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.

When Will We Be Married
Steve Earle Lyrics

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When will we be married Molly
When will we be wed
When will we be bedded in the same bed

When will we be married Molly
When will we be wed
When will we be bedded in the same bed

You have your eye on Jimmy
Long Jimmy Lee
You have your eye on Jimmy
And a fine man he

You have your eye on Jimmy
But you'd better let him be
Because when you go, Molly-O
You'll be gone with me

When will we be married Molly
When will we be wed
When will we be bedded in the same bed

When will we be married Molly
When will we be wed
When will we be bedded in the same bed

You have your eye on Johnny
Thin Johnny Fee
You have your eye on Johnny
And a fine man he

You have your eye on Johnny
But you'd better let him be
'Cause when you go, Molly-O
You'll be gone with me

When will we be married Molly?
When will we be wed?
When will we be bedded in the same bed?

When will we be married Molly
When will we be wed
When will we be bedded in the same bed

I made a black bow for your pretty head
When will we be married Molly
When will we be wed
Made a black bow for your bonny head

When will we be married Molly
When will we be wed
When will we be bedded in the same bed

When will we be married Molly

When will we be wed
When will we be bedded in the same bed

Overall Meaning

The song "When Will We Be Married" by Steve Earle tells the story of a man named Molly who is being courted by other men, specifically Jimmy Lee and Johnny Fee. Molly is being warned by the singer that if she chooses to go with either man, she will be leaving him. The chorus, repeated twice throughout the song, is a plea from the singer to Molly, asking when they will be able to marry and be together.

The song is written from the perspective of a man who is deeply in love with Molly and anxious to make her his wife. The repetition of the chorus underscores his desire to be with her and his frustration with their inability to be together. The verses, on the other hand, highlight Molly's attachment to other men, suggesting that she may not share the singer's feelings.

Overall, the song portrays the pain and longing that comes with unrequited love, and the sense of urgency to make a commitment before it's too late.

Line by Line Meaning

When will we be married Molly
Steve Earle is inquiring about when he and Molly will finally get married

When will we be wed
Steve Earle is asking when he and Molly will officially become husband and wife

When will we be bedded in the same bed
Steve Earle is asking when he and Molly will finally have sex and share a bed together as a married couple

You have your eye on Jimmy
Steve Earle is addressing Molly's attraction to Jimmy

Long Jimmy Lee
Steve Earle is specifically mentioning the man that Molly is interested in

And a fine man he
Steve Earle acknowledges that Jimmy is a good catch

But you'd better let him be
Steve Earle is warning Molly not to pursue Jimmy

Because when you go, Molly-O
Steve Earle is saying that if Molly leaves with him, she won't be able to be with Jimmy

You'll be gone with me
Steve Earle is declaring that if Molly chooses to be with him, she will not be able to have a relationship with Jimmy

You have your eye on Johnny
Steve Earle is addressing Molly's attraction to Johnny

Thin Johnny Fee
Steve Earle is specifically mentioning the man that Molly is interested in

'Cause when you go, Molly-O
Steve Earle is repeating his warning to Molly not to pursue any other men

I made a black bow for your pretty head
Steve Earle is expressing his love for Molly through the gift of a black bow for her hair

Made a black bow for your bonny head
Steve Earle repeats his previous statement, this time using the word 'bonny' to describe Molly's head

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MICHAEL SCOTT, STEPHEN PATRICK WICKHAM, PD TRADITIONAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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