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.
Satellite Radio
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Startin' to drift, cuppa hot joe, checkin' the sky
Never can tell, makin' my list, checkin' it twice
Fasten my belt, flippin' my switch, checkin' my mic
Is there anybody out there? One-two-three on the satellite radio?
Big daddy on the air, are you listenin' to me? On the satellite radio
At the galaxy's end where the stars burn bright are you tunin' in and turnin' on?
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Turn it on
Turn it up
What if they're right? What if I'm wrong? What if we're kings?
One of these nights-play the right song-telephone rings
Stone in the sea, shot in the dark, splittin' the air
Listen to me, kindle the spark, answer my prayer
Is there anybody out there? One-two-three on the satellite radio?
Does anybody care, are you listenin' to me? On the satellite radio
At the galaxy's end where the stars burn bright, are you tunin' in and turnin' on?
Is there anybody listenin' to us tonight on the satellite radio?
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Turn it on
Is there anybody out there? One-two-three on the satellite radio?
Big daddy on the air, are you listenin' to me? On the satellite radio
At the galaxy's end where the stars burn bright, are you tunin' in and turnin' on?
Is there anybody listenin' to earth tonight on the satellite radio?
Is there anybody out there? One-two-three on the satellite radio?
Big daddy on the air, are you listenin' to me? On the satellite radio
At the galaxy's end where the stars burn bright, are you tunin' in and turnin' on?
Is there anybody listenin' to earth tonight on the satellite radio?
Listen to the radio
In Steve Earle’s song Satellite Radio, the lyrics describe a DJ starting his shift, checking his equipment, and wondering if anyone out there is listening to him. He repeatedly asks “Is there anybody out there?” and wonders if anyone is tuning in and turning on their satellite radios. The song explores themes of connection and isolation, as well as the power of the airwaves to bring people together across distances.
The chorus of the song starts with the repeated phrase “Listen to the radio” and progresses to a call for someone, anyone, to answer the DJ’s plea for connection. The lyrics also touch on the idea of uncertainty, asking “what if they’re right? What if I’m wrong?” and evoking the idea that we are all looking for something to hold onto and believe in.
The song is a commentary on the power of technology to connect us and bring us together, even as we are physically separated by distance. It also highlights the role of radio as a medium for communication and community building, even in an era dominated by social media and other digital platforms.
Line by Line Meaning
Top of my shift-frog in my throat-sleep in my eyes
Starting my job with a hoarse throat and barely open eyes.
Startin' to drift, cuppa hot joe, checkin' the sky
Feeling sleepy, sipping hot coffee, looking at the sky.
Never can tell, makin' my list, checkin' it twice
Planning what to say, making a list, checking it twice.
Fasten my belt, flippin' my switch, checkin' my mic
Securing my belt, turning on the microphone, checking its sound.
Is there anybody out there? One-two-three on the satellite radio?
Is anyone listening to me on the satellite radio?
Big daddy on the air, are you listenin' to me? On the satellite radio
Are you, the listener, tuning in to listen to me, the radio host, on the satellite radio?
At the galaxy's end where the stars burn bright are you tunin' in and turnin' on?
Even at the far end of the galaxy, where the stars shine bright, are you still tuning in and turning on the radio?
Is there anybody listenin' to earth tonight on the satellite radio?
Is anyone listening to the radio from Earth tonight through the satellite radio?
Listen to the radio
I urge you to tune in to the radio.
Turn it on
Switch on the radio.
What if they're right? What if I'm wrong? What if we're kings?
What if other people are right? Or I am wrong? Or we all are kings?
One of these nights-play the right song-telephone rings
One of these nights, while playing the perfect song, the phone will ring.
Stone in the sea, shot in the dark, splittin' the air
Like a stone in the sea or a shot in the dark, I will try to break through to the listeners in the airwaves.
Listen to me, kindle the spark, answer my prayer
Listen to me as I try to inspire you and answer my prayer of reaching out to you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimminter2414
This song gets better every time I listen to it.
@seanmurphy6480
NO SHIT JIM ❤🎯👍
@robertwithers960
A truly phenomenal song that sounds as fresh in 2022 as it did when the album was released. Listening to this song while driving is an uplifting experience!
@jerrykuc149
This song is addictive.
@seanmurphy6480
HOOKED ❤
@pastorcashlewark1599
Thank you for posting this song. I start my morning everyday with it CRANKED in my SKULL CRUSHER headphones.
@richreitz5815
😂😂😂😂
@rebeccaj5252
I absolutely could listen to this song and album all day...Brilliant
@scmorson
I'm at Dennys
@joannehack7588
@@scmorson there you go—- all the pancakes and music you could ever want