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.
Desperados Waiting For A Train
Steve Earle Lyrics
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And he'd sit in the kitchen and cry
Run his fingers through seventy years of livin'
Wonder, "Lord, has every well I've ever drilled run dry?"
We were friends, me and this old man
Like desperados waitin' for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
He's a drifter and a driller of oil wells
And an old-school man of the world
He taught me how to drive his car when he's too drunk to
He'd wink and give me money for the girls
And our lives were like some old western movie
Like desperados waitin' for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
From the time that I could walk he'd take me with him
To a bar called the Green Frog Cafe
There were old men with beer guts and dominos
Just ying 'bout their lives while they played
I was just a kid they called his "Sidekick"
Like desperados waitin' for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
One day I looked up and he's pushin' eighty
Brown tobacco stains all down his chin
To me he's one of the heroes of this country
So why's he all dressed up like them old men
Drinkin' beer and playin' Moon and Forty-Two
Like desperados waitin' for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
A day before he died, I went to see him
I was grown and he was almost gone
So we closed our eyes and dreamed us up a kitchen
And sang another verse to that old song
"Come on, Jack, that son of a bitch is coming"
Like desperados waitin' for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
The lyrics to Steve Earle's song "Desperados Waiting for a Train" tell the heartfelt story of a friendship between the singer and an old man, who is described as a drifter and a driller of oil wells. The singer reflects on their bond, reminiscing about the times they spent together, playing music and sharing experiences. The old man is depicted as a wise figure, teaching the singer valuable life lessons and even trusting him to drive his car when he's too drunk. Their lives are likened to an old western movie, suggesting a sense of adventure and unpredictability.
As the song progresses, the singer describes how the old man is pushing eighty and his health is deteriorating. Despite his advanced age, the old man remains an important figure to the singer, a hero of the country. However, the singer observes that the old man now dresses like the other old men at the bar, drinking beer and playing games like Moon and Forty-Two. This suggests a sense of resignation, perhaps a reflection of the changes that come with old age.
In the final verse, the singer visits the old man shortly before his death. They close their eyes and imagine themselves in a kitchen, singing another verse of their old song. The lyric "Come on, Jack, that son of a bitch is coming" implies that they are preparing for the old man's final journey, facing death with courage and defiance.
Overall, "Desperados Waiting for a Train" is a bittersweet and poignant tribute to friendship, aging, and the passing of time. It captures the essence of nostalgia and the deep connection between two individuals who have shared a significant part of their lives together.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd play the Red River Valley
I would play the Red River Valley song on my guitar
And he'd sit in the kitchen and cry
And he would sit in the kitchen and shed tears
Run his fingers through seventy years of livin'
He would reminisce about his long life and experiences
Wonder, "Lord, has every well I've ever drilled run dry?"
Questioning whether all the oil wells he drilled have been exhausted
We were friends, me and this old man
The old man and I were close friends
Like desperados waitin' for a train
We were like outlaws waiting for something important to happen
Desperados waitin' for a train
Outlaws waiting for a train
He's a drifter and a driller of oil wells
He is a wanderer and a worker in the oil industry
And an old-school man of the world
And a traditional, experienced individual who has seen the world
He taught me how to drive his car when he's too drunk to
He taught me how to drive his car during moments when he was intoxicated
He'd wink and give me money for the girls
He would subtly signal and give me money to spend on women
And our lives were like some old western movie
Our lives resembled those of characters in an old Western film
From the time that I could walk he'd take me with him
He would bring me along with him since I was able to walk
To a bar called the Green Frog Cafe
To a bar named the Green Frog Cafe
There were old men with beer guts and dominos
There were elderly men with large stomachs playing dominos
Just ying 'bout their lives while they played
Simply talking about their lives as they played
I was just a kid they called his "Sidekick"
I was simply a child whom they referred to as his sidekick
One day I looked up and he's pushin' eighty
One day, I realized he was almost eighty years old
Brown tobacco stains all down his chin
His chin was marked with brown stains from tobacco
To me he's one of the heroes of this country
To me, he is one of the admired figures in this country
So why's he all dressed up like them old men
So why is he dressed similarly to those elderly men
Drinkin' beer and playin' Moon and Forty-Two
Drinking beer and playing the card games Moon and Forty-Two
A day before he died, I went to see him
One day before he passed away, I visited him
I was grown and he was almost gone
I had become an adult and he was close to departing
So we closed our eyes and dreamed us up a kitchen
So we closed our eyes and imagined ourselves in a kitchen
And sang another verse to that old song
And sang another part of that old song
"Come on, Jack, that son of a bitch is coming"
"Let's go, Jack, that troublesome person is approaching"
Like desperados waitin' for a train
Like outlaws waiting for something important to happen
Desperados waitin' for a train
Outlaws waiting for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
Outlaws waiting for a train
Desperados waitin' for a train
Outlaws waiting for a train
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Guy Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andy McKinney
A legend paying tribute to his "daddy" Guy. One of the few guys worthy of covering a very special song. Chokes me up every time. Makes me think of my granda.
3535Kevin Hope
Saw and met Steve in a small club in my town. Their bus broke down and a passing greyhound picked them up. The club was supposed to close at 2. But Steve and the dukes rocked till 230. It was a great show. The Guitar Town tour
A_HumbledDisciple_TruthMuzik_HD
Absolutely fantastic . Bravo.
Om Eyehead
Guy Clark cover. Fine job!