Steve Earle (born Stephen Fain Earle on January 17, 1955 in San Antonio, Te… Read Full Bio ↴Steve Earle (born Stephen Fain Earle on January 17, 1955 in San Antonio, Texas) is a singer-songwriter best known for his country music and rock 'n roll tinged "alt-country." He is also a published writer, a keen political activist (particularly in protesting against the death penalty in the U.S., as in his song "Ellis Unit One" from the movie Dead Man Walking), and has written and directed a play. Earle also had small roles on the HBO television shows "The Wire" and "Treme". His sister Stacey Earle is also an acclaimed singer-songwriter, as is his most recent wife, Allison Moorer, whom he wed in 2005. His first son from an earlier marriage is the singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, named for Earle's hero Townes Van Zandt.

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 Seeker
Steve Earle Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was eight years old when my granddaddy died
He that showed me the signs I still miss him sometimes
Been a long time ago but his words still ring true
Whatever you do be a seeker

All these years I have wandered and wherever I roamed
I was never alone or forsaken I know
Somewhere way out yonder I know I will find

That a bright beacon shines for a seeker

You can't always believe your eyes
It's your heart that sees through all the lies
And the first answer follows the first question asked
The mystery unmasked by the seeker

In a world full of sorrow, hunger and pain
It's so hard to explain why I'm still travelin'

But there's a new day tomorrow and maybe I'll hold
Something brighter than gold to a seeker

Overall Meaning

The Steve Earle song The Seeker tells the story of a man who was inspired by his granddad's final words of wisdom to become a seeker, to search for truths and answers to the mysteries around him. The man recalls how he was only eight when his granddad died, but how the memories of his teachings have remained with him all his life. The song emphasizes the importance of being persistent and following one's heart in the quest for knowledge and understanding.

The lyrics of The Seeker describe the search for truth and understanding as an ongoing journey. The man acknowledges that he has wandered throughout his life, yet he has never been alone or lost, knowing that somewhere out there he will find the shining beacon that will guide him towards the truth he seeks. The song encourages listeners to look beyond what their eyes see and trust their hearts to see through the lies that may surround them. The message is that by persevering in the search for knowledge and understanding, the mysteries of the world will eventually be unmasked, and the rewards gained by the seeker will be brighter than gold.

Line by Line Meaning

I was eight years old when my granddaddy died
Steve Earle's granddaddy died when he was eight years old

He that showed me the signs I still miss him sometimes
Steve Earle still thinks about his granddaddy and the lessons he taught him

Been a long time ago but his words still ring true
Even though it's been a long time, Steve Earle still remembers the teachings of his granddaddy

Whatever you do be a seeker
Steve Earle's granddaddy encouraged him to always be curious and seek knowledge

All these years I have wandered and wherever I roamed
Steve Earle has traveled and explored many places throughout his life

I was never alone or forsaken I know
Steve Earle never felt abandoned or isolated during his travels

Somewhere way out yonder I know I will find
Steve Earle believes that there is something valuable waiting for him in the distance

That a bright beacon shines for a seeker
There is hope and guidance for those who are curious and searching

You can't always believe your eyes
Things aren't always as they seem, and appearances can be deceiving

It's your heart that sees through all the lies
One's intuition and inner feelings can reveal the truth that can't be seen with the eyes

And the first answer follows the first question asked
Inquisitiveness leads to understanding, and every question has a corresponding answer

The mystery unmasked by the seeker
The secrets of the unknown will be revealed by those who seek them out

In a world full of sorrow, hunger and pain
The world is fraught with suffering and difficulties

It's so hard to explain why I'm still travelin'
Steve Earle struggles to articulate why he continues to journey through life

But there's a new day tomorrow and maybe I'll hold
Despite the hardships, there's always a chance that something good may come along

Something brighter than gold to a seeker
There's no greater reward for an adventurer or explorer than discovering something truly valuable or enlightening

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVE EARLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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