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.
Goodbye
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All them long and lonely nights I put you through
Somewhere in there, I'm sure I made you cry,
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall, all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I may never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere or just too high?
I only miss you every now and then,
Like the soft breeze blowin' up from the Caribbean
Most Novembers I break down and cry,
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico,
That's one place I'll never go in my life again
Awh was I just off somewhere or just too high?
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
No I can't remember if we said goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
In the song "Goodbye," Steve Earle reminisces about a lost love, questioning if they had ever officially ended their relationship. He recalls holding on to his partner during lonely nights, acknowledging that he may have caused them pain, but he can't remember if they had ever said goodbye. He also remembers their time together in Mexico, a place he may never visit again, and wonders if he was too distracted or under the influence of something to recall saying goodbye.
The song's lyrics suggest an underlying theme of regret and the bittersweet nature of memories. Even though the relationship has ended, Steve Earle still holds onto the memory of his partner, missing them only occasionally. He acknowledges his own faults in the relationship and wonders if there was any closure.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember holdin' on to you,
I remember holding onto you during all those long and lonely nights that I put you through
All them long and lonely nights I put you through
I put you through all those long and lonely nights
Somewhere in there, I'm sure I made you cry,
I'm certain that somewhere along the way, I made you cry
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
I don't recall if we said goodbye
But I recall, all of them nights down in Mexico
I do remember all of those nights in Mexico
One place I may never go in my life again
Mexico is probably one place I'll never visit again
Was I just off somewhere or just too high?
I wonder if I was just preoccupied or under the influence
I only miss you every now and then,
I only miss you occasionally
Like the soft breeze blowin' up from the Caribbean
My yearning for you is like a gentle breeze from the Caribbean
Most Novembers I break down and cry,
I typically break down and cry during most Novembers
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I still don't remember if we said goodbye
No I can't remember if we said goodbye
I still can't remember if we said goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabriel 2001
I remember holdin' on to you
All them long and lonely nights I put you through
Somewhere in there I'm sure I made you cry
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I may never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere just too high
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
I only miss you here every now and then
Like the soft breeze blowin' up from the Caribbean
Most Novembers I break down and cry
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I may never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere just too high
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye.
Jody Hoffman
The thing is when you start getting old and all you have is memories this is the kind of thing you think about. Something as simple as not saying goodbye can haunt you
mickey paul
agreed
Donald Campbell
On my soundtrack for Sunshine
Liam O'Shea
Yes, this is so very true.
Having regrets is a very sad thing. From all the promise of youth, a fulfilling , happy life & the time to enjoy it to find that's its gone... So sad.
David Hine
Never let it be, “ I love you.”
Leo Golbourn
@larry smith Amento that.
ShaBelle
One of the greatest singer/songwriters that has ever lived and if you don’t know his music... you might outta listen💕✌️
Nikki Manolaros
One of the most heartbreakingingly beautiful versions of this song.
L-V BORDER COLLIES BRYAN BAQUET
Its the original version
L-V BORDER COLLIES BRYAN BAQUET
It's not a version It's the original