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 Revolution Starts...
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the town where I was born
I was movin' to a beat
That I'd never felt before
So I opened up my eyes
And I took a look around
I saw it written 'cross the sky
The revolution starts now
The revolution starts now
When you rise above your fear
And tear the walls around you down
The revolution starts here
Where you work and where you play
Where you lay your money down
What you do and what you say
The revolution starts now
Yeah the revolution starts now
Yeah the revolution starts now
In your own backyard
In your own hometown
So what you doin' standin' around?
Just follow your heart
The revolution starts now
Last night I had a dream
That the world had turned around
And all our hopes had come to be
And the people gathered 'round
They all brought what they could bring
And nobody went without
And I learned a song to sing
The revolution starts now
In Steve Earle's song "The Revolution Starts...", the singer is walking down the street of his hometown when he suddenly feels a new and unfamiliar beat. As he looks around, he sees a message written across the sky: "the revolution starts now". The song is an optimistic call to action, urging listeners to rise above their fears and tear down the walls that hold them back. The revolution, according to Earle, begins in one's own heart, in their own hometown, in the choices they make every day. The singer tells of a dream he had where everyone came together, bringing what they could to help others and creating a new, better world. The revolution he speaks of is not one of violence or destruction, but of love, compassion, and community.
Earle's use of the term "revolution" in the song is hopeful and forward-looking. It speaks to a desire for change, for a better world, and a willingness to work together to make it happen. The phrase "the revolution starts now" is repeated throughout the song, serving as a kind of mantra, urging the listener not to wait for someone else to take action, but to start making change happen themselves. Earle also makes clear that this is not a fight that can be won alone, but one that requires the participation and cooperation of everyone.
Overall, "The Revolution Starts..." is a powerful anthem for change and a call to action for listeners to take charge of their own lives and work toward a better world. Its message of hope and connection is one that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
I was walkin' down the street
The singer sets the scene for the moment of realization he is about to convey; walking down the street in his hometown.
In the town where I was born
The specific location adds personal attachment and grounds the message in a specific place.
I was movin' to a beat
The singer is feeling confident and in a rhythm, perhaps inspired by something larger than himself.
That I'd never felt before
The experience is new, and something he has never felt before.
So I opened up my eyes
The artist is not only listening but looking with intention, aware of his surroundings.
And I took a look around
Again emphasizing the singer's awareness and openness to the world around him.
I saw it written 'cross the sky
Metaphorically, the writing across the sky implies something magnificent, important and far-reaching.
The revolution starts now
The central message of the song; the revolution starts now, and in the present moment.
Yeah, the revolution starts now
Restates the central message for emphasis.
The revolution starts now
Restates the central message for emphasis.
When you rise above your fear
Acknowledges the fear that might be preventing change.
And tear the walls around you down
Breaking down personal barriers that prevent change.
The revolution starts here
The revolution does not need to happen on a global scale — it can happen wherever an individual is willing to make a change.
Where you work and where you play
The revolution can happen in every sphere of life, at work and in leisure activities.
Where you lay your money down
Even in day-to-day decisions involving money, individuals can make revolutionary choices.
What you do and what you say
Every action and spoken word has the potential to spark change.
The revolution starts now
Restates the central message for emphasis.
Yeah the revolution starts now
Restates the central message for emphasis.
Yeah the revolution starts now
Restates the central message for emphasis.
In your own backyard
Change can start in our own lives and homes.
In your own hometown
The change can spread to communities on a local level.
So what you doin' standin' around?
The artist calls out apathy and encourages action.
Just follow your heart
Making a change can start with simply listening to inner guidance and desire.
The revolution starts now
Restates the central message for emphasis.
Last night I had a dream
The singer tells a story of hope to emphasize the transformative power of positive change.
That the world had turned around
The dream brings about a reversal of what is expected or assumed.
And all our hopes had come to be
The dream represents the actualization of hopes and aspirations.
And the people gathered 'round
In the dream, communal understanding and action is present.
They all brought what they could bring
In the dream, everyone contributes something valuable and unique.
And nobody went without
In the dream, there is an abundance to go around so that nobody is left out or without what they need.
And I learned a song to sing
The dream gives the singer a new message to carry and amplify through song.
The revolution starts now
Restates the central message for emphasis.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Steve Earle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wendell X
Great song!!! Steve Earle is a great soul!!!
BlueShortz
there is hope for this beautiful earth and all of humanity allot more than what we can see keep going i love seeing this!
Simon Rowell
One great song from a great album.
Debbie Thompson
Best Steve Earle song ever!!!!! <3
Alex Cammon
Awsome song! Never heard of the man, but came across this and love it!
BrunoValentino100
God bless Steve Earle
claude michelle St.jacques
such a great track will miss steve on treme
luvbnmarried24
Progress is not possible without deviation from the norm.
Ganges Excavating
Great song. Steve, I love ya
burpo
Heard this on the radio in 2005 without knowing who it was and lost my f-ing mind.