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.
Sparkle And Shine
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sparkle and shine
Sparkle and shine
My baby sparkle and shine
And everyone knows she's fine
She blesses all that she sees
A toss of her hair and a kiss in the breeze
But she don't love no one but me
Shimmering she moves
Sunlight all around her
Even when she's blue
Silver clouds surround her
My baby sparkle and shine
Sparkle and shine
Sparkle and shine
My baby sparkle and shine
And I can't believe she's mine
My baby swings down the street
Big tall high heel shoes on her feet
Walks by and my heart skips a beat
And I'm stumblin' like a fool
She give me somethin' so sweet
I can't sleep y'all and I can't eat
Sparks fly whenever we meet
I'm breathless 'cause she's so cool
Anywhere she goes
I can only follow
She'll be there I know
When I awake tomorrow
My baby sparkle and shine
Sparkle and shine
Sparkle and shine
My baby sparkle and shine
And everyone knows she's fine
My baby sparkle and shine
Sparkle and shine
Sparkle and shine
My baby sparkle and shine
And everyone knows she's fine
And everyone knows she's mine
In Steve Earle's song "Sparkle and Shine," the singer is expressing his intense love and admiration for his partner, who he describes as shining and shimmering in various ways. The repetition in the chorus of "sparkle and shine" emphasizes the bright and glimmering nature of the singer's lover. The line "And everyone knows she's fine" suggests that the beauty of the singer's partner is universally recognized and appreciated, highlighting her appeal to others as well as the singer. However, despite her widespread attractiveness, the singer believes that she loves only him.
The second verse contains vivid imagery of the singer's partner moving and shining like the sun, even in sad moments. The third verse describes the physical allure of the singer's partner as she walks down the street in high-heeled shoes, making the singer's heart skip a beat. He uses hyperbolic language to convey the intensity of his attraction, saying that he can't eat or sleep when he's around her, and "sparks fly whenever we meet."
Overall, "Sparkle and Shine" is a love song that celebrates the beauty and allure of the singer's partner, emphasizing her shining, shimmering quality and the profound effect she has on him.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby sparkle and shine
The subject of the song is bright and radiant
Sparkle and shine
Emphasizes the brightness and radiance of the subject
Sparkle and shine
Re-emphasizes the brightness and radiance of the subject
My baby sparkle and shine
Reiterates that the subject is bright and radiant
And everyone knows she's fine
The subject is beautiful and attractive, and that it is widely recognized
She blesses all that she sees
The subject is seen as having a positive impact on her surroundings
A toss of her hair and a kiss in the breeze
The subject exudes grace and charm, and seems to bless the world around her with her movement
But she don't love no one but me
The singer sees himself as the sole object of the subject's affection
And I can't believe she's mine
The singer is amazed and grateful to be in a relationship with the subject
Shimmering she moves
The subject's movement is seen as glittery and fluid
Sunlight all around her
The subject is associated with light and warmth
Even when she's blue
Even in times of sadness or disappointment, the subject still exudes radiance
Silver clouds surround her
The subject is still surrounded by positive energy, even in times of trouble
My baby swings down the street
The subject's movement is playful and free
Big tall high heel shoes on her feet
The subject is glamorous and confident, further emphasized by her footwear
Walks by and my heart skips a beat
The singer is deeply affected by the subject's presence
And I'm stumblin' like a fool
The singer's reaction to the subject is clumsy and uncoordinated
She give me somethin' so sweet
The subject fills the singer with a sense of warmth and happiness
I can't sleep y'all and I can't eat
The singer is so consumed by feelings for the subject that it affects his basic bodily functions
Sparks fly whenever we meet
The chemistry between the singer and the subject is electric
I'm breathless 'cause she's so cool
The singer is overwhelmed by the subject's effortless coolness
Anywhere she goes
The subject is seen as a guiding light, leading the way for others
I can only follow
The singer is fully committed to following the subject
She'll be there I know
The singer implicitly trusts the subject to always be there for him
When I awake tomorrow
The subject is seen as a constant presence in the singer's life, even when asleep
And everyone knows she's mine
Reiterates that the subject belongs to the singer, and that everyone recognizes it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alexander Thomas
A beautiful song :) My baby does sparkle and shine! Going to tell her I love her for the first time here SOON! :D
The Insomniac Cafe
Great song. I wish there was a male "baby" version so I could give it to my sparkly shiny love who is just the coolest guy.
Julie Willits
Favorite Steve song❤️❤️
LaurenOrder16
i love this song
Gail Durrett
My friend Steve Gross learned this song (because I told him it was one of my favorite Steve songs). One day he surprised me with the song on his guitar. Steve. Playing. Steve. Beautiful music. Beautiful friendship. TY Steve Earle!
Desert Fox
Yeaaass she does . . such a good song
Theresia T
My last boyfriend heard this song one day and dedicated it to me. It made me feel,very special through his eyes. Very sweet guy! :)
Michael Wasik
Absolutely👍
Jody Callen
Gorgeous
Christina Koufoudakis
I love this song. My dad introduced me to it, and to Steve. I am getting married next spring and am considering it for our father-daughter dance. Any thoughts on whether it's appropriate? I can't quite decide... :)