Steve Earle (born Stephen Fain Earle on January 17, 1955 in San Antonio, Te… Read Full Bio ↴Steve Earle (born Stephen Fain Earle on January 17, 1955 in San Antonio, Texas) is a singer-songwriter best known for his country music and rock 'n roll tinged "alt-country." He is also a published writer, a keen political activist (particularly in protesting against the death penalty in the U.S., as in his song "Ellis Unit One" from the movie Dead Man Walking), and has written and directed a play. Earle also had small roles on the HBO television shows "The Wire" and "Treme". His sister Stacey Earle is also an acclaimed singer-songwriter, as is his most recent wife, Allison Moorer, whom he wed in 2005. His first son from an earlier marriage is the singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, named for Earle's hero Townes Van Zandt.

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.

Don't Take It Too Bad
Steve Earle Lyrics

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Don't you take it too bad
If you're feelin' unlovin'
If you're feelin unfeelin'
If you're feelin' alone
Don't take it too bad

'cause it ain't you to blame, babe
Lord, it's just some kind of game made

Out of all of this living
That we got left to do

And if you go searchin'
For rhyme or for reason
Then you won't have the time
That it take just for talkin'
About the places you've been, babe
About the places you've seen, babe
And how soft the time flies
Past your window at night

And we just can't have that, girl
'cause it's a sad, lonesome, cold world
And a man need a woman just to stand by his side
And whisper sweet words in his ears about daydreams
And roses and playthings

And the sweetness of springtime
And the sound of the rain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Steve Earle's "Don't Take It Too Bad" are a comforting reminder that sometimes life just doesn't go as planned. The song tells the listener not to be too hard on themselves if they're feeling unloved, unfeeling, or alone. It's not their fault, it's simply a product of the game of life.

The song also discourages the listener from searching too hard for rhyme or reason in their situation. Instead, they should focus on simply living and talking about the places they've been and the things they've seen. The passing of time should be enjoyed, as it flows softly past their window at night.

Overall, the song emphasizes the importance of having someone to stand by your side and whisper sweet words about daydreams, roses, and playthings. In a sad, lonesome, and cold world, we all need someone to help us see the sweetness of springtime and the sound of the rain.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't you take it too bad
Don't be too upset about it

If you're feelin' unlovin'
If you're feeling unloved

If you're feelin unfeelin'
If you're feeling emotionless

If you're feelin' alone
If you're feeling lonely

Don't take it too bad
Don't let it get to you too much

'cause it ain't you to blame, babe
It's not your fault

Lord, it's just some kind of game made
It's just something that happens

Out of all of this living
As a result of living life

That we got left to do
What we still have ahead of us

And if you go searchin'
If you start looking for

For rhyme or for reason
An explanation or justification