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.
Ellis Unit One
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was back in 82
I raised some Cain when I come back to town
I left to be all I could be
Come home without a clue
Now, I married Dawn and had to settle down
So I hired on at the prison
Just like my dad and both my uncles done
And I worked on every cell block
Now, things're goin' good
But then they transferred me to Ellis Unit One
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home
Well, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls
And how they used to strap em in the chair
The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer n all
N when the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air
Well, folks just got too civilized
Sparky's gatherin' dust
Cause no one wants to touch a smokin' gun
And since they got the injection
They don't mind as much, I guess
They just put em down at Ellis Unit One
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home
Well, I've seen em fight like lions, boys
I've seen 'em go like lambs
And I've helped to drag em when they could not stand
And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam
And I've seen the victim's family holdin' hands
Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest
And something cold and black pullin' through my lungs
N even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best
But he don't live on Ellis Unit One
Swing low
Swing low
Swing low and carry me home
Swing low
Don't let go
Swing low and carry me home
The lyrics to Steve Earle’s song “Ellis Unit One” detail the life of a prison guard who finds himself emotionally trapped within the prison system. The singer, fresh out of the military in 1982, initially raised a ruckus in his hometown but settled down after he married Dawn. He then follows in the footsteps of his dad and uncles, accepting a job as a prison guard. Although he works in all the cell blocks and things seem to be going well, he is suddenly transferred to one specific unit, Ellis Unit One. The lyrics become haunting as the singer recounts what he’s witnessed over the years while working in the prison. From the “long nights at the walls” to the inmates fighting “like lions”, the reality of being inside the prison walls is becoming too much for him to handle.
The chorus of “Swing Low” adds to the haunting mood of the song. It is a traditional African American spiritual that has been used to represent the despair of slavery, the hope for freedom, and the comfort in death. The prison guard becomes lost in the idea of escape and being carried home. In the last stanza, the prison guard dreams that he is being executed and even Jesus cannot save him. This final image illustrates how even the hope of a higher power is lost in the prison system, where despair and hopelessness are predominant.
Line by Line Meaning
I was fresh out of the service
I had recently completed my military service
It was back in 82
This happened in the year 1982
I raised some Cain when I come back to town
I became rowdy and caused some trouble when I returned home
I left to be all I could be
I left to fulfill my potential in life
Come home without a clue
I returned home without any specific direction or purpose
Now, I married Dawn and had to settle down
I got married to Dawn and had to accept a more stable lifestyle
So I hired on at the prison
I got a job at the prison
Guess I always knew I would
Perhaps it was always my destiny to work at the prison
Just like my dad and both my uncles done
This was a family tradition as my father and uncles also worked at the prison
And I worked on every cell block
I worked in different cell blocks within the prison
Now, things're goin' good
Things were going well for me
But then they transferred me to Ellis Unit One
I was later transferred to Ellis Unit One
Swing low
A reference to the spiritual 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'
Well, my daddy used to talk about them long nights at the walls
My father used to talk about his experiences with the prison and executions
And how they used to strap em in the chair
The method of execution used to be the electric chair
The kids down from the college and they'd bring their beer n all
College students would come to watch the executions and they would bring beer
N when the lights went out, a cheer rose in the air
When the lights went out for the execution, the audience would cheer
Well, folks just got too civilized
Society has grown more civilized and no longer uses the electric chair
Sparky's gatherin' dust
The electric chair is no longer in use and remains unused
Cause no one wants to touch a smokin' gun
Executing someone with a gun would not be acceptable to society
And since they got the injection
The method of execution has shifted to using injections
They don't mind as much, I guess
The public does not seem to object to this method as much
They just put em down at Ellis Unit One
The executions are carried out at Ellis Unit One
Well, I've seen em fight like lions, boys
I have witnessed prisoners who fought valiantly in their final moments
I've seen 'em go like lambs
I have seen prisoners who were more submissive during their execution process
And I've helped to drag em when they could not stand
As a prison worker, I have had to assist prisoners who were physically weak
And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam
I have heard the families of the prisoners cry when they heard the door to the execution chamber close
And I've seen the victim's family holdin' hands
I have also seen the families of the victims come together and hold hands in anticipation of the execution
Last night I dreamed that I woke up with straps across my chest
I had a nightmare where I was the one being executed
And something cold and black pullin' through my lungs
The nightmare was particularly vivid, as I could feel the sensation of something cold and dark in my chest
N even Jesus couldn't save me though I know he did his best
I feel so helpless in the nightmare that not even Jesus could save me, although I am aware that he would try his best
But he don't live on Ellis Unit One
Unfortunately, even the power of Jesus cannot save someone from being executed on Ellis Unit One
Swing low
A reiteration of the request from the beginning of the song
Don't let go
A plea to continue with the request to 'Swing low', implying that death is coming soon
Swing low and carry me home
A final request for release from the pain and suffering of mortal life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
curtis anderson
I was a convict most of my( not a inmate) life been in Groesbeck,Tx and all over Nc n Va prisons but there have been some real co's that treated us like men n not animals I been out 23yrs now and Grateful
Randall Emmons
As previously stated Ellis Unit One near Huntsville, TX was the location of Texas's "Death Row" when the song was written. In 1999 Texas's "Death Row" was moved to the Polusky Unit near Livingston, TX. Inmates are still transported to the Texas State Penitentiary (the Walls) in Huntsville, TX for execution. The "Walls" are a couple of blocks from Sam Houston State University which is the "college" referred to in the song. Steve corresponded with several inmates during the 1990s. He actually visited one of them (Jonathan Nobles) on several occasions at Ellis Unit One. He attended Nobles's execution at Nobles's request. Nobles is the inspiration for Steve's song - Over Yonder(Jonathan's Song).
J.P. Harvey
@Randall Emmons I know you are correct in every word the Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville and they did party outside the walls unit on every execution I have seen the Walls go on unit Lock Down for the Executions my Uncle Bobby Carrol Harvey died their and later I was assigned their and worked in Heavy Equipment at Tractor Shop later I was assigned to The Diesel and Welding shop which was part of Transportation at the Wynne Unit Mr, Donnie Johnson was head man then ,Now I think Mr Clifford Pergoda is over it all those men treated me as a person not a inmate , Also Mr. Cody Johnson , who now is a Country Music Super Star always treated me as a person these are a few of the good men who worked in the penal system of Texas Criminal Justice oh one more no 2 more Mr . Parker who worked at Tractor shop later going to Unit handling the Buffaloe Ranch out of Bryan Tx and Mr Andrews who handled the Community Service workers Thank y'all for helping me get through the consequences of my bad choices in life and God bless
Randall Emmons
@you`re wrong I am not sure what I am wrong about. I wasn't referring to Eastern State Pen. I was referring to prisons in Texas.
you`re wrong
my uncle was one of the last prisoners in eastern state pen before they shut it down and made it a tourist thing in philly.
Debby Ledbetter
Thank you for clearing this up for some that don't know. I'm a Texan too and I know the truths about a lot of it. Thanks again
Rene Ouimette
Been listening to steve for many moons. Love his style one of my favorites. Got to see him live in NH was the best things i did. Peace to you steve!
LAG3
I find this song very moving. I know where he's coming from. " even Jesus couldn't save me, though I know he did his best, but he don't live on Ellis Unit One.. "
B Adams
An amazing album!
Terri Watson
Yes i agree😘