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 Michelangelo
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't no trouble where you go
Ain't no pain to burn you blind
Just enough to draw a line
Goodbye maestro, fare thee well
Gone to heaven, been to hell
Maybe just New Mexico
So long my captain, adios
Sail upon the sea of ghosts
Chase the white whale to the end
Bring the story back again
I'm bound to follow you some day
You have always shown the way
So we knew where we had to go
Goodbye Michelangelo
Oh, Susanna don't you cry
He'll find you by and by
Just like you did before
This ain't forever it's just goodbye 'till it comes my time?
I won't have to travel blind
You taught me everything I know
Goodbye Michelangelo
In the song "Goodbye Michelangelo" by Steve Earle & The Dukes, the lyrics pay tribute to a departed artist or creative figure. Through the use of metaphorical language, the song reflects on the legacy left behind by this individual. The repetition of "goodbye" emphasizes the finality of the departure and the sense of loss experienced by those left behind.
The line "Ain't no trouble where you go" suggests that the artist has found peace in death and has left behind the burdens and struggles of life. "Ain't no pain to burn you blind, just enough to draw a line" implies that the artist experienced enough pain in life to fuel their creative output but never to the point of complete destruction. This suggests that the artist's pain was transformative and served as a driving force for their art.
The song also addresses the artist as a teacher or mentor figure, referred to as "maestro" and "captain." They were someone who guided others, showing them the way and inspiring them to follow their own creative paths. The lyrics express a sense of gratitude for this guidance: "You have always shown the way, so we knew where we had to go."
The song closes with a message of reassurance to a loved one left behind. The line "Oh, Susanna don't you cry, he'll find you by and by" suggests that the departed artist will continue to inspire and influence, even after death. The final lines, "This ain't forever it's just goodbye 'till it comes my time? I won't have to travel blind, you taught me everything I know" convey the notion that eventually, the singer will reunite with the departed artist, at which point they will no longer be lost or blind but will have gained knowledge and wisdom from their mentor.
Overall, "Goodbye Michelangelo" is a heartfelt tribute to an artist who has passed away, acknowledging their impact on others and expressing both grief and gratitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye Michelangelo
Farewell to the artist Michelangelo
Ain't no trouble where you go
There are no problems where you are headed
Ain't no pain to burn you blind
There is no intense pain that will blind you
Just enough to draw a line
There is just enough difficulty to create a separation
Goodbye maestro, fare thee well
Goodbye to the skilled maestro, go in peace
Gone to heaven, been to hell
You have experienced both happiness and suffering
Maybe just New Mexico
Perhaps you have gone to a peaceful place like New Mexico
Goodbye Michelangelo
Farewell to the artist Michelangelo
So long my captain, adios
Farewell to my leader, goodbye
Sail upon the sea of ghosts
Navigate through the realm of the departed souls
Chase the white whale to the end
Pursue the ultimate goal without giving up
Bring the story back again
Return with the tale to share
I'm bound to follow you some day
I am destined to follow your path eventually
You have always shown the way
You have consistently guided others
So we knew where we had to go
Thanks to you, we were aware of our destination
Goodbye Michelangelo
Farewell to the artist Michelangelo
Oh, Susanna don't you cry
Oh, Susanna, please don't weep
He'll find you by and by
He will eventually locate you
Just like you did before
Just as he did in the past
This ain't forever it's just goodbye 'till it comes my time?
This is not permanent, it's simply farewell until my own time comes
I won't have to travel blind
I will no longer have to journey without clarity
You taught me everything I know
You have taught me all that I have learned
Goodbye Michelangelo
Farewell to the artist Michelangelo
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steve Earle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lumaz71
this man has written the best tribute songs to two of the most important songwriters of our times, Guy and Townes. Steve Earle is a genius.
Jeanie Bradley
Indeed.
Joanne Hack
Yup
restlessinamsterdam
Thank you Steve, it is such a beautiful song, and a great lovingly token of honor to Guy Clark. ♥ ♫ ♫ ♥
Brian J. Carnevale
Play it again.
Sean Murphy
THANKS MISTER FOR THE TIP.AND YES WHAT A SONG❤
Rob Thurmond
Great song and great tribute to Guy Clark!
PHs PALACE
Very nice song, im glad ive got to see both Steve Earle and Guy Clark live.
Stylianos Orphanoudakes
Sound's like an old school Steve Earle's song, equivalent to songs like "Billy Austin". Well done, Steve, keep on the good work just for us to remember there's still good music out there.
2BusySecretary
Beautiful song... amazing imagery.