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.
Condi Condi
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open up your heart and let me in wontcha please
Got no money but everybody knows
I love you Condi and I'll never let you go
Sweet and dandy pretty as can be
You be the flower and I'll be the bumble bee
Oh she loves me oops she loves me not
People say you're cold but I think you're hot
Oh, Condi, Condi
Oh, Condi, Condi
Oh Condi, Condi I'm talkin' to you girl
What's it gonna hurt come on give me a whirl
Shake your body now let me see you go
One time for me Oh Condi I love you so
Skank for me Condi show me what you got
They say you're too uptight I say you're not
Dance around me spinnin' like a top
Oh Condi Condi Condi don't ever stop
Oh Condi Condi Can't you hear me call
I'm standin' in the street outside your garden wall
Pocketful of money belly full of wine
Condi in my heart and romance on my mind
Listen to me Condi don't be afraid
I come here tonight to chase your blues away
I'll never hurt you I'll treat you right
Oh Condaleeza won't you come out tonight
Pretty little Condi precious as can be
Bet you never had another lover like me
The lyrics of Steve Earle's song "Condi Condi" are about a man who is in love with a woman named Condi and he is begging for her attention and acceptance despite his lack of financial resources. The song is full of sexual innuendos as the man asks Condi to dance and shake her body. He is convinced that Condi loves him and is not cold like people say but rather hot. The man is persistent in his pursuit of Condi as he stands outside her garden wall with a pocketful of money and a belly full of wine. He reassures Condi that he will treat her right and wants to chase her blues away. In conclusion, the lyrics paint a picture of a man who is in love with a woman who is seen as unattainable because of her status and reputation.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Condi Condi beggin' on my knees
The singer is pleading with Condi to listen to him.
Open up your heart and let me in wontcha please
The singer wants Condi to give him a chance to prove himself.
Got no money but everybody knows
The singer is poor but still loves Condi.
I love you Condi and I'll never let you go
The artist is committed to Condi and will never leave her.
Sweet and dandy pretty as can be
The artist thinks Condi is beautiful and sweet.
You be the flower and I'll be the bumble bee
The singer is comparing himself to a bee, and Condi to a flower.
Oh she loves me oops she loves me not
The singer is unsure if Condi loves him or not.
People say you're cold but I think you're hot
The artist thinks Condi is attractive despite what others may say about her personality.
Oh Condi, Condi
Repetitive plea for Condi's attention.
Oh Condi, Condi
Repetitive plea for Condi's attention.
Oh Condi, Condi I'm talkin' to you girl
The singer is trying to get Condi's attention again.
What's it gonna hurt come on give me a whirl
The artist is asking Condi to give him a chance.
Shake your body now let me see you go
The singer wants Condi to dance for him.
One time for me Oh Condi I love you so
The singer loves Condi and wants to see her dance for him.
Skank for me Condi show me what you got
The singer is asking Condi to dance suggestively.
They say you're too uptight I say you're not
The artist disagrees with what others say about Condi's personality.
Dance around me spinnin' like a top
The artist is enjoying watching Condi dance.
Oh Condi Condi Condi don't ever stop
The singer wants Condi to continue dancing for him.
Oh Condi Condi Can't you hear me call
The singer is calling out to Condi again.
I'm standin' in the street outside your garden wall
The artist is outside Condi's residence trying to get her attention.
Pocketful of money belly full of wine
The artist has money and is drunk on wine.
Condi in my heart and romance on my mind
The artist is in love with Condi and has romantic ideas.
Listen to me Condi don't be afraid
The singer wants Condi to listen to him and not be scared.
I come here tonight to chase your blues away
The artist wants to make Condi happy and forget her worries.
I'll never hurt you I'll treat you right
The singer will always respect and care for Condi.
Oh Condaleeza won't you come out tonight
The singer wants Condi to spend time with him tonight.
Pretty little Condi precious as can be
The singer thinks Condi is beautiful.
Bet you never had another lover like me
The artist believes that Condi will never find someone like him again.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEPHEN F. (FAIN) EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind