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.
Continental Trailways Blues
Steve Earle Lyrics
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I just bought my ticket, Lord I hope the bus ain't late
I'll have a cup of coffee and a sandwich from the microwave
Now I'm gonna see my baby if it's the last thing I ever do
Got this sittin' in the station sick and tired of waitin'
Continental Trailways blues
Try to get some sleep and listen to that highway sound
I guess we must have stopped in every single little town
Now I've bought myself a copy of the Natchez Mississippi News
With the just pulled out of Lake Charles rollin' into sulfur
Continental Trailways blues
Now, we're rollin' into Houston, don't them city lights look fine
Headed for the pay phone, hangin' onto my last dime
Well, she says she's got a new man, Son, it's been a long, long time
Now I was standin' by the highway with the rain runnin' through my shoes
With the sittin' by the road side wishin' I was inside Continental Trailways blues
I got the wishin' I was downtown waitin' on a Greyhound
Continental Trailways blues
The song Continental Trailways Blues by Steve Earle is about a man who is waiting in a bus station to catch a bus to see his lover. He is anxious and hopeful that the bus will not be late, and that he will be able to see his baby again. He passes the time with a cup of coffee and a microwave sandwich. Once he is on the bus, he tries to sleep but ends up listening to the sound of the highway and reading the Natchez Mississippi News.
As the bus approaches Houston, the singer becomes increasingly nervous. He is hanging onto his last dime to call his lover, and he is devastated when he finds out that she has moved on and has a new man. He is left standing in the rain, wishing he was inside the bus on his way to her. The song captures the feeling of a person who is desperate to see their loved one, but is met with disappointment.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of traveling, and the difficulties that can come with it. The Continental Trailways bus line was a popular mode of long-distance transportation in the United States during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, connecting cities in the south and west with the east coast. The song speaks to the challenges of traveling long distances and the loneliness that can come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, sittin' in the depot long before the break of day
The singer is waiting at the bus station early in the morning.
I just bought my ticket, Lord I hope the bus ain't late
The singer has purchased a bus ticket and hopes the bus is on time.
I'll have a cup of coffee and a sandwich from the microwave
The singer plans to eat and drink at the station while waiting for the bus.
Now I'm gonna see my baby if it's the last thing I ever do
The artist is determined to see their significant other, even if it’s the last thing they ever do.
Got this sittin' in the station sick and tired of waitin'
The artist is tired of waiting at the station and wants to leave.
Continental Trailways blues
The feeling of frustration that comes with waiting for a Continental Trailways bus.
Well rollin' out for Houston, man we're finally rollin' now
The bus is finally on its way to Houston.
Try to get some sleep and listen to that highway sound
The artist will try to sleep while listening to the sound of the bus on the highway.
I guess we must have stopped in every single little town
The bus has stopped in many towns along the way to Houston.
Now I've bought myself a copy of the Natchez Mississippi News
The artist has purchased a newspaper to pass the time on the bus.
With the just pulled out of Lake Charles rollin' into sulfur
The bus has left Lake Charles and is entering the town of Sulfur.
Continental Trailways blues
The feeling of frustration and boredom that comes with long bus rides on the Continental Trailways bus line.
Now, we're rollin' into Houston, don't them city lights look fine
The singer is excited to see the lights of Houston as they approach the city.
Headed for the pay phone, hangin' onto my last dime
The singer is heading to the pay phone with their last bit of change to try to call their significant other.
Well, she says she's got a new man, Son, it's been a long, long time
The singer’s significant other has moved on with someone else, even though it’s been a long time since they’ve seen each other.
Now I was standin' by the highway with the rain runnin' through my shoes
The artist is standing outside in the rain with water running through their shoes.
With the sittin' by the road side wishin' I was inside Continental Trailways blues
The artist wishes they were inside the bus to get out of the rain.
I got the wishin' I was downtown waitin' on a Greyhound
The singer wishes they were waiting for a Greyhound bus instead of waiting outside in the rain.
Continental Trailways blues
The feeling of disappointment and frustration that comes with the situation the singer is in.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind