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.

Walkin' in L.A.
Steve Earle Lyrics

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When you're walkin' in LA
Everybody knows that you're down
Nobody walks anywhere, any other way
In this lonesome town
Nothin' separatin' you and the street
But a dollar and the shoes on your feet
When you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA

When you're walkin' in LA
Ain't nobody knows you're alive
'Cause you're only as good in this city, they say
As the car you drive
Rolling by all shiny and new
Ain't nothin' that a poor boy can do
When you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA

18-wheelers rollin' by up on the 405
But I ain't goin' anywhere 'cause I ain't got a ride

When you're walkin' in LA
Everybody passes you by
Maybe glance up in the rearview mirror and say
"Who's that poor guy?"
And you're starin' at the taillights again
Of a a winter show Mercedes-Benz
When you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA

Ladies and gentlemen, Johnny Bush!

[?] cruisin' up and down the 405
Back to earth on Monday morning, think they've got it all

When you're walkin' in LA
You might as well lay down and die
'Cause nothing's gonna be all right anyway
No matter how hard you try
A pedestrian Beverly Hills
Hang out in a place for goin' downhill
When you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA
When you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA, when you're walkin' in LA

When you're walkin' in LA

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Steve Earle's song "Walkin' in LA" provide a stark portrayal of the challenges and social dynamics of navigating the city of Los Angeles on foot. The song highlights the disparity between those who drive in the city and those who have no choice but to rely on walking as their means of transportation.

The first verse emphasizes the isolation and vulnerability of walking in LA. While everyone is aware of your presence, there is a sense of being looked down upon as a pedestrian. The lyrics convey the idea that in a city where driving is the norm, walking is seen as inferior, and those who walk are perceived as being downtrodden.

The second verse delves into the emphasis placed on material possessions and the car culture in LA. Your worth in the city is determined by the car you drive, with the assumption being that the richer and more successful you are, the newer and more luxurious your car will be. This societal expectation alienates those who cannot afford a car and forces them to exist on the fringes of society.

The chorus repeats the notion of walking in LA, emphasizing the isolation, insignificance, and struggle of being a pedestrian in a city dominated by cars. The lyrics imply that no matter how hard you try or how much you strive, walking in LA will always leave you feeling disconnected and hopeless.

In the final verse, the song emphasizes the contrast between the glamorous image of LA and the reality of its streets. High-end vehicles speed past, oblivious to the pedestrian experience. The lyrics suggest that despite the glitz and glamour, LA can be a cold and uncaring place for those without a car.

Overall, "Walkin' in LA" is a commentary on the social and economic divisions inherent in a car-dominated city like Los Angeles. It paints a picture of a city where the car is not only a means of transportation but also a symbol of status and worth, leaving those on foot feeling marginalized and invisible.

Line by Line Meaning

When you're walkin' in LA
When you're navigating the streets of Los Angeles on foot

Everybody knows that you're down
Everyone can tell that you're struggling

Nobody walks anywhere, any other way
People in this city rarely walk, if at all

In this lonesome town
In this isolated and lonely urban environment

Nothin' separatin' you and the street
There's nothing between you and the pavement

But a dollar and the shoes on your feet
Except for the small amount of money you have and the footwear you possess

Ain't nobody knows you're alive
No one recognizes or acknowledges your existence

'Cause you're only as good in this city, they say
Because your worth and status are determined solely by the car you drive

As the car you drive
The type and condition of your vehicle

Rolling by all shiny and new
Passing by in brand-new and gleaming cars

Ain't nothin' that a poor boy can do
There's nothing a financially disadvantaged person can do to change this situation

18-wheelers rollin' by up on the 405
Large trucks are driving nearby on the highway known as the 405

But I ain't goin' anywhere 'cause I ain't got a ride
However, I cannot go anywhere because I do not have a means of transportation

Everybody passes you by
Everyone rushes past you

Maybe glance up in the rearview mirror and say
They might briefly look at you through their car's rearview mirror and comment

"Who's that poor guy?"
"Who is that unfortunate individual?"

And you're starin' at the taillights again
You find yourself once again fixated on the lights of cars driving away

Of a winter show Mercedes-Benz
Specifically, the taillights of an expensive Mercedes-Benz car

[?] cruisin' up and down the 405
People in luxury cars driving leisurely on the 405

Back to earth on Monday morning, think they've got it all
However, they come back down to reality on Monday morning, believing they have everything figured out

You might as well lay down and die
You might feel so hopeless that you think it's better to give up

'Cause nothing's gonna be all right anyway
Because nothing will turn out well regardless of your efforts

No matter how hard you try
Regardless of the amount of effort you put in

A pedestrian Beverly Hills
A person on foot in the affluent neighborhood of Beverly Hills

Hang out in a place for goin' downhill
Lingering in a location associated with decline or worsening circumstances

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steve Earle

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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