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.
No. 29
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody knows my name
But ever since the glass plant closed down
Things round here ain't never been the same
I got me a good job alright but some nights
Take me to another time
Back when I was No. 29
Buddy I could really fly
Everyone in town came, hip flasks, horn blasts
Any autumn Friday night
Sally yelled her heart out push em back, way back
I was hers and she was mine
Back when I was No. 29
We were playin' Smithville big boys, farm boys
Second down and four to go
Bubba brought the play in good call my ball
Now they're gonna see a show
But Bubba let his man go I cut back, heard it crack
It still hurts me but I don't mind
Reminds me I was No. 29
Now I go to the ballgames cold nights, half pints
Friday nights I'm always here
We got a pretty good team, good boys, strong boys
District champs the last three years
Got a little tailback pretty slick, real quick
I take him for a steak sometimes
Nowadays he's No. 29
I don't follow rainbows, big dreams, brass rings
I've already captured mine
Back when I was No. 29
Steve Earle's "No. 29" is a nostalgic tune about a man's past as a high school football star. The narrative is told through the lens of a person who has lived in the same small town their entire life. This song reflects on the glory days of high school football and how that time has passed. The singer mentions that he still goes to games, but he no longer plays on the field. He now supports the team from the stands and even takes the new No. 29 out for steaks occasionally, reflecting on his own former role as the star athlete.
The opening verse sets the tone of the song, establishing the singer's deep connection to the town and how it has changed since the closure of the glass plant. It's also evident that the singer's memories of his football days are vivid and still hold a special place in his heart. The second verse vividly describes a Friday night game and how excited everyone was to watch the local hero. The lyrics explain how the singer was once a "pretty good" player and had the support of the whole town. The third verse delves into the singer's life in the present tense, and how he has moved on from his glory days. However, while the singer explains that he doesn't go after larger dreams, he's content with how his life has played out.
Overall, "No. 29" captures a theme that is relatable to many people—an unchanging hometown and the longing for the past—the memories and experiences that make us who we are today despite the passing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born and raised here this town's my town
The singer is a lifelong resident of this town.
Everybody knows my name
The singer is well known in the community.
But ever since the glass plant closed down
The local economy has suffered due to the closing of a major employer.
Things round here ain't never been the same
The community has not been able to recover from the plant closing.
I got me a good job alright but some nights
Despite having a job, the artist is not completely satisfied with life.
Take me to another time
The singer longs for the past.
Back when I was No. 29
The singer reminisces about his playing days.
I was pretty good then don't you know watch him go
The artist was a talented football player when he was younger.
Buddy I could really fly
The artist was known for his speed and agility on the football field.
Everyone in town came, hip flasks, horn blasts
The community rallied around the high school football team and came out to support them on Friday nights.
Any autumn Friday night
Football games were always played on Friday nights in the fall.
Sally yelled her heart out push em back, way back
The artist remembers a specific cheerleader and the cheer she would lead during games.
I was hers and she was mine
The singer had a special relationship with the cheerleader Sally.
We were playin' Smithville big boys, farm boys
The singer remembers playing against a specific high school team.
Second down and four to go
The singer remembers a specific down and distance during the game.
Bubba brought the play in good call my ball
The artist remembers a specific play call from the coach and receiving the ball.
Now they're gonna see a show
The artist was confident in his ability to make a big play.
But Bubba let his man go I cut back, heard it crack
The singer remembers a missed block and a resulting injury he sustained during the game.
It still hurts me but I don't mind
The injury still bothers the singer, but he does not regret his time as a football player.
Reminds me I was No. 29
The injury serves as a reminder of the artist's glory days as a football player.
Now I go to the ballgames cold nights, half pints
The artist still attends high school football games, despite the weather and possibly consuming alcohol.
Friday nights I'm always here
The artist is a regular attendee of high school football games on Friday nights.
We got a pretty good team, good boys, strong boys
The singer acknowledges the current high school football team's talent and strength.
District champs the last three years
The high school football team has been successful in recent years, winning their district championship three times in a row.
Got a little tailback pretty slick, real quick
The singer is impressed with the current team's running back and his speed and agility.
I take him for a steak sometimes
The singer likes to treat the current running back to a meal occasionally.
Nowadays he's No. 29
The current running back wears the same number that the singer wore when he was a football player.
I don't follow rainbows, big dreams, brass rings
The artist is content with his life and does not harbor unrealistic goals or aspirations.
I've already captured mine
The artist achieved his personal goals and dreams when he was a football player.
Back when I was No. 29
The singer fondly recalls his time as a high school football player, wearing the number 29.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind