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.
That Old Time Feeling
Steve Earle Lyrics
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Like an old gray cat in winter, keeping close to the wall
And that old time feeling goes stumblin' down the street
Like an old salesman kicking the papers from his feet
And that old time feeling draws circles 'round the block
Like old women with no children, holding hands with the clock
And that old time feeling falls on its face in the park
That old time feeling comes and goes in the rain
Like an old man with his checkers, he's dying to find a game
That old time feeling plays for beer in bars
Like an old blues-time picker who don't recall who you are
That old time feeling limps through the night on a crutch
Like an old soldier wondering if he paid too much
And that old time feeling rocks and spits and cries
Like an old lover remembering the girl with the clear blue eyes
And that old time feeling goes sneaking down the hall
Like an old gray cat in winter, keeping close to the wall
In Steve Earle's song "That Old Time Feeling," the lyrics paint a vivid picture of nostalgia and longing for the past. The repeated reference to the "old time feeling" evokes a sense of something familiar and comforting but also tinged with sadness and uncertainty. This feeling is personified as a presence that sneaks down the hall, stumbles down the street, draws circles around the block, falls on its face in the park, and limps through the night.
The old time feeling is compared to various images that evoke a sense of aging and decline. Like an old gray cat in winter, it moves cautiously and stays close to the wall, symbolizing a desire for safety and shelter. Similar to an old salesman kicking the papers from his feet, it appears weary and tired, perhaps burdened by the passage of time. The reference to old women with no children holding hands with the clock reflects a sense of loneliness and the feeling of time slipping away.
The lyrics also touch on themes of addiction and regret. The old time feeling is likened to an old wino praying to make it through the night, suggesting a reliance on substances to cope with the pains of life. It plays for beer in bars like an old blues-time picker who has lost touch with his own identity. The old soldier wondering if he paid too much represents the feeling of questioning past decisions and grappling with the consequences.
Overall, "That Old Time Feeling" captures the bittersweet essence of nostalgia, the longing for the past, and the complexities that come with reflecting on what once was.
Line by Line Meaning
That old time feeling goes sneaking down the hall
The nostalgia and melancholy of the past slowly make its way through our lives, much like a timid gray cat cautiously moving along the hallway
Like an old gray cat in winter, keeping close to the wall
Just as the cat seeks comfort and protection from the cold by staying near the wall, that old time feeling yearns for familiarity and security in the midst of uncertainty
And that old time feeling goes stumblin' down the street
The wistful emotions of the past stumble and meander through our surroundings, resembling a tired and weary salesman navigating the streets
Like an old salesman kicking the papers from his feet
Similar to a salesman shuffling his papers with frustration, that old time feeling carries the weight of memories and experiences, occasionally trying to shake them off
And that old time feeling draws circles 'round the block
That sense of nostalgia keeps revolving in our minds, creating repetitive patterns like the lonely act of elderly women who, with no children, hold hands with the ticking clock
Like old women with no children, holding hands with the clock
Just as childless old women find solace in holding onto time, that old time feeling clings to our existence, providing a sense of comfort in the passing hours
And that old time feeling falls on its face in the park
The weight of the past sometimes overwhelms us, causing that nostalgic sentiment to stumble and hit rock bottom, much like an inebriated beggar praying for survival until the night comes
Like an old wino praying that he can make it until it's dark
Similar to a destitute alcoholic desperately hoping to endure the day until darkness falls, that old time feeling seeks solace and respite from the hardships of life
That old time feeling comes and goes in the rain
That mixture of longing and sentimentality appears intermittently, much like an elderly man engrossed in a game of checkers, yearning to find companionship
Like an old man with his checkers, he's dying to find a game
Just as an aging man eagerly seeks opportunities to indulge in his favorite pastime, that old time feeling craves moments to immerse itself in memories and emotions
That old time feeling plays for beer in bars
The nostalgia of the past often seeks solace and expression in dimly lit bars, akin to a seasoned blues musician performing in exchange for a drink
Like an old blues-time picker who don't recall who you are
Similar to a blues musician who has lost track of familiar faces in his journey, that old time feeling sometimes struggles to recognize and connect with the present
That old time feeling limps through the night on a crutch
The haunting longing for the past perseveres during the dark hours, akin to a wounded soldier contemplating whether the sacrifices made were worth it
Like an old soldier wondering if he paid too much
Much like a war veteran reflecting on the personal costs of their service, that old time feeling wonders about the price it has paid for embracing nostalgia and sentimentality
And that old time feeling rocks and spits and cries
That sense of longing and reminiscence rocks back and forth, expressing itself through verbal outbursts and emotional tears
Like an old lover remembering the girl with the clear blue eyes
Similar to a former flame reminiscing about a lost love, that old time feeling recounts the memories of a person it holds dear, vividly recalling their captivating presence
And that old time feeling goes sneaking down the hall
Once again, that nostalgic sentiment quietly infiltrates our lives, much like a weary gray cat silently navigating the hallway
Like an old gray cat in winter, keeping close to the wall
Just as the cat seeks shelter from the harshness of winter by staying near the wall, that old time feeling seeks solace and refuge amidst the challenges of life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Guy Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind