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.
Paradise
Steve Earle Lyrics
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And then I understand. mm
Her eyes afire with one desire
Then a heavenly kiss
Could I resist?
And then she dims the light, mm
And then she holds me tight. mm
Her kiss, each fond caress
She takes me to paradise
And then he holds my hand, mm
And then I understand. mm
His eyes afire with one desire
Then a heavenly kiss
Could I resist?
And then he dims the light, mm
And then he holds me tight. mm
Her kiss, each fond caress
They lead the way to happiness
She takes me to paradise
The lyrics to Steve Earle's song "Paradise" seem to be describing a romantic encounter between two people. The use of pronouns interchangeably between male and female implies that this song is not limited to just one heterosexual relationship, but rather a representation of the universal feeling of love and intimacy. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but it seems that the two people in the song are physically and emotionally intimate with each other.
The first two lines of the lyrics, "And then she holds my hand, and then I understand," suggest a sudden moment of clarity, as if the person singing the song realizes the depth of the connection they have with their lover as they are holding hands. As the song progresses, the lyrics become more descriptive of the physical sensations of the encounter, including a kiss and caresses. The lyric "They lead the way to happiness" suggests that physical intimacy can lead to emotional fulfillment, which is a common theme in love songs.
Overall, the lyrics to "Paradise" portray a romantic and intimate encounter between two people. The use of pronouns that could refer to either a male or female lover allows the song to be inclusive of all forms of love, making it an accessible and powerful representation of the emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
And then she holds my hand, mm
She takes my hand and guides me
And then I understand. mm
I finally grasp what's happening
Her eyes afire with one desire
She looks at me with passion
Then a heavenly kiss
She kisses me like an angel
Could I resist?
Is there any reason to resist?
And then she dims the light, mm
She creates an intimate atmosphere
And then she holds me tight. mm
She embraces me with affection
Her kiss, each fond caress
Her kisses and touches are loving
They lead the way to happiness
These actions bring us joy and contentment
She takes me to paradise
She brings me to a place of complete bliss
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Gregory J Abbott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind