms again
Outlining the conditions required for the loved one's return.
I'm not ever gonna let you go
Promising to never let the loved one go again, reinforcing the singer's heartfelt request for the loved one to return.
'Cause now I know
Repeating the final line from the previous verse, emphasizing the newfound importance of the loved one to the singer's life.
The doors unlocked
Signifying the willingness of the singer to receive the loved one's return with open arms.
The light is on
Symbolizing the warmth and love that the singer has for the loved one, inspiring them to return home.
Baby, baby, baby, please come home to me
Repeating the final appeal for the loved one's return, hoping that the loved one will hear the plea and come back home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind