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.
You're The Best Lover That I Ever Had
Steve Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey baby let your hair hang down
Falling like soft rain all around
Hey honey put your lips on mine
Hey honey put your lips on mine
Smooth like silk and sweet like wine
Never had another kiss taste like that
You're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
Hey baby whisper in my ear
Hey baby whisper in my ear
Way up close so I can hear
Hey baby when you call my name
Hey baby when you call my name
The heavens shake and the angels sing
And I know it's a sin but I want you bad
You're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
Hey baby won't you let me in
Hey baby won't you let me in
It's cold out here and I'm shiverin'
Hey baby turn your light down low
Hey baby turn your light down low
Your mama and them and your man won't know
Well it breaks my heart when you treat me bad
But you're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
You're the best lover that I ever had
The lyrics of Steve Earle and the Dukes's song You're The Best Lover That I Ever Had speak to the intense physical attraction between two lovers. The song is structured around a call-and-response format, with each verse beginning with "Hey baby" and followed by a request from the singer to his lover. He implores her to let her hair down, put her lips on his, whisper in his ear, and let him in from the cold. The chorus repeats the refrain that she is the best lover he ever had, a sentiment that is echoed throughout the verses. The singer knows that their relationship is sinful and potentially dangerous, but he cannot resist the intense physical and emotional attraction he feels for his lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby let your hair hang down
Encouraging partner to relax and let loose
Falling like soft rain all around
Partner's hair falling gently like rain
Hey honey put your lips on mine
Asking partner for a kiss
Smooth like silk and sweet like wine
Lips feeling soft and tasting sweet
Never had another kiss taste like that
Comparing partner's kiss to others and it being the best
You’re the best lover that I ever had
Partner is the best lover they have ever had
Hey baby whisper in my ear
Asking partner to talk softly in their ear
Way up close so I can hear
Wanting partner to be close for intimacy
Hey baby when you call my name
Being pleased when partner calls their name
The heavens shake and the angels sing
Suggesting the pleasure they feel from partner's affection creates a heavenly feeling
And I know it’s a sin but I want you bad
Feeling guilty for wanting their partner
Hey baby won’t you let me in
Asking for physical intimacy
It’s cold out here and I’m shiverin’
Feeling cold and wanting warmth from partner
Hey baby turn your light down low
Asking partner to dim the lights for privacy
Your mama and them and your man won't know
Trying to keep the relationship a secret
Well it breaks my heart when you treat me bad
Feeling hurt by partner's mistreatment
You’re the best lover that I ever had
Despite the hurt, partner is still the best lover they have had
You’re the best lover that I ever had
Reiterating that partner is the best they have had
You’re the best lover that I ever had
Emphasizing that partner is the best they have had
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mosk666
I love this song, Steve (and I'm gonna learn it and play it very soon).
@AlaskaTrucker
Grew up listening to Copperhead Road, always did like this guy's work...
Keep'em Rolling Steve!
@llmiller8062
He just keeps getting better.
@joannehack7588
🔥
@zootman2020
another great tune by steve earle!!!
@lindapaszel8431
Fabulous Got me Moving again
@glenisnichols7335
I fell for Steve at first when I saw him on Tv in 1985. Have enjoyed his music through the years. Saw him when he came to NZ in 1990.
@1066Delboy
I love the feel of this tune. Cant wait to hear the whole album.
@2busysecretary
Pretty darn sure he would be the best lover anybody had!
@darlincommitme
2 Busy Secretary I suspect he may be a little too self centered to be a great lover. And I say that as a huge fan with a decades-long crush on the man. Even his love songs are really mostly about himself. Now Jason Isbell's "Cover Me Up"...