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.
This City
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This city ever drown
Blood in the water and hell to pay
Sky tear open and pain rain down
Doesn't matter 'cause come what may
I ain't ever gonna leave this town
This city won't wash away
This city won't ever drown
Ain't the river or the wind to blame
Every around here knows
Nothin' holdin' back Ponchartrain
Except for a prayer and a promise's ghost
We just carry on diggin' our graves
In solid marble above the ground
Maybe our bones'll wash away
But this city won't ever drown
This city won't ever die
Just as long as her heart beats strong
Like a second line steppin' high'
Raisin' hell as we roll along
Gently to the Vieux Carre
Lower Nine, Central City, Uptown
Singin' Jacamo Fee-Nah-Nay
This city won't ever drown
Doesn't matter 'cause there ain't no way
I'm ever gonna leave this town
This city won't wash away
This city won't ever drown
In Steve Earle's song "This City", he describes the resilience of New Orleans, a city that has been plagued by natural disasters, but still remains strong. The lyrics "This city won't wash away, this city won't ever drown" emphasize the determination and strength of the city and its inhabitants. Despite the blood in the water, hell to pay, sky tearing open, and pain raining down, Earle proclaims that he will never leave this town.
The song's lyrics also mention the importance of the city's culture and traditions. The second verse talks about how there is "nothin' holdin' back Ponchartrain except for a prayer and a promise's ghost", referencing Lake Pontchartrain which surrounds the city. The mention of a "prayer and a promise's ghost" could reference the promises made by government officials to rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. They also mention the neighborhoods of the city, including the Vieux Carre, Lower Nine, Central City, and Uptown.
The song could be interpreted as a tribute to the resilience and strength of the people of New Orleans who have survived through several disasters and tragedies in recent history.
Line by Line Meaning
This city won't wash away
No matter how much rain or floods there are, this city won't be destroyed
This city ever drown
Even in the midst of terrible floods, this city will always remain
Blood in the water and hell to pay
There is violence and conflict that will lead to a heavy price to be paid
Sky tear open and pain rain down
There is a lot of suffering and pain caused by natural disasters like floods
Doesn't matter 'cause come what may
Regardless of what happens, the singer will not leave this town
I ain't ever gonna leave this town
The singer will always stay in this town
Ain't the river or the wind to blame
The river and the wind are not responsible for the destruction in this city
Every around here knows
Everyone in the town knows this fact
Nothin' holdin' back Ponchartrain
There is nothing stopping the river from flooding the town
Except for a prayer and a promise's ghost
Only faith and hope are keeping the town from being destroyed
We just carry on diggin' our graves
Despite the danger, the people of this town continue to live there
In solid marble above the ground
People are buried in above-ground graves that are made of strong marble
Maybe our bones'll wash away
Even though our physical bodies may be lost, this city will still remain
This city won't ever die
This city will continue to survive
Just as long as her heart beats strong
As long as the people of this city continue to have hope, it will live on
Like a second line steppin' high'
This city is like a parade that marches on, no matter what happens
Raisin' hell as we roll along
The people of this town are not afraid to have a good time and enjoy life
Gently to the Vieux Carre
People are moving slowly and peacefully to the French Quarter
Lower Nine, Central City, Uptown
These are the different areas of the town, and they all have their own unique culture
Singin' Jacamo Fee-Nah-Nay
People are singing a popular New Orleans song
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN F. (FAIN) EARLE, STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kat G
I just finished the series. All the Character are so deep. I loved the relationships that Harley had with all the people around him. He made me smile till I cried. Jock-a-mo fee-na <3!
Kat G
+thyamelate great character. I really like that line.
thyamelate
+Kat G "Life is short, let's play a song" - Harley Watt
asdfdasdaable
just beautiful. Put this one in the permanent replay loop collection.
Jeremy
I don't know how New Orleanians feel when they hear this song, but as an outsider, everytime I listen to it, I feel this is such a powerful love song to New Orleans, so profound.
whocares bout dat
Tears in our eyes every damn time.
mosleyzlove
One of my very favorite living artists. Thank you Steve!
Alisa Anderson
Love the song, love the series!
Flight of the Bumblebee
Amazing series.
KintaromOe
Very good job! Love this song!