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.
I Feel Alright
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A wanderin' eye and a smokin' gun
Now some of you would live through me
Lock me up and throw away the key
Or just find a place to hide away
Hope that I'll just go away
I feel alright I feel alright tonight
And ancient tales from distant lands
Of conquerors and concubines and
Conjurers from darker times
Betrayal and conspiracy
Sacrilege and heresy
I got every thing you won't or need
Your darkest fear, your fondest dream
I ask you questions, tell you lies
Criticize and sympathize
Be careful what you wish for friend
Because I've been to hell and now I'm back again
In Steve Earle's song I Feel Alright, the lyrics are about a person who was born to be wild and reckless. He's describing himself as a wanderer with an unfaithful eye and a firearm. Some of the listeners might be willing to live vicariously through him, while others will lock him up or hide from him. The following lines evoke the idea of being a dealer of stolen goods or a wandering storyteller, sharing ancient tales from distant places. The lyrics mention specific characters from the past such as conquerors, concubines, conjurers from darker times, along with concepts like betrayal, conspiracy, sacrilege, and heresy. In the next verse, the singer says he has everything the listener could want or need, including their greatest fears and fondest dreams. He's the kind of person who would ask personal and probing questions or tell you comforting and freeing lies. The lyrics note that the listener should be careful what they wish for because the singer has been to hell but has managed to come back.
The overall theme of the song seems to be about someone who's experienced different aspects of life and has come back from them. The character is portrayed as someone who can provide the listener with what they need or want, but at the same time, the listener should be cautious about their desires. Furthermore, the lyrics are an intricate description of somebody who's done wrong, paid the price, and returned stronger than before. The lyrics suggest that the singer has a vivid imagination and storytelling ability, as well as a healthy sense of humor and respect for the darker sides of human nature. Additionally, the song has a fast and upbeat tempo, which also adds to the messages of resilience and strength of character.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born my papa's son
I am the son of my father and have inherited his traits and characteristics.
A wanderin' eye and a smokin' gun
I have a tendency to stray and a potential to do harm.
Now some of you would live through me
People seem to vicariously live through me.
Lock me up and throw away the key
To keep me in check, you might want to put me in prison.
Or just find a place to hide away
Alternatively, you could just avoid me altogether.
Hope that I'll just go away
You could hope that I will disappear into obscurity.
I feel alright I feel alright tonight
Despite all this, I feel good and content with myself for now.
I'll bring you precious contraband
I can offer you rare and unique items that might interest you.
And ancient tales from distant lands
Or fascinating stories and legends from other parts of the world.
Of conquerors and concubines and
These stories might involve historical figures, love interests, or both.
Conjurers from darker times
There could also be references to darker magic or sorcery.
Betrayal and conspiracy
Some of these tales might involve betrayal or complex schemes.
Sacrilege and heresy
And others might go against traditional values or religious beliefs.
I got every thing you won't or need
I have everything that you desire or require, but might not have access to.
Your darkest fear, your fondest dream
I can offer you both your deepest fears and your greatest desires.
I ask you questions, tell you lies
I might provoke you with difficult questions or deceive you with falsehoods.
Criticize and sympathize
I can both judge and understand you, depending on the situation.
Be careful what you wish for friend
I urge you to be cautious and thoughtful about what you truly desire.
Because I've been to hell and now I'm back again
I have experienced great hardship and adversity, but have come out on the other side.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind