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 HBOās New Orleans based show Treme several months before the albumās 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.
Snake Oil
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come in close so everyone can see
I got a tale to tell
A listen don't cost a dime
And if you believe that we're gonna get along just fine
Now I've been travelin' all around
I heard trouble's come to your town
Guaranteed to ease your mind
It's call snake oil y'all
It's been around for a long, long time
Well your crops will burn if it don't rain soon
Ain't seen a drop since the tenth of June
Well I can open up the sky
People have no fear
If you ain't impressed yet, tell me what you want to hear
Well you lost your farm so you moved to town
Get a job, they shut the factory down
Now you sit around all day long feelin' sad and blue
You need snake oil y'all, tell you what I'm gonna do, step right up
I can heal the sick and I can mend the lame
And the blind shall see again, it's all the same
Well ain't your President good to you
Knocked 'em dead in Libya, Grenada too
Now he's taking that show, a little further down the line
'Tween me and him, people, you're gonna get along just fine, hup
It's called snake oil y'all
Snake oil y'all
Ah snake oil y'all
Called snake oil y'all
It's called snake oil y'all
It's been around a long long time
In Steve Earle's song "Snake Oil," the singer is a traveling salesman who sells a potion called snake oil that he claims can cure all ailments and solve all problems. He gathers a crowd by inviting everyone to come close and listen to his tale of a magical elixir that will ease their minds. The singer boasts of his travels and says that he has been hearing about troubles in the town he's currently in. He claims that his snake oil has been around for a long time and can do everything from make it rain to heal the sick and mend the lame.
The salesman's spiel is targeted towards a struggling community that has lost its farms and factories. He preys on their vulnerability and promises a quick fix to all their problems without any actual evidence or proof that his snake oil works. The song is a commentary on the dangers of falling for such "snake oil" sales tactics and the consequences of blindly trusting those who make impossible promises. The singer's snake oil could be interpreted as a metaphor for false hope and the exploitation of people's desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
Ladies and gentlemen, attention please
Steve Earle addresses his audience, requesting their attention.
Come in close so everyone can see
Steve Earle asks his audience to gather closer so they can focus on his message.
I got a tale to tell
Steve Earle intends to share a story with his listeners.
A listen don't cost a dime
Steve Earle tells his audience that they don't have to pay anything to hear his story.
And if you believe that we're gonna get along just fine
Steve Earle suggests that if his audience is interested in what he has to say, they'll enjoy his performance.
Now I've been travelin' all around
Steve Earle explains that he has been traveling to various locations.
I heard trouble's come to your town
Steve Earle has learned that his audience has faced some challenges recently.
I've got a little somethin'
Steve Earle claims to have a solution to his listeners' problems.
Guaranteed to ease your mind
Steve Earle assures his audience that his remedy will make them feel better.
It's called snake oil y'all
Steve Earle names his solution 'snake oil.'
It's been around for a long, long time
Steve Earle suggests that this remedy has a long history and is well-known.
Well your crops will burn if it don't rain soon
Steve Earle highlights a potential problem that could affect his audience.
Ain't seen a drop since the tenth of June
Steve Earle references a specific date to convey how long it has been since it last rained.
Well I can open up the sky
Steve Earle claims that his snake oil can fix the lack of rain.
People have no fear
Steve Earle encourages his audience not to worry.
If you ain't impressed yet, tell me what you want to hear
Steve Earle challenges any skeptics in his audience to ask him questions or voice their doubts.
Well you lost your farm so you moved to town
Steve Earle describes one situation where his snake oil could be useful - a farmer who lost their land and moved to the city.
Get a job, they shut the factory down
Steve Earle references a common issue where people are laid off due to factory closures.
Now you sit around all day long feelin' sad and blue
Steve Earle describes the depression and hopelessness someone might feel in this scenario.
You need snake oil y'all, tell you what I'm gonna do, step right up
Steve Earle is eager to sell his snake oil to someone who is feeling desperate for a solution.
I can heal the sick and I can mend the lame
Steve Earle makes bold claims about the healing powers of his snake oil.
And the blind shall see again, it's all the same
Steve Earle's snake oil supposedly has the power to cure blindness as well.
Well ain't your President good to you
Steve Earle references the President in order to create a sense of unity with his audience.
Knocked 'em dead in Libya, Grenada too
Steve Earle praises the president's accomplishments in order to inspire confidence in his own abilities.
Now he's taking that show, a little further down the line
Steve Earle suggests that he and the President are a team, and they intend to continue their work.
'Tween me and him, people, you're gonna get along just fine, hup
Steve Earle reiterates that he and the President are working together for the good of the people, and that his audience will benefit.
It's called snake oil y'all
Steve Earle repeats the name of his product, possibly to emphasize it.
Snake oil y'all
Another repetition of the name 'snake oil.'
Ah snake oil y'all
Steve Earle repeats the name again, perhaps for emphasis or to create a rhythm in the song.
Called snake oil y'all
Yet another repetition of the name 'snake oil.'
It's called snake oil y'all
Steve Earle repeats the name one last time.
It's been around a long long time
Steve Earle reminds his audience that snake oil is nothing new and has been a remedy for a long time.
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@colin6768
That guitar intro in the beginning is one of the most righteous and bad ass intros ever recorded. Love that song.
@MikeJones-tl3dg
65
@Robcatist
You know when an artist writes great lyrics cause it gets everyone giving there opinions and disecting the song, Steve Earle is no exception!
@debrahabian361
God bless this man and his music!! It has gotten me through times both good and bad!
@Finvarra15
This is the song my daddy rocked me to sleep to and this is the song I'll have at my wedding for my father/daughter dance. Thanks so much.
@leftcoaster67
Whatever Steve Earle did before or after, this album is epic.Ā
@mongoou812
TRUELY EPIC by the echo can be chemically induced ................ or so I'm told Peace out Mongo
@niallfoody97
The answer to both is herion, but he's better now and still a country legend.
@bradclancy7277
Leftcoaster I couldn't agree more
@37kema
i have loved his music for over 30 years and allways will :)