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.
Esmeralda's Hollywood
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The stars don't come out like they should
Up above the world so high tonight
They can't outshine the neon lights
Now the golden days are gone for good
In Esmeralda's Hollywood
She comes out when the sun is gone
Cause once the darkness takes this town
She ain't the only ghost around
Waitin' by the public phone
If it don't ring she heads back home
Esmeralda, Esmeralda girl, what are you waitin' for
Esmeralda, Esmeralda, can't hang around this place no more
Searchlights rip the L.A. sky
When you look in Esmeralda's eyes
The people come from miles around
To see the kings and queens they crowned
Behind the barricades they stood
In Esmeralda's Hollywood
Aw, wait until the sun goes down
Listen for the lonely sound
Esmeralda's hanging round
No one shed a tear that day
When Esmeralda passed away
All up and down the strip they say
It was just like any other day
The evil struggled with the good
Down in Esmeralda's Hollywood
Steve Earle's song Esmeralda's Hollywood is a melancholic tribute to the long-gone glamourous era of Hollywood. The lyrics reflect on how the Hollywood of today doesn't live up to the Hollywood of yesterday's fame. Nights fall hard on Hollywood as the stars don't come out like they should. Instead, they are dimmed by the neon lights of the city. The golden days are gone for good, and Esmeralda is one of the few remaining ghosts of the past, waiting by the public phone, hoping for a call or company.
Esmeralda, who comes out when the sun is gone, is a metaphor for a faded memory of Hollywood glamour that isn't there anymore. She can't hang around this place anymore because the Hollywood of yesteryears no longer exists. The people come from miles around to see the kings and queens they crowned behind the barricades of Esmeralda's Hollywood. However, now there's nothing there. Searchlights rip the LA sky is a metaphor for the bright and hopeful lights of Hollywood that are still shining, but it's just the facade.
The song's final lines are the most haunting, "No one shed a tear that day when Esmeralda passed away. All up and down the strip they say it was just like any other day. The evil struggled with the good down in Esmeralda’s Hollywood." This lines speak about how even in death, Esmeralda went unnoticed, which is a sad reflection of the current state of the city.
Line by Line Meaning
Nights fall hard on Hollywood
Los Angeles is notorious for its harsh nightlife, which dominates in Hollywood.
The stars don't come out like they should
The Hollywood lifestyle has obscured the natural beauty and purity of the skies from public view.
Up above the world so high tonight
Despite the appearance of sophistication and glamour, Hollywood is just a small place in the grand scheme of things.
They can't outshine the neon lights
The flashy aesthetics of Hollywood’s nightlife surpass the natural beauty of the sky and its celestial bodies.
Now the golden days are gone for good
Hollywood's once-renowned reign of success and artistic brilliance is now long gone.
In Esmeralda's Hollywood
The reference to 'Esmeralda’s Hollywood' is a metaphor, representing the vicious and immoral drive present in the Hollywood industry.
She comes out when the sun is gone
Esmeralda is associated with the darkness and nightlife of Hollywood.
But she don't have to walk alone
Esmeralda doesn’t face loneliness in the darkness of Hollywood, as she is surrounded by others who share her values and lifestyle.
Cause once the darkness takes this town
The darkness-dominated lifestyle of Hollywood takes precedence over individual identities and relationships.
She ain't the only ghost around
Esmeralda is not alone in pursuing an irreligious and immoral lifestyle in Hollywood.
Waitin' by the public phone
Esmeralda awaits her opportunities for financial gain through her connections in the entertainment industry.
If it don't ring she heads back home
If she doesn’t get any entertainment-related work opportunities, she will retreat back home.
Esmeralda, Esmeralda girl, what are you waitin' for
People are questioning Esmeralda's immoral Hollywood lifestyle, and challenging her to pursue more meaningful and virtuous paths in life.
Esmeralda, Esmeralda, can't hang around this place no more
Esmeralda is urged to abandon her vicious ways and seek a more meaningful existence elsewhere outside of Hollywood.
Searchlights rip the L.A. sky
The heavy presence of surveillance and monitoring is present in Hollywood, symbolized by searchlights illuminating the sky.
When you look in Esmeralda's eyes
Esmeralda's eyes reflect the hypnotic and demonic nature of Hollywood’s lifestyle, which draws people in and dominates their lives.
The people come from miles around
The fame and glitz of Hollywood attracts people from all over the world.
To see the kings and queens they crowned
Hollywood reinforces and bolsters the image of celebrities and icons as royalty, thereby elevating them beyond mere human sanctity.
Behind the barricades they stood
Hollywood celebrities assume a secluded, VIP status, living in heavily-guarded and protected homes hidden from public view.
In Esmeralda's Hollywood
The existence of 'Esmeralda’s Hollywood' represents the overarching, morally-deprived nature of the industry.
Aw, wait until the sun goes down
The darkness dominates once again, prompting more immoral behaviour.
Listen for the lonely sound
The Hollywood nightlife echoes with emptiness, alienation and loneliness.
Esmeralda's hanging round
Esmeralda is still present and active in Hollywood’s vicious, immoral nightlife.
No one shed a tear that day
Esmeralda has fallen foul of the Hollywood lifestyle and its destructive forces.
When Esmeralda passed away
Esmeralda has died as a result of her involvement in the vicious and dangerous nightlife of Hollywood.
All up and down the strip they say
The word about Esmeralda’s life and death have spread far and wide across Hollywood.
It was just like any other day
Esmeralda’s death was an insignificant event in the grand scheme of things, and did not cause much commotion or public attention.
The evil struggled with the good
The morality wars in Hollywood are ongoing, and the tug of war between good and evil is never-ending, played out daily in the lives of those who live there.
Down in Esmeralda's Hollywood
Esmeralda’s Hollywood is a metaphorical representation of the primordial forces of vice and virtue battling it out in the industry, within and outside each individual.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARIA MCKEE, STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-uq8mh3pv2u
Love this song
Never played on radio
never gained popularity
Love Steve Earles story telling style
@Fahamut
I remember this tour. Largest motorcycle parking lot I have ever seen! Steve gave us a personal recognition in the front balcony! Makes me sad that this is my favorite album while he would just rather forget about it.
@Kearschner
thanks for posting, great song, great album
@krissander1
awesome song, great album
@davesheather4106
great tour......The Dukes were badass 1990 !!
@derrickdollar9038
the very first Steve earle album that was it. just got it on vinyl remastered masterpiece
@jennycartwright5578
Very haunting
@derrickdollar9038
the very first Steve earle album that was it. just got it on vinyl remastered masterpiece
@derrickdollar9038
the very first Steve earle album that was it. just got it on vinyl remastered masterpiece