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.
What's Your Name
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll find my limo driver
Mister, take us to the show
I done made some plans for later on tonight
I'll find a little queen
And I know I can treat her right.
Chorus:
What's your name?
Shouldn't you stay, little girl?
Won't you do the same?.
Back at the hotel
Lord we got such a mess
It seems that one of the crew
Had a go with one of the guests, oh yes
Well, the police said we can't drink in the bar
What a shame
Won't you come upstairs girl
And have a drink of champagne
What's your name, little girl?
What's your name?
Shouldn't you stay, little girl?
For there ain't no shame.
Chorus x 2
9 o'clock the next day
And I'm ready to go
I got six hundred miles to ride
To do one more show, oh no
Can I get you a taxi home
It sure was grand
When I come back here next year
I wanna see you again
What was your name, little girl?
What's your name?
Shouldn't you stay, little girl?
Well there ain't no shame
What was your name, little girl?
What's your name?
Shouldn't you stay, little girl?
Won't you do the same?
The song "What's Your Name" by Steve Earle tells the story of a musician on tour who is looking for a little fun before his next show. The lyrics describe him in Boise, Idaho, looking for a "little queen" who he knows he can treat right. He invites her to his hotel room for champagne and a bit of fun, but the next morning, he leaves for his next show, asking her name and hoping to see her again next year.
On a deeper level, the lyrics reflect the lifestyle of a musician on the road and the fleeting, often shallow relationships that can come with it. The musician is looking for a fleeting connection with a girl, but doesn't even know her name. His behaviour is reckless, as evidenced by the mess in his hotel room after a member of his crew hooked up with a guest. The lyrics also suggest a sense of guilt or regret, as the musician offers to get the girl a taxi home and hopes to see her again next year.
Overall, the lyrics of "What's Your Name" reflect the loneliness, recklessness, and sometimes regretful nature of the touring musician's lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, its 8 o'clock in Boise, Idaho
It is currently 8 o'clock in Boise, Idaho.
I'll find my limo driver
I will locate my hired limousine driver.
Mister, take us to the show
I request that you transport us to the event venue, sir.
I done made some plans for later on tonight
I have already arranged for some activities later tonight.
I'll find a little queen
I will search for a young lady.
And I know I can treat her right.
I am confident that I will treat her well and kindly.
Chorus: What's your name, little girl? What's your name? Shouldn't you stay, little girl? Won't you do the same?
Chorus asking the young lady for her name and if she would like to stay with him.
Back at the hotel
After leaving the event venue, while at the hotel.
Lord we got such a mess
Oh my, we have quite a chaotic situation at the hotel.
It seems that one of the crew
Apparently, one of the workers/staff members is involved.
Had a go with one of the guests, oh yes
The staff member had sexual relations with one of the attendees, indeed.
Well, the police said we can't drink in the bar
The law enforcement officials informed us that the bar prohibits any further consumption of alcoholic beverages.
What a shame
What a pity or unfortunate situation.
Won't you come upstairs girl
Would you consider accompanying me to an upper floor, young lady?
And have a drink of champagne
We can drink champagne while on this floor.
9 o'clock the next day
It is now 9 o'clock the following morning.
And I'm ready to go
I am prepared to depart.
I got six hundred miles to ride
I have a journey of six hundred miles ahead of me.
To do one more show, oh no
I have to perform at one more event, oh dear.
Can I get you a taxi home
May I arrange transport for you to your living quarters?
It sure was grand
It was definitely splendid or marvelous.
When I come back here next year
When I revisit this location next year.
I wanna see you again
I would like to see you again.
Chorus x 2
Repeating chorus asking for the young lady's name and if she would like to stay with him.
Contributed by Gavin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.