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.
Hopeless Romantics
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Most of the time
Now and again, if you're lookin' I'm sure
You will find
Someone who's helplessly hoping
That someday they'll finally find the one
Hopeless romantics keep hoping that
Used to be you, could be sure
That a warrior was true
Nowadays everyone knows that it's cool to be blue
Constantly circling close to the flame
And then stopping on a dime
Hopeless romantics will go down in flames every time
Hopeless romantics drop everything and run
When they find a broken heart
Always afraid that they're missing someone
With time on their hands and a missing part
So one of these nights
When you're sitting at home all alone
And you've finally admitted you're lonely
Right down to the bone
You might as well get on out in it
'Cause you've got everything to lose
And hopeless romantics are always
At home with the blues and a broken heart
Find the missing part
Hopeless romantics are usually hopelessly true
The song "Hopeless Romantics," written and performed by Steve Earle, is a poignant and insightful exploration of the nature of romantic love and the human desire for connection. Earle suggests that while most people are able to love, and to be loved, to some degree, there are those who are "helplessly hoping" for a deeper and more meaningful connection with another person, "someone who's helplessly hoping that someday they'll finally find the one." These are the hopeless romantics, and they are "usually hopelessly true."
At the same time, however, Earle recognizes that the world is not always kind to those who put their hearts on the line in pursuit of love. We live in a world where it seems that "everyone knows that it's cool to be blue," and where many are content to simply circle close to the flame of potential romantic connection, without ever risking getting burned. But the hopeless romantics are different; they will "go down in flames every time," dropping everything and running when they come face-to-face with a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
You can love most of the people
It's possible to love most people.
Most of the time
But not all the time, as love is complicated.
Now and again, if you're lookin' I'm sure
If you keep your eyes open, you'll find someone.
You will find
A person you're interested in.
Someone who's helplessly hoping
That person may be a hopeless romantic.
That someday they'll finally find the one
Someone who hopes to find their perfect partner.
Hopeless romantics keep hoping that
Hopeless romantics continue to hope for that special someone.
Someday will come
Their day of finding true love will come.
Used to be you, could be sure
In the past, you could trust a warrior to be loyal.
That a warrior was true
A warrior was considered a truthful and honorable person.
Nowadays everyone knows that it's cool to be blue
Nowadays, it's considered fashionable to be melancholic.
Constantly circling close to the flame
Taking risks and living on the edge.
And then stopping on a dime
But then quickly changing course or stopping altogether.
Hopeless romantics will go down in flames every time
Hopeless romantics tend to experience heartbreak and disappointment in love.
Hopeless romantics drop everything and run
They will ignore everything else in their life for their love interest.
When they find a broken heart
Especially if their love interest is hurting or damaged in some way.
Always afraid that they're missing someone
Afraid they will never find their true love and someone is slipping away.
With time on their hands and a missing part
Feeling incomplete and searching for something or someone to fill the void.
So one of these nights
On one particular evening.
When you're sitting at home all alone
When you're alone and reflecting on your life.
And you've finally admitted you're lonely
When you finally acknowledge your own feelings of loneliness.
Right down to the bone
Deeply, to the very core of your being.
You might as well get on out in it
You might as well take a chance on love and try to find someone.
'Cause you've got everything to lose
Because you have so much to gain, but also so much to lose.
And hopeless romantics are always
Hopeless romantics always seem
At home with the blues and a broken heart
To be sad and heartbroken, as they tend to fall in love deeply.
Find the missing part
Finding someone that completes them and fills the emptiness in their life.
Hopeless romantics are usually hopelessly true
Hopeless romantics are often very loyal to the people they love.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-nq4dk3on3h
Steve Earle el grande
@bluestarlighting29
Truly amazing song, one greatest artist and talented singer and songwriter. 100% two thumbs up. Back then vist a friend home and found this tape in cassette player. I must play it full album so many times. Now buy cds so many times wear cd out though years. Give this album A plus.
@iainisc
This is a brilliant album and a brilliant song, very very underrated.
@johnsmith-hk3pd
just found this, awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome thank you
@littleblackcar
I still think this is an absolutely brilliant song about such a small thing . . .
@hoprabbitbunny
Brilliant Rock Song by Steve!!
@Kearschner
you should upload this whole album, i agree with you, i think its my favorite too!
@jamescain3448
Kearschner yeah Steve sho nuff had it going on when he made this one
@gregorydeydier3740
this album kills!
@martinlowe4441
grégory deydier one of my top 3 Steve albums