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.
Nothin' Without You
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I keep the flame when we're apart
And I'm a lover in your arms
Or a baby soft and warm
I'm a hero in your eyes
I'm a comfort when you cry
An' when you hurt me I'm your fool
No I'm nothin' without you
It don't matter what I do
If I win or if I lose
Sweetheart I'm nothin' without you
I'm a beacon in the night
To show the way until it's light
And I'm a stumbler in the dark
When I can't say what's in my heart
I'm a poet just the same
Every time I speak your name
I'm just a shadow when I'm blue
But I'm nothin' without you
No I'm nothin' without you
It don't matter what I do
If I win or if I lose
Sweetheart I'm nothin' without you
The lyrics to Steve Earle's song "Nothin' Without You" speak of the singer's deep dependence on his significant other. He is the "keeper" of her heart, which implies a sense of responsibility and protection. He is also versatile, able to be her lover, comforter, or even "baby soft and warm." He sees himself as a hero and comforter in her eyes, and is willing to be her fool when she hurts him. However, despite all of this, he acknowledges that he is "nothin' without her." He doesn't matter what he does or whether he wins or loses because his identity and sense of self-worth is deeply tied to her presence in his life. He is both a "beacon in the night" and a "stumbler in the dark" depending on the situation, but knows that he is a mere shadow of himself when he is feeling down or depressed.
The song can be interpreted as a poignant love song or an introspective rumination on the nature of identity and dependence. The singer is painted as a versatile and complete human being, yet without his significant other's presence, he feels incomplete and unimportant. The song's melancholic tone and stripped-down instrumentation only serve to highlight the singer's emotional rawness and sincerity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the keeper of your heart
I am responsible and take care of your heart and everything that it entails.
I keep the flame when we're apart
I maintain and nurture the love and passion in our relationship even when we are separated physically.
And I'm a lover in your arms
I am deeply in love with you and express my feelings through my actions and intimacy when we are together.
Or a baby soft and warm
I also show my vulnerable and tender side when I am with you, like a soft and warm baby.
I'm a hero in your eyes
You see me as your hero, someone you can depend on and look up to whenever you need strength or guidance.
I'm a comfort when you cry
Whenever you feel sad or upset, I am there to provide comfort and solace.
An' when you hurt me I'm your fool
Even when you hurt me, I am willing to put aside my pride and be foolish for you because of how much I love you.
But I'm nothin' without you
Despite all that I am and all that I do, everything loses value without you in my life.
No I'm nothin' without you
Reiterating that my existence and being have no significance without you.
It don't matter what I do
No matter what I accomplish or achieve in my life, they will never be enough without you.
If I win or if I lose
Whether I succeed or fail in whatever I do, it all becomes meaningless without you by my side.
Sweetheart I'm nothin' without you
Affectionately emphasizing that you mean everything to me and I cannot imagine a life without you.
I'm a beacon in the night
I guide you through challenging and difficult times like a beacon, providing you with hope and a sense of direction.
To show the way until it's light
I lead you through the darkness and uncertainty until things become clear and bright once more.
And I'm a stumbler in the dark
At times, I struggle and fail to communicate my feelings and emotions to you, especially in difficult situations.
When I can't say what's in my heart
There are moments when I am unable to express myself, leaving me vulnerable and at a loss for words.
I'm a poet just the same
Despite my limitations in words, I strive to express my love for you through creative means like poetry and art.
Every time I speak your name
Just uttering your name fills me with joy and happiness, and reminds me of the importance you hold in my life.
I'm just a shadow when I'm blue
When I am feeling sad or depressed, I feel like a mere shadow of my usual self, incapable of bringing the joy and light I usually provide.
But I'm nothin' without you
No matter what obstacle or situation I face, you remain the most important part of my life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Integrity Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CAMPBELL, FALCONER, HASSAN, TRAVERS, VIRTUE, W
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
B Adams
I'd like this played at my funeral.
restlessinamsterdam
Steve ♥
Nick N
Amber.
Mary Jo & Michael Dregits
To Brian Zubler