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.
Over Yonder
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The chaplain's waitin' by the door
Tonight we'll cross the yard together
Then they can't hurt me anymore.
I am going over yonder
Where no ghost can follow me
There's another place beyond here
Give my radio to Johnson
Thibodeaux can have my fan
Send my Bible home to Mama
Call her every now and then.
I suppose I got it comin'
I can't ever pay enough
All my rippin' and a runnin'
I hurt everyone I loved.
The world'll turn around without me
The sun'll come up in the east
Shinin' down on all of them that hate me
I hope my goin' brings 'em peace.
The lyrics to Steve Earle's song Over Yonder appear to be a lament of a man who has been incarcerated for his past mistakes and is coming to terms with the fact that he has to pay for his actions. The first two lines of the song suggest that the singer wrote a letter and is waiting for someone to send it. The mention of the chaplain waiting by the door implies that the singer is in prison and is about to be executed. The line "Then they can't hurt me anymore" emphasizes that the singer is ready to face his fate and is no longer afraid of what is to come.
The second verse of the song portrays the singer's hopes and dreams of finding peace after death. The phrase "I am going over yonder" is a reference to the afterlife or heaven. The singer wants to go to a place where he will not be haunted by his past or fear the future. He hopes to achieve freedom he was unable to obtain when he was alive.
The third verse is a heartfelt goodbye message to the people who mattered to him in life. He wants his possessions to be given away to someone he knows will appreciate them. The line "I hurt everyone I loved" implies that he has regrets about the way he behaved towards his loved ones.
Overall, the song is a powerful portrayal of remorse, regret and resolution in the face of an imminent end. The singer comes to terms with his mistakes and accepts his punishment, hoping to find peace beyond this life.
Line by Line Meaning
The warden said he'd mail my letter
The warden promised to mail my letter
The chaplain's waitin' by the door
The chaplain is standing at the door waiting for me
Tonight we'll cross the yard together
Tonight, the chaplain and I will walk across the yard together
Then they can't hurt me anymore.
Once I leave this place, I won't be hurt anymore
I am going over yonder
I am leaving and going somewhere else
Where no ghost can follow me
I am going somewhere where my past mistakes won't haunt me
There's another place beyond here
There is a place beyond this world
Where I'll be free I believe.
I believe I will finally be free there
Give my radio to Johnson
Give my radio to Johnson before I leave
Thibodeaux can have my fan
Give my fan to Thibodeaux
Send my Bible home to Mama
Send my Bible to my mother
Call her every now and then.
Call her occasionally after I leave
I suppose I got it comin'
I deserve what's happening to me
I can't ever pay enough
I can never make up for all the wrongs I've done
All my rippin' and a runnin'
All the times I hurt others and ran away from the consequences
I hurt everyone I loved.
I hurt all the people I cared about
The world'll turn around without me
The world will continue to move on after I leave
The sun'll come up in the east
The sun will continue to rise in the east
Shinin' down on all of them that hate me
The sun will shine on those who hate me
I hope my goin' brings 'em peace.
I hope my leaving will bring peace to those who hate me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
puglaw2
It is sad that this type of music is not "popular". Touching, filled with emotion and intellectual significance. Even people who prefer rap, hiphop or anything similar would have to admit that many of Earle's songs are poignant and heartfelt. In particular his songs concerning the death penalty are emotionally rivetting songs..."Billy Austin", "Ellis Unit One" and this gem of "Over Yonder" are classics that far too many people have yet to discover.
Jaclyn Nobles
This song is so special to me. It's about my cousin Jonathan Wayne Nobles. He was so lost for his whole life until he went to prison and became friends with Steve and found God. He turned his life over and part of this song is about him accepting that he'd done wrong and even tho he'd changed he didn't expect forgiveness from the people he hurt and he prayed that him losing his life for his crimes would bring some peace to all the people he hurt during his addiction. Beautiful song!
dim kau
Jaclyn Nobles I was reading about this!! It's really heart breaking!
Troy Kell
Wild..
Adelaide Kestrel
I hope that Jonathan, your family, those he harmed and their families have all found peace.
ernie bilko
when he sings "I hurt everyone I loved" that is heartbreaking. I was you and your family well.
Back Creek Creative Media
I literally just read the story behind this song. It always had a special place in me this song but after reading the account and listening to this song again just now for the first time in so long, I am just in tears. I recently came back to our Lord and the song just means so much more now. It truely feels like I’m there listening in to their conversation and he is pleading with Christ for redemption and peace. I pray he and all who where affected have found it.
Debby Ledbetter
I get this song in my head every so often, my own reasons...So I put it on & just play the hell out of it.... Thanks Steve!
Lee Hudson
If Jonathan's Song doesn't tear your heart out, then you don't have one. I grew up in a poor, violent and dysfunctional home in a very isolated area. Was never removed from the situation though that should have happened. I understand how a Jonathan can happen and could easily have been me.
Steve, your song makes me cry every time, and I don't cry easily. God keep you and God keep Jonathan.
David Williamson
Makes me cry too. Such a beautiful song.