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.
Hillbilly Highway
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He didn't have much, just a beat-up truck and a dream about a better life
Grand mama cried when she waved goodbye, never heard such a lonesome sound
Pretty soon the dirt road turned into blacktop, Detroit City bound
Down that hillbilly highway
On that hillbilly highway
That old hillbilly highway
Goes on and on
Now he worked and saved his money so that one day he might send
My old man off to college, to use his brains and not his hands
Grand mama cried when she waved goodbye, never heard such a lonesome sound
But daddy had himself a good job in Houston, one more rollin' down
that old hillbilly highway
That old hillbilly highway
That old hillbilly highway
Goes on and on
On and on, on and on
Here it goes
Granddaddy rolled over in his grave the day that I quit school
I just sat around the house playin' my guitar, Daddy said I was a fool
My mama cried when I said goodbye, I never heard such a lonesome sound
Now I'm standin' on this highway and if you're going my way
You know where I'm bound
Bound that hillbilly highway
On that hillbilly highway
That old hillbilly highway
Goes on and on
Hmm, yeah that's the road I'm on it
Hillbilly highway
Hillbilly highway
The song "Hillbilly Highway" is a story of a family's journey from a life of poverty in the coal fields of Kentucky to a better life in the city. The first verse is about the singer's grandfather who worked as a miner all his life, but eventually left the life behind to start anew. He left with just a beat-up truck and a dream of a better life. The second verse is about the singer's father who was able to attend college because of his own hard work and dedication. The third verse is about the singer, who goes against his family's wishes and becomes a musician, but is still following the path of his ancestors by being on the road and chasing his dreams.
The song celebrates the determination and hard work of the family, and the sacrifices they made in order to achieve a better life. The use of the term "hillbilly" in the title and throughout the song could be viewed as a nod to the humble beginning of the singer's family, and also as a reclaiming of the term.
Line by Line Meaning
My granddaddy was a miner, but he finally saw the light
My grandfather worked in a mine but eventually realized he wanted more for his life
He didn't have much, just a beat-up truck and a dream about a better life
He didn't have many possessions, just a vehicle and a longing for a better future
Grand mama cried when she waved goodbye, never heard such a lonesome sound
My grandmother cried when saying goodbye, creating a sorrowful noise
Pretty soon the dirt road turned into blacktop, Detroit City bound
The dirt road transformed into a paved one, leading to Detroit
Now he worked and saved his money so that one day he might send
He saved his money to send
My old man off to college, to use his brains and not his hands
My father was able to attend college to use his intellect over manual labor
But daddy had himself a good job in Houston, one more rollin' down
My father secured a suitable job in Houston
Granddaddy rolled over in his grave the day that I quit school
My grandfather would be disappointed if he knew I dropped out of school
I just sat around the house playin' my guitar, Daddy said I was a fool
I wasted time playing guitar at home, causing my father to think poorly of me
My mama cried when I said goodbye, I never heard such a lonesome sound
My mother expressed sorrow when I left home
Now I'm standin' on this highway and if you're going my way
I am now on this road, and if you're traveling my direction
You know where I'm bound
You know where I am going
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMBEAU HINSON, STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@UCqkdtMiE5ZquD_lF9prae4Q
Lyrics:
My grandaddy was a miner, but he finally saw the light
He didn't have much, just a beat-up truck and a dream about a better life
Grandmama cried when she waved goodbye, never heard such a lonesome sound
Pretty soon the dirt road turned into blacktop, Detroit City bound
Down that hillbilly highway
That hillbilly highway
Hillbilly highway
Goes on and on
He worked and saved his money so that one day he might send
My old man off to college, to use his brains and not his hands
Grandmama cried when she waved goodbye, never heard such a lonesome sound
But daddy had himself a good job in Houston, one more rollin' down
Down that hillbilly highway
That hillbilly highway
Hillbilly highway
Goes on and on
Grandaddy rolled over in his grave the day that I quit school
I just sat around the house playin' my guitar, Daddy said I was a fool
My mama cried when I said goodbye, I never heard such a lonesome sound
Now I'm standin' on this highway and if you're going my way
You know where I'm bound
আমার দাদা একজন খনি শ্রমিক ছিলেন, কিন্তু তিনি শেষ পর্যন্ত আলো দেখেছিলেন
তার খুব বেশি কিছু ছিল না, শুধু একটি মারধর করা ট্রাক এবং একটি উন্নত জীবনের স্বপ্ন ছিল
ঠাকুমা কেঁদেছিলেন যখন তিনি বিদায় জানালেন, এমন একাকী শব্দ কখনও শোনেননি
খুব শীঘ্রই নোংরা রাস্তা কালো টপে পরিণত হয়েছে, ডেট্রয়েট সিটি আবদ্ধ
সেই পাহাড়ি রাস্তার নিচে
সেই পাহাড়ি রাস্তা
হিলবিলি হাইওয়ে
চলতে থাকে
তিনি কাজ করেছিলেন এবং তার অর্থ সঞ্চয় করেছিলেন যাতে তিনি একদিন পাঠাতে পারেন
আমার বৃদ্ধ লোকটি কলেজে, তার মস্তিষ্ক ব্যবহার করার জন্য, তার হাত নয়
ঠাকুমা কেঁদেছিলেন যখন তিনি বিদায় জানালেন, এমন একাকী শব্দ কখনও শোনেননি
কিন্তু বাবার হিউস্টনে একটা ভালো চাকরী ছিল, আরেকটা কাজ নিচের দিকে
সেই পাহাড়ি রাস্তার নিচে
সেই পাহাড়ি রাস্তা
হিলবিলি হাইওয়ে
চলতে থাকে
আমি যেদিন স্কুল ছেড়েছিলাম সেদিন দাদা তার কবরে গড়িয়ে পড়েছিলেন
আমি শুধু বাড়ির চারপাশে বসে আমার গিটার বাজাচ্ছিলাম, বাবা বললেন আমি বোকা
আমি যখন বিদায় জানালাম তখন আমার মা কেঁদেছিলেন, আমি এমন একাকী শব্দ কখনও শুনিনি
এখন আমি এই হাইওয়েতে দাঁড়িয়ে আছি আর যদি তুমি আমার পথে যাও
তুমি জানো আমি কোথায় আবদ্ধ
@Godsnotdead2013
My late grandfather used to love Steve Earle...I can still see him dancing to this, then he would grab my grandmother's hand. She would try to shy away from him. In the end, she would end up dancing with him. God I miss him. He was the only dad I ever knew. ♡♡♡
@johnpatterson4816
My deepest sympathies to you Billi.
As a grandpa myself I know how you feel.
@Idontknowmaybebob
He sounds like a cool dude. I didn’t get to know my grandfathers that well since they died when I was young, I miss them.
@JohnPatterson-kz8jr
Country Music needs Steve Earle a lot more than they need Jason Aldean and Kid Rock!!
@TWBlack
I'm a retired truck driver and Steve's songs kept me rollin many a night "down that Hillbilly Highway"!!!
@elsiemcmillan6578
Our Son Shawn was his Dad's swamper, from the age of 2. In one summer rideing with his dad, they wore out 2 of Steve Earl's cassette tapes.
@daithiobeag
Hope your still rollin! X from Dublin 🇮🇪
@mavrik403
Steve Earle is the biggest underrated song writer of his time. What most music lovers don't understand is that, besides his numerous # 1's sang by himself, he has written over 100 hits for other artists including the great and late Johnny Cash!
@AnnaLVajda
Yeah as far as I am concerned he's a living legend.
@johnpatterson4816
True.In a world full of fake badasses-Toby Keith;Tim McGraw; erc.-Steve always came off as the real deal!!