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.
Good Ol' Boy
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A twenty thousand dollar pickup truck
Belongs to me and the bank and some funny talkin' man from Iran
I left the service and got a G.I. loan
I got married bought myself a home
Now I hang around this one horse town and do the best than I can
It's gettin' tough
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
Gettin' cold
I've been told
Nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
Been goin' nowhere down a one-way track
I'd kill to leave it but ain't no turnin' back
Got the wife and the kids and what would everybody say
My brother's standin' on a welfare line
And any minute now I might get mine
Meanwhile it's the I.R.S. and the devil to pay
Gettin' tough
Just my luck
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
Gettin' cold
I've been told
Nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
I hit the beer joints every Friday night
Spend a little money lookin' for a fight
It don't matter if I lose or win
'Cause Monday I'm back on the losin' end again
Gettin' tough
It's just my luck
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
It's gettin' cold
I've been told
Nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
Gettin' tough
Just my luck
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
Gettin' cold
I've been told
Nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
The song "Good Ol' Boy" by Steve Earle tells the story of a man who feels stuck and dissatisfied with his life. The opening lines immediately set the tone of the song, as the man explains that he has a job that doesn't pay enough and a truck that he owns with the bank and a foreign man. He reveals that he used to be in the military and received a G.I. loan to purchase a home and start a family. However, despite all of this, he still feels unfulfilled and stuck in the small, one horse town where he lives.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the man's feelings of frustration and hopelessness. He observes that living in the "land of plenty" is no longer enough- times are tough, and it doesn't pay to be a "good ol' boy" like he is. The final verse of the song sees the man turning to alcohol and violence as a way to escape his troubles, even though he knows that it won't solve anything in the long run.
"Good Ol' Boy" is a poignant commentary on the struggles faced by working-class people in the United States, particularly in the 1980s when the song was written. It highlights how difficult it can be for individuals to achieve the American Dream and how easy it is to fall into despair and hopelessness. Ultimately, Steve Earle's lyrics remind us that there is a cost to the pursuit of success and that not everyone will come out on top.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a job but it ain't nearly enough
I have employment but the financial payout is insufficient.
A twenty thousand dollar pickup truck
Belongs to me and the bank and some funny talkin' man from Iran
The ownership rights of my $20,000 automobile are shared between myself, a bank, and an Iranian man.
I left the service and got a G.I. loan
I got married bought myself a home
Now I hang around this one horse town and do the best than I can
After leaving the military, I obtained a G.I. loan and purchased a residence. I now reside in a small town, trying to make the most of my situation.
Been goin' nowhere down a one-way track
I'd kill to leave it but ain't no turnin' back
Got the wife and the kids and what would everybody say
My brother's standin' on a welfare line
And any minute now I might get mine
Meanwhile it's the I.R.S. and the devil to pay
I feel stuck in life and desperately want to escape, but my familial responsibilities and societal expectations prevent me from doing so. My brother struggles to make ends meet, and I face consequences from the government and possibly from fate itself.
I hit the beer joints every Friday night
Spend a little money lookin' for a fight
It don't matter if I lose or win
'Cause Monday I'm back on the losin' end again
To cope with my situation, I indulge in alcohol and try to instigate physical conflict. Regardless of the outcome, my return to work on Mondays signals my return to my losing streak.
Gettin' tough
Just my luck
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
Gettin' cold
I've been told
Nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
Life has become increasingly challenging for me, and it feels like a stroke of bad luck. Despite being born in a wealthy country, resources seem scarce, and being a stereotypical Southern male no longer holds value.
It's gettin' tough
Just my luck
I was born in the land of plenty now there ain't enough
Gettin' cold
I've been told
Nowadays it just don't pay to be a good ol' boy
I am constantly reminded of how hard it is to prosper, and I blame it on chance. Despite living in a prosperous nation, resources feel scarce, and the archetype of the rural Southern male is no longer desirable.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT, STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eddieboster4654
I'm a big fan of this album. Got it as soon as it came out (owning a record store was a big plus in this area). It was a breath of fresh air in the music world then and still holds up after all these years.
@pizzamiava999
Since the early 90's been the best intro! Thank you STEVE!!
@debrahabian361
Hell yeah! Such an under-rated musician!!!
@dalemontgomeey8606
Steve Earl the king of red dirt more less, he is the influence to lots of people in America.
@aidenbear3289
Awesome classic Steve
@shawnaldrich764
i.m an old hippie lol i can relate to all of steve earles music like he put my life to music i just love his music and steve is pretty cool himself
@thomasstanley2415
his music was real man i was listening to them on 33 lp still am
@toddbrown1165
I was in the navy when this song came out,it was WHAT I was living, affirmative action was live and well
@marshallwest5696
I was born in a land of plenty now there aint enough
@AllanOstermann
Marshall West I was just going to post that line. Love it. And it can't be more true than America today. And he knew it 20 years or so ago.