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.
The Mountain
Steve Earle Lyrics
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Before they knocked down the timber and strip-mined the coal
When you rose in the mornin' before it was light
To go down in that dark hole and come back up at night
I was born on this mountain, this mountain's my home
She holds me and keeps me from worry and woe
Well, they took everything that she gave, now they're gone
I was young on this mountain but now i am old
And i knew every holler, every cool swimmin' hole
'til one night i lay down and woke up to find
That my childhood was over and i went down in the mine
There's a hole in this mountain and it's dark and it's deep
And god only knows all the secrets it keeps
There's a chill in the air only miners can feel
There're ghosts in the tunnels that the company sealed
The lyrics of Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band's song "Mountain" evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and a deep connection to the natural world. The singer reflects on their life, having been born on the mountain before the destruction of the land for resource extraction. They remember the hard work of mining and the knowledge of every feature of the landscape, as well as the loss of their childhood innocence.
The repeated refrain of "this mountain's my home" speaks to a profound sense of attachment to a specific place, one that has shaped the singer's identity and given them a sense of security in the face of all the changes wrought by industry. The haunting final stanza references the many unseen dangers lurking within the mines, both physical and spiritual, and underscores the tragic cost of exploiting the earth's resources without regard for the people who live on it.
One interpretation of the song is as a warning against the dangers of unchecked industrialization and the folly of prioritizing profit over people and the environment. It also serves as a tribute to the resilience and enduring spirit of those whose lives have been defined by living and working in the mountains.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born on this mountain a long time ago
The singer was born on the mountain a while back, before logging and mining.
Before they knocked down the timber and strip-mined the coal
The mountain was once wooded and mineral extraction did not exist.
When you rose in the mornin' before it was light
Miners would be up before sunrise to start their day.
To go down in that dark hole and come back up at night
Miners worked long hours underground, returning to the surface only at night.
I was born on this mountain, this mountain's my home
The mountain is the artist's birthplace and their permanent home.
She holds me and keeps me from worry and woe
The mountain serves as a protector and provides peace of mind for the singer.
Well, they took everything that she gave, now they're gone
The natural resources of the mountain were depleted by industry, and the companies have left.
But i'll die on this mountain, this mountain's my home
The artist intends to stay on the mountain and pass away there.
I was young on this mountain but now i am old
The artist has lived on the mountain for a long time and has aged there.
And i knew every holler, every cool swimmin' hole
The artist is familiar with all the distinct features of the mountain, such as valleys and watering spots.
'til one night i lay down and woke up to find
The singer was awoken to the fact that their youth was over and things had changed.
That my childhood was over and i went down in the mine
The artist had to work in the mine and leave behind their youth.
There's a hole in this mountain and it's dark and it's deep
There is a mine shaft in the mountain which is dark and extensive.
And god only knows all the secrets it keeps
There are mysteries and unknown situations that only a higher power could understand inside the mountain.
There's a chill in the air only miners can feel
Miners, and only miners, can sense the coldness and danger present in the mineshaft.
There're ghosts in the tunnels that the company sealed
The closed-off parts of the mine are rumored to be haunted by spirits and eerie entities.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAMZA ROBERTSON, SAMI YUSUF, N UNKNOWN WRITER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind