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.
Hurtin' Me Hurtin' You
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I can't ever wash out the pain
I never meant to be cruel or untrue
But I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
Girl I won't say, I'm hurtin' more
I know that you've heard all that before
So go on believe what you wanna believe
I know it's hard to keep hangin' on
You think that I hold all of the cards, I know you're wrong
And girl just like me, you ain't got a clue
I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
You know I love you baby, God only knows that I do
I know I've been bad baby
I never, ever meant to be bad to you
I never meant to be cruel or untrue
But I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
I know it's hard to keep hangin' on
When you think that I hold all of the cards, I know you're wrong
And girl just like me, you ain't got a clue
I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
I'm hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
The lyrics of Steve Earle's song "Hurtin' Me Hurtin' You" showcase the pain and guilt that arise from a toxic relationship. The singer confesses to his lover that he knows he has hurt her, but he is only causing himself more pain in return. He acknowledges that he has been cruel and untrue, but he never meant to be that way. The singer's despair is evident in the lines, "Here I am, out in the rain, I know I can't ever wash out the pain." He is aware that his actions have created a situation where both parties are suffering, and he wants to end the cycle.
The chorus is especially poignant, where he sings, "I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you." These lines emphasize the interconnectedness of their emotions and the detrimental effects of their relationship on each other. As the song progresses, he expresses his love for his partner and his inability to stop hurting her. He admits that she is not holding all the cards, and he is equally clueless about their future.
In summary, "Hurtin' Me Hurtin' You" is a song about the painful consequences of a toxic relationship. The lyrics describe the guilt, despair, and interconnectedness of emotions that arise when both parties are hurting each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am, out in the rain
I am physically drenched in rain, but no amount of washing can get rid of my emotional pain.
I never meant to be cruel or untrue
I did not intend to hurt you or deceive you.
But I'm just hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
When I cause you pain, it backfires and hurts me too.
Girl I won't say, I'm hurtin' more
I will not claim that I am in more pain than you.
So go on believe what you wanna believe
You are free to believe whatever you wish about my intentions or feelings.
But I'm hurtin' you then I'm hurtin' me
Whenever I cause you pain, it ends up hurting me as well.
You think that I hold all of the cards, I know you're wrong
You believe that I am in complete control of our relationship, but that is not true.
And girl just like me, you ain't got a clue
You are also clueless about our relationship, despite thinking you have all the answers.
You know I love you baby, God only knows that I do
Despite my mistakes, I truly love you and this fact is known only to God.
I know I've been bad baby
I acknowledge that I have made mistakes in our relationship.
I never meant to be bad to you
My actions were unintentionally hurtful towards you.
When you think that I hold all of the cards, I know you're wrong
Your belief that I am the dominant force in our relationship is incorrect.
And girl just like me, you ain't got a clue
You too are ignorant about the true nature of our relationship.
I'm hurtin' me when I'm hurtin' you
No matter who causes the pain, both of us end up getting hurt.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind