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.

Go Amanda
Steve Earle Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Steve Earle, Sheryl Corw)
Take your red dress, leave the hanger
Lose the sadness, use the anger
You might need it 'fore you get there

[Chorus]
Oh, Amanda
You don't have to say goodbye

You just go Amanda
Ain't no way you didn't try
Wo, oh
All right

Tell your sister, tell your brother
Take a picture to your mother
You've been livin' undercover

[Chorus: x 3]

Oh, Amanda
Oh, Amanda

Overall Meaning

In Steve Earle's song "Go Amanda," a woman named Amanda is being encouraged to leave her past behind and start anew. The lyrics suggest that Amanda is carrying sadness with her and that she should trade it for anger, which will give her strength on her journey. She is told to take her red dress, a symbol of power and confidence, and leave the hanger. The chorus repeats the message that Amanda doesn't have to say goodbye but instead to "go" and that she has already tried her best. The lyrics suggest that Amanda has been living under some sort of cover, and that her sister, brother, and mother should be made aware of her departure.

The song appears to be about female empowerment and the need to break free from emotional burdens. The songwriters may have been inspired by personal events or social issues that pertain to women's struggles. The song's upbeat tone and catchy chorus make it an anthem for anyone who is looking to make a big change in their life. Ultimately, "Go Amanda" is a song that encourages listeners to let go of their past and embrace a brighter future.

Line by Line Meaning

Take your red dress, leave the hanger
Get yourself ready and don't hold back

Lose the sadness, use the anger
Don't let sadness break you down, channel your emotions towards getting stronger

You might need it 'fore you get there
Stay prepared for whatever lies ahead

Oh, Amanda
The singer's words of encouragement

You don't have to say goodbye
You don't have to feel like you're losing anything by leaving

You just go Amanda
Be bold and take the leap

Ain't no way you didn't try
You've given it your all and there's no denying that

Tell your sister, tell your brother
Communicate with your loved ones and keep them in the loop

Take a picture to your mother
Capture this moment and let your family know where you're headed

You've been livin' undercover
You've been hiding your true self and it's time to break free

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: SHERYL CROW, STEVE EARLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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