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 Is How It Ends
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two hearts beatin' like a single drum
Said you'd never lie and I promised I'd never run
Forever wasn't just another word back then
We swore we'd stay together ever after, thick and thin
Now this is how it ends
Guess I should have seen it comin' from the start
Everybody told me you were only gonna break my heart
Been around this lonely world and back again
From the time I found myself a lover and a friend
Now this is how it ends
This is how it ends
If you'd only told me back then
You wouldn't find me in the shape I'm in
Just another fool to trust you again
A fairytale they tell about a love so strong
Flowin' like a river rollin' on and on
Come around the bend and I looked around but you were gone
Never saw it comin' but you can't pretend
The line between a secret and a lie ain't razor thin
Now this is where it ends
This is how it ends
Hand me down dress on a wasted day
Ring in the pocket of a vest of gray
That's the way a cheatin' song begins
This is how it ends
Steve Earle's song "This Is How It Ends" describes the end of a romantic relationship. The first verse describes the hopeful beginning of the relationship, with the two parties promising never to deceive or abandon each other. They were committed to staying together, through thick and thin. However, as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the relationship has taken a turn for the worse. The singer laments that falling in love was easy, but falling out of love is much harder. He feels betrayed and foolish for having trusted his partner once again. The bridge discusses the storybook idea of perfect love, but the reality is much harsher. The ending verse takes on a morbid tone, with the singer suggesting that the relationship is over, and he's left with nothing but heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn around and look at how far we've come
Reflect on the progress we've made in our relationship
Two hearts beatin' like a single drum
We were in sync and deeply connected
Said you'd never lie and I promised I'd never run
We made a sincere commitment to each other
Forever wasn't just another word back then
Long-term commitment held meaning to us
We swore we'd stay together ever after, thick and thin
We made a serious vow to stick it out despite challenges
Now this is how it ends
Our relationship has come to an unfortunate conclusion
Guess I should have seen it comin' from the start
I should have recognized the warning signs early on
Comes to love then fallin' is the easy part
Falling in love is simple, but maintaining it is difficult
Everybody told me you were only gonna break my heart
Others warned me that you were going to hurt me
Been around this lonely world and back again
I have experienced heartbreak before
From the time I found myself a lover and a friend
I have been searching for a romantic partner and companion
Now this is how it ends
Our relationship has reached a disappointing conclusion
If you'd only told me back then
If you had been honest from the beginning
You wouldn't find me in the shape I'm in
I wouldn't be suffering the way I am now
Just another fool to trust you again
I made the mistake of believing in you once more
A fairytale they tell about a love so strong
There are stories of a powerful, enduring love
Flowin' like a river rollin' on and on
This kind of love is seemingly unstoppable
Come around the bend and I looked around but you were gone
Suddenly and unexpectedly, you left me alone
Never saw it comin' but you can't pretend
I was blindsided, but you can't deny your actions
The line between a secret and a lie ain't razor thin
Keeping something hidden is not the same as being truthful
Now this is where it ends
Our relationship has come to a definitive conclusion
Hand me down dress on a wasted day
I am feeling dejected and worn out
Ring in the pocket of a vest of gray
I am holding onto a symbol of our lost love
That's the way a cheatin' song begins
This is how songs about infidelity typically start
This is how it ends
Our relationship has finally fallen apart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MIRANDA LAMBERT, STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind