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.
She's About a Mover
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking fine as she could be, hey, hey
She was walking down the street
She's looking fine as she could be, hey, hey
You know I love you, baby
Oh hear what is say, hey, hey
She walked right up to me
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?" Hey, hey
We had love and conversation
Oh yeah, what I say, hey hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
Hey, hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
You know I love you, baby
Oh yeah, what I say, yeah, hey
Now, she walked right up to me, talkin' about me
She said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
Well, she walked right up to me
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
We had love and conversation
Oh yeah, what I say, hey hey
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover
She's about a mover, hey
The song "She's About a Mover" by Steve Earle is an homage to a beautiful woman who catches his eye while she's walking down the street. The repeated chorus drives home the point that this woman is on the move and has caught Earle's attention. The song's melody is catchy and upbeat, and its lyrics create a catchy hook that is easy to remember.
The song's opening lines establish the scene and set the tone for the rest of the song. Earle describes a beautiful woman who catches his eye while she's walking down the street. She is "looking fine as she could be", and Earle is clearly impressed by her appearance. His declaration of love for this woman is tempered by his appreciation of her independence and agency. She is about a mover, and this is something that Earle finds attractive and exciting.
The chorus sums up Earle's feelings about this woman. She is a force to be reckoned with, a mover who is always on the go. Earle clearly admires her independence and spirit, and this is what draws him to her. The song's quick tempo and upbeat melody reflect the excitement and energy of this woman, and the lyrics suggest that she is a force to be reckoned with.
Line by Line Meaning
She was walking down the street
A description of the woman in question walking on the street.
Looking fine as she could be, hey, hey
A compliment on how attractive the woman looks.
You know I love you, baby
A declaration of love for the woman.
Oh hear what is say, hey, hey
Emphasizing the seriousness of the previous statement.
She walked right up to me
The woman approached the singer.
Said, "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"
The woman introduced herself to the singer.
We had love and conversation
The two had a romantic connection and talked.
She's about a mover
The woman is known for being a lively and active person.
Hey, hey
Interjection to express excitement or emphasis.
You know I love you, baby
Repeating a declaration of love.
Now, she walked right up to me, talkin' about me
Repeating the earlier statement in slightly different words.
Well, she walked right up to me
The woman approached the singer again.
We had love and conversation
Repeating the description of their interaction.
She's about a mover
Repeating the earlier statement about the woman's liveliness.
Hey
Interjection to express excitement or emphasis.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Doug Sahm
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind