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.
Other Side of Town
Steve Earle Lyrics
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And I'm feeling all alone
There's a place that I go to
That no one knows
Where no matter what I do
Won't nobody put me down
That's why I'm going to
On the other side of town
Where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody walks around
With a shadow cross their minds
When that midnight train rolls by
And they hear that lonesome sound
They just hang their heads and cry
On the other side of town
Well it isn't very far
And it's not that hard to find
You just follow all the other lonely souls
Take a walk down lonesome lane
'Til you see the dead end sign
And your broken heart will tell you where to go
To the other side of town
Where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody walks around
With a shadow cross their minds
When that midnight train rolls by
And they hear that lonesome sound
They just hang their heads and cry
On the other side of town
So if you've find someone
Who won't ever let you down
Hurry home before the sun goes down
No matter what you do
Don't let night fall like a shroud
And catch you on the other side of town
On the other side of town
Where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody walks around
With a shadow cross their minds
When that midnight train rolls by
And they hear that lonesome sound
They just hang their heads and cry
On the other side of town
The lyrics to Steve Earle's song The Other Side of Town appear to be portraying a person's experience of sadness and loneliness. The opening lines reveal that the singer of the song goes to a place where nobody knows when they are feeling down. This could indicate that they do not want others to know about their struggles or that they do not feel understood by those around them. The following lines suggest that this place is a relief from the external pressure the singer often feels. On the other side of town, where the sun does not shine, it seems everyone is struggling with their own troubles or pains. The presence of the midnight train, which makes a "lonesome sound," reinforces the mournful atmosphere of the place.
The song's chorus repeats several times that on the other side of town, people are walking around with a "shadow cross their minds." This could mean they are preoccupied with the difficulties they face or perhaps that they are feeling the weight of their worries on their mental health. Regardless, they cannot escape the melancholic atmosphere of the place. The final verse serves as a warning to those who have managed to avoid such a place, telling them to hurry home and not let "night fall like a shroud" and catch them on the other side of town. The song provides a poignant commentary on the struggle many face, and the relief found in feeling understood or seen in one's pain.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm sad and blue
When I am feeling unhappy or depressed
And I'm feeling all alone
And I am feeling lonely
There's a place that I go to
I have a place to go
That no one knows
That nobody else knows about
Where no matter what I do
No matter what I do there
Won't nobody put me down
Nobody will criticize or belittle me
That's why I'm going to
That's why I am heading to
The other side of town
A different area of the city
Where the sun don't ever shine
Where it is always dark
Everybody walks around
People walk aimlessly
With a shadow cross their minds
With thoughts that are weighing them down
When that midnight train rolls by
When a train passes by at midnight
And they hear that lonesome sound
And people hear a sad noise
They just hang their heads and cry
They become emotional and overwhelmed
Well it isn't very far
It is not a great distance
And it's not that hard to find
And it is not difficult to locate
You just follow all the other lonely souls
You just follow the other unhappy people
Take a walk down lonesome lane
Take a walk down an unhappy path
'Til you see the dead end sign
Until you reach the end of the road, with no further options
And your broken heart will tell you where to go
Your feelings of sadness and disappointment will guide you
So if you've find someone
If you find someone
Who won't ever let you down
Who will never disappoint you
Hurry home before the sun goes down
Hurry home before it becomes dark
No matter what you do
Regardless of your actions
Don't let night fall like a shroud
Do not let darkness overwhelm you
And catch you on the other side of town
And trap you in an unhappy place
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind