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.
Where I Lead Me
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I need me I will call me
I'm no fool, I'll be ready
God knows I will be
And in the meantime make a little money
And buy a little mercy
Met this morning, now he loves me
It must be easy, look around you
All around you
But you see the motion, you're not movin'
You don't know how to hold on
Just keep it loose
Don't get excited, it'll pass before long
Now one is goin' one is stayin'
One is silent one is saying'
Here's your coat, take care of yourself
Sorry you're leavin'
A little sad you're all I had
Will you be returnin'
The boys upstairs are gettin' hungry
You can shout in the wind about how it will be
Or you can clench your fist, shake your head
And head to the country
I got no doubt about it my friend
That's where they'll find me
That's where they're gonna find me
Ask the boys down in the gutter
Now they won't lie cause you don't matter
The street's just fine if you're good and blind
But it ain't where you belong
Roll down your sleeves, pick up your money
And carry yourself home
Roll down your sleeves, pick up your money
And carry yourself home
The song "Where I Lead Me" by Steve Earle describes a person's journey through life, making their own decisions and taking charge of their own destiny. The first stanza, "Where I lead me I will travel, Where I need me I will call me, I'm no fool, I'll be ready, God knows I will be" shows the confidence of the singer in making their own choices and being prepared for any situation that comes their way. They do not rely on anyone else but themselves, as indicated by the desire to "buy a little mercy" and make money in the meantime.
The second stanza introduces a male character who claims to love the singer, but the singer seems hesitant to fully commit to the relationship. They observe the world around them and recognize the need to keep moving and not get too attached or bogged down. The third stanza brings up the idea of leaving and saying goodbye, but also the hope of returning. The uncertainty of whether they will come back or not adds to the sense of independence and self-determination found throughout the song.
The final stanza brings up the idea of societal expectations and conformity versus individuality. The singer implores the listener to not get caught up in the street life, but rather to take control of their own destiny and carry themselves home. There is a sense of rebellion against societal norms and a desire to forge one's own path in life.
Overall, "Where I Lead Me" is a song about taking control of one's own life and not relying on anyone else to lead the way. It is about being independent and forging one's own path, despite the pressures of conformity and societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Where I lead me I will travel
I will go wherever my intuition takes me.
Where I need me I will call me
I will recognize when I need to take care of myself and prioritize my own needs.
I'm no fool, I'll be ready
I am not naive and will be prepared for anything that comes my way.
God knows I will be
I have faith that I will be able to handle whatever life throws at me.
And in the meantime make a little money
While I am on my journey, I will also work hard to earn a living.
And buy a little mercy
I will use the money I earn to offer help and kindness to others who may need it.
Met this morning, now he loves me
Someone may claim to love me quickly and easily.
Say's he loves me
They will express their love with words.
It must be easy, look around you
Their love is very common and not unique or special.
All around you
Many people are in similar situations of superficial love.
But you see the motion, you're not movin'
Despite feeling like I need to do something, I am stuck and not making any progress.
You don't know how to hold on
I am unsure of how to handle this situation and cannot find a solution.
Just keep it loose
I should avoid getting too attached to this person or situation, and instead keep it casual.
Don't get excited, it'll pass before long
Don't get carried away with emotions, as this relationship or feeling will not last very long.
Now one is goin' one is stayin'
People in my life are constantly leaving and staying.
One is silent one is saying'
Some express their thoughts and feelings while others stay quiet.
Here's your coat, take care of yourself
Here is some space for you to leave and take care of yourself.
Sorry you're leavin'
I am disappointed that you are leaving.
A little sad you're all I had
I am a bit upset, as you are the only person I had in my life.
Will you be returnin'
I wonder if you will come back one day.
The boys upstairs are gettin' hungry
My roommates or coworkers are hungry and need to eat.
You can shout in the wind about how it will be
You can dream and hope for the future, but it may not be attainable.
Or you can clench your fist, shake your head
You can act tough and strong in the face of adversity.
And head to the country
You can ignore the chaos of the city and find peace in the countryside.
I got no doubt about it my friend
I am confident and certain that this is what I should do.
That's where they'll find me
That is where I am happiest and most comfortable.
Ask the boys down in the gutter
If you want the truth, ask someone living in tough circumstances.
Now they won't lie cause you don't matter
They will be honest with you because they do not feel threatened or intimidated.
The street's just fine if you're good and blind
If you close your eyes to the reality of the situation, everything may seem alright.
But it ain't where you belong
Despite the apparent safety and security of the streets, it is not a suitable place for you.
Roll down your sleeves, pick up your money
Cover yourself up and take the money you earned.
And carry yourself home
Take care of yourself and return to your safe space.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN TOWNES VAN ZANDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind