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.
Trancendental Blues
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it was in my power I'd step into the light
Candles on the alter, penny in your shoe
Walk upon the water - transcendental blues
Happy ever after 'til the day you die
Careful what you ask for, you don't know 'til you try
Hands are in your pockets, starin' at your shoes
If I had it my way, everything would change
Out here on this highway the rules are still the same
Back roads never carry you where you want 'em to
They leave you standin' there with them ol' transcendental blues
The lyrics of Steve Earle's song "Transcendental Blues" are full of metaphors and themes of hope, belief, and change. The verses represent someone who is at the darkest hour of the longest night, and they want to step into the light to escape the problems they might have. They are trying to remain optimistic and light candles on the altar, put a penny in their shoe, and walk on water, hoping to transcendental blues. The line "transcendental blues" is repeated as a mantra that serves as an expression of the desire to attain something more significant, a higher level of consciousness, almost as if the singer were seeking spiritual enlightenment.
The chorus, on the other hand, seems to warn about the consequences of trying to push towards greater heights: "Happy ever after 'til the day you die/Careful what you ask for, you don't know 'til you try." The phrase "transcendental blues" is repeated, hinting that there is a cost to seeking change and greater understanding. The lyrics urge caution, saying that the path towards greater wisdom is fraught with risks because the feeling of uncertainty and the unknown. It is a warning of the commitment one makes when trying to move beyond themselves, the perceived comfort and safety of their ignorance being replaced by something unknown, or uncomfortable.
Line by Line Meaning
In the darkest hour of the longest night
During the most difficult times when everything seems bleak and hopeless
If it was in my power I'd step into the light
If I had the ability, I would escape the darkness and find the light of positivity
Candles on the alter, penny in your shoe
Performing rituals and seeking divine help to overcome challenges
Walk upon the water - transcendental blues
Reaching a state of spiritual enlightenment that allows you to surpass all obstacles and limitations
Happy ever after 'til the day you die
Thinking that everything will be perfect forever, regardless of the inevitability of death and change
Careful what you ask for, you don't know 'til you try
Being cautious in what you wish for, because the consequences may be unexpected or unwanted
Hands are in your pockets, starin' at your shoes
Being unresponsive and passive, consumed by anxiety and fear instead of actively confronting challenges
Wishin' you could stop it - transcendental blues
Desiring to transcend mundane problems and connect with spiritual solutions
If I had it my way, everything would change
Expressing the desire to transform the world according to your personal vision and values
Out here on this highway the rules are still the same
Regardless of the external circumstances, there are certain standards and moral principles that remain constant
Back roads never carry you where you want 'em to
Unpredictable and chaotic events may prevent you from achieving your goals, no matter how hard you try
They leave you standin' there with them ol' transcendental blues
The feelings of dissatisfaction and longing for spiritual fulfillment persist, despite external progress or success
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KMC
In the darkest hour of the longest night
If it was in my power I'd step into the light
Candles on the alter, penny in your shoe
Walk upon the water - transcendental blues
Happy ever after 'til the day you die
Careful what you ask for, you don't know 'til you try
Hands are in your pockets, starin' at your shoes
Wishin' you could stop it - transcendental blues
If I had it my way, everything would change
Out here on this highway the rules are still the same
Back roads never carry you where you want 'em to
They leave you standin' there with them ol' transcendental blues
Gary Taylor
Steve Earle is the real deal and is one of the few who has never sold out.
Tris Mac Carran
@Gary Taylor...love this man. First time I'd gotten emotional in years was upon listening to another song off this album, Lonelier Than This
Tine Tannies
What does it even mean to "sell out"? If you're an artist and you become successful and because of that success you make a lot of $$$, is that "selling out"? Sometimes it seems like the only way people can be considered to be "legit" is to be failures.
XKAHAN1
Um, I think if you look, you’ll see Steve’s debut went to #1 with a bullet on the 80’s country charts. Had he sold out then?
I’ve seen him 1/2 dozen times over the years. The man waded through a RIVER of shit to get to where he is today. Is he more of an artist than say, Kenny Chesney because KC sells out arenas? To each his own.
SE does things pretty much on his terms but if Jerusalem didn’t make a profit you wouldn’t have Transcendental Blues. You savvy? Art is short, death is long. Don’t worry about who sold out and who didn’t. Enjoy every sandwich. Enjoy every song.
🦊🖤🐾☕️ 🚬
Randyl Bishop
This song is one of my all time favorites. Got me through some tough times.
Scott Conyer
My fave Earle album. No question.
Front to back it’s on point.
KMC
In the darkest hour of the longest night
If it was in my power I'd step into the light
Candles on the alter, penny in your shoe
Walk upon the water - transcendental blues
Happy ever after 'til the day you die
Careful what you ask for, you don't know 'til you try
Hands are in your pockets, starin' at your shoes
Wishin' you could stop it - transcendental blues
If I had it my way, everything would change
Out here on this highway the rules are still the same
Back roads never carry you where you want 'em to
They leave you standin' there with them ol' transcendental blues
Rusty Johnson
I've looked forever for this song because I heard it on Longmire and I finally found it I really like it
Sue Natewa
Rusty Johnson: I watched some older movie and this song was on the list of the side track. Really fell in love with the song. Happy we like the same song with the other 9, :D Hope you are well. Take Care.
Rusty Johnson
@Sue Natewa thank you hope you are well too