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.
Steve
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I won't have to drag this weight around
When there ain't no hunger
And there ain't no pain
Then I won't have to swing this thing
One of these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down
One of these nights I'm gonna sing a different tune
When the war is over
And the union's strong
Won't sing no more angry songs
One of these nights I'm gonna sing a different tune
Someday when my struggle's through
I won't have to strive
Until then all I can do
Is let my hammer fly
One of these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down
Leave my burden restin' on the ground
When the air don't choke ya and the ocean's clean
And kids don't die for gasoline
One of these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down
John Henry was a mighty man
Worked his whole life long
When he made that hammer ring
He always sang this song
One of these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down
And I won't have to drag this weight around
When there ain't no hunger
And there ain't no pain
Then I won't have to swing this thing
One of these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down
Yeah, one of these days I'm gonna lay this hammer down
In Steve Earle's song "Steve," the singer contemplates giving up his life on the road and returning home to his loved one. He speaks of the toll that his travels have taken on him, both physically and emotionally. He describes the sound of his shoes on the pavement, the loneliness of his empty arms, and the way in which the highway has taken him away from his partner. He admits to having always been "the travelin' kind" but now feels a desire to turn around and head home.
The lyrics convey a sense of weariness, as though the singer has seen and done too much and is ready for a change. He bids farewell to his fellow travelers, acknowledging their shared love of the road and of singing the blues. But ultimately, he is singularly focused on returning to the person he loves. This song speaks to the universal human desire for connection and the sense of longing that can arise from being separated from those we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm thinkin' 'bout givin' up this ramblin' round
The singer is considering ending his wandering lifestyle
Hangin' up my highway shoes
He is considering giving up traveling and leaving the shoes that have carried him on the road behind.
Lately when I walk they make a hollow sound
He feels disconnected from himself and his surroundings when he travels.
And they carry me away from you
His travels keep him away from the person he loves.
Every night I lay my body down
He sleeps every night after a long day of travel.
My empty arms just leave me blue
He feels lonely and unfulfilled without the person he loves in his arms.
So I'm thinkin' 'bout givin' up this ramblin' 'round
He is seriously considering ending his wandering lifestyle to be with the person he loves.
And find my way back home to you
He wants to return home and be with the person he loves.
I have always been the travelin' kind
The artist has always been someone who wanders and travels.
A million miles behind me now
He has traveled millions of miles throughout his life.
I kept on followin' that thin white line
He has always followed the road to new experiences.
But now I want to turn around
He now wants to reverse course and head home.
I only lived to hear that highway sound
Wandering and hearing the sounds of the road have been his driving passion until now.
High and lonesome - low and blue
Traveling has brought him highs and lows, but ultimately he feels lonely and sad without love.
So say goodbye to all my ramblin' pals
He is saying goodbye to his fellow travelers.
Ol' Highway Dave and Southside Sue
The names of two fellow travelers who he may be close with.
I don't believe they'll miss me anyhow
He believes he will not be missed by his traveling companions.
What's one less wayward soul or two
He is just one more person leaving the traveler community.
Down the road they'll pass the jug around
They will continue on without him and share a drink on the road.
And they'll sing them lonesome highway blues
As they continue to travel, they will inevitably feel the sadness and loneliness of the open road.
But me I'm thinkin' 'bout givin' up this ramblin' 'round
He is determined to end his wandering lifestyle and head home.
And find my way back home to you
Returning home to the person he loves is his top priority.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@santacruz986
I'm 69 years old and an oilfield trucker this song does somthing extraterrestrial to me every time I listen to it
@MississippiBN68
Love this song. I was a M1 Abrams tanker in the US Army from 86-92 . I was stationed at Ft Hood Texas and every chance I could I would head home to Northeast Ms. It was 750 miles one way. I would load up with a Jolt cola⚡️,throw this song on , and start clicking off the miles. Homesick G.I. headed home! 😎🇺🇸 Great memories that come back every time I hear it.
@iwanttocomplain
I don’t think Earle is exactly a pro war kinda guy but hey music is for everyone.
@MississippiBN68
@@iwanttocomplain exactly
@yamama7265
If you like this one I think you'd enjoy another good song by Joe diffie it's called pour me another one see if you can pull it up on your YouTube because it rocks just like Steve Earle
@iwanttocomplain
@@yamama7265 I just listened to it. It’s very commercial standard Nashville modern country-pop. I couldn’t listen to it.
But there is a live recording from a talk show. That’s actually ok.
It’s called Poor Me Live.
@MississippiBN68
@@yamama7265 will do my friend. Thanks
@TWBlack
You have NO IDEA how many nights you kept me awake from Nashville to Laredo, make when I first driving a semi. Them 1000 mile nights and running across Texas in the middle of the night in a 10-12 truck convoy, hammered down when the speed limit was still 55!! Yeah buddy, those were the good days!
@mattshavers1496
I would care if I ever seen Laredo again lol! I'm 37 and had all his music on a play list along with Ronnie Milsap.
@patriciajrs46
Yeah they were.