1. Steve Youn… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists using the name Steve Young.
1. Steve Young (July 12, 1942 – March 17, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist, known for his song "Seven Bridges Road" (on Rock Salt & Nails & Seven Bridges Road). He was a pioneer of the country rock, Americana, and alternative country sounds, and also a vital force behind the "outlaw movement" that gave support to the careers of Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Jr. and more. Young was also featured in the 1975 Outlaw Country documentary Heartworn Highways. He was the subject of the song "The All Golden" by Van Dyke Parks. Young's first album, Rock Salt & Nails, on A&M, was performed on and supported by Gram Parsons, Gene Clark and other musicians from the 1969 musical community in Southern California.
Steve Young has never fit comfortably into categories. He follows his own musical and spiritual quest, weaving together Southern roots with a wide experience of life, and creating new traditions in American music.
Young was born in Georgia and grew up in Alabama, Georgia and Texas in a family which moved frequently in search of work. By the time he had completed high school in Beaumont, Texas, he was playing guitar and writing songs which incorporated influences of folk , country , gospel, and blues musicians and people like Hank Williams , Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and others. Once as a teenager he was blown away by seeing Carlos Montoya , a Flamenco Guitarist. He managed to use that too!
By his late teens, Young was back in Alabama, where he established some reputation on the local music scene. However, the wandering spirit soon took over again. He immersed himself briefly in the Greenwich Village folk scene, at a time when Bob Dylan and others were just being noticed.
Returning to Alabama, Steve found that "my New York folk-protest songs didn't fly in the South." Searching for more receptive audiences, he made short forays to California and other locations before moving to the West Coast in 1964.
In California, he worked with musicians like Van Dyke Parks and Stephen Stills, at one point holding a day job as a mailman. A major-label record deal led to a short-lived stint with a psychedelic country-folk band, Stone Country.
Settling into a solo career, Steve Young became an integral part of the movement which defined the California country-rock sound. Appearing on Steve's 1969 classic album, Rock, Salt & Nails were fellow pioneers like Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, Bernie Leadon and Gram Parsons.
Through 12 albums and countless live performances, Steve Young's music has remained fresh and aggressive, with a sense of deepening spirituality, and a consistent intellectual and artistic challenge, to himself and to his audience.
Many of the stars of the music industry have recorded Steve Young songs, and in some cases forged a career image around them. "Lonesome, Orn'ry & Mean," for example, became the signature tune for 'Outlaw' Waylon Jennings. Hank Williams Jr.'s cover of "Montgomery In The Rain" remains a classic.
Certainly the most-covered Steve Young song of all is "Seven Bridges Road," which has been recorded at various times by artists like Joan Baez, Rita Coolidge, Ian Matthews, the Eagles, Ricochet, and, most recently, Dolly Parton.
While Steve Young songs have brought commercial success to others, Young has never been close enough to the mainstream to sustain his occasional brushes with stardom . He has been unwilling to accept the loss of artistic control that the industry expects of its stars.
And while Steve has lived in country music towns like Nashville and Austin, and his songs have had a strong impact on the direction of country music, he rejects the country label for himself. Young is in many ways a cultural dynamic in himself.
Part Cherokee (from his father) by birth, steeped in Baptist fundamentalism as a child, yet attracted to a Zen spirituality, the young man from the South with a nomadic spirit went on to create a unique form of American roots music with a truly global perspective.
Steve Young has literally toured the world. He has performed in many countries of Europe, in Australia and New Zealand, in Micronesia, China and Mongolia, in Egypt and East Africa and beyond. Wherever he has gone, he has filled the dual role of ambassador for American music and student of the cultures of others.
Young's live performances express the depth and power of his vision. He draws on his own songs, on Southern folk songs from varied traditions, on collaborations and on the best of contemporary songwriters such as J.D. Loudermilk, David Olney and others.
Steve passed away on March 17, 2016 at age 73
2. 'Steve Young' is also a pseudonym of Peter Friel, ambient tape musician.
Montgomery In The Rain
Steve Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
MY LUCK AIN’T NEVER BEEN UP BUT I’M USED TO IT DOWN
SO ALL YOU PEOPLE DON’T LOOK AT ME AND FROWN
I DON’T WANT TO STAY HERE AND I’M JUST PASSING THROUGH YOUR TOWN
AND I JUST CAME BACK HERE TO SEE AN OLD STAINED WINDOW PANE
BEFORE YOU TEAR IT ALL DOWN AND BRING OUT YOUR CRANE
I DID WANT TO SEE MONTGOMERY I THE RAIN......
AROUND THESE STREETS AND OLD HOUSES ALOT OF CHANGES I BEEN THROUGH,
AND I ONCE MET A WOMAN HERE WITH WAYS LIKE I NEVER HAD SEEN
WE USED TO RAMBEL BETWEEN HERE AND OLD NEW ORLEANS
SO I’VE JUST COME BACK HERE TO REMEMBER A JOY AND A PAIN
TO LOOK BACK TO A YEAR THROUGH A TEAR IN AN OLD WINDOW PANE
AND I DID WANT TO SEE MONTGOMERY IN THE RAIN.....
SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIDE YOUR BABY YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO GET NO GUN
I KNOW I LOOK FUNNY TO YOU ALL HONEY BUT I’M JUST ONE
WHO WAS ONCE FROM HERE AND NOW WHOSE COME BACK AGAIN
AND I’M NOT ASKING FOR NOTHING BUT MY SONG A CEMETARY WIND
AND IF ITS ALL RIGHT WITH YOU BEFORE I GET BACK ON Y TRAIN
I WANT TO GO OUT BY HANK’S TOMBSTONE AND CRY UP A THUNDER STORM CHAIN,
CAUSE I DID WANT TO SEE MONTGOMERY IN THE RAIN.......
The lyrics of "Montgomery In The Rain" by Steve Young convey a sense of nostalgia and longing. The singer is back in Montgomery, Alabama, a place where they have experienced both highs and lows. The repeated refrain of wanting to see Montgomery in the rain suggests that the singer is seeking an emotional release or renewal. The rain may symbolize a cleansing or cathartic event that could help the singer move on from past experiences.
The second verse, in particular, emphasizes the singer's personal history in Montgomery. They've gone from "the top of the town" to "washing cars" and have even had an intense romantic relationship in the past. The singer is clearly trying to reconnect with a time and place that holds significant meaning for them, even if the people they encounter in Montgomery now look down on them.
The final verse suggests that the singer feels like a bit of an outsider, but they still have a connection to the area through the music of Hank Williams. The singer asks for nothing more than to cry out a "thunderstorm chain" by Hank's tombstone before they leave again. This is a powerful image of release and catharsis that underscores the emotion present throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
WELL HERE I AM AGAIN DOWN IN MONTGOMERY ALABAM
I have returned to Montgomery, Alabama once again.
MY LUCK AIN’T NEVER BEEN UP BUT I’M USED TO IT DOWN
I am accustomed to my luck never being good.
SO ALL YOU PEOPLE DON’T LOOK AT ME AND FROWN
Please do not judge or criticize me for being here.
I DON’T WANT TO STAY HERE AND I’M JUST PASSING THROUGH YOUR TOWN
I have no intention of staying here; I am merely passing through.
AND I JUST CAME BACK HERE TO SEE AN OLD STAINED WINDOW PANE
I returned to see a particular old window before it is torn down.
BEFORE YOU TEAR IT ALL DOWN AND BRING OUT YOUR CRANE
I fear the window I want to see may be destroyed soon.
I DID WANT TO SEE MONTGOMERY I THE RAIN......
Seeing Montgomery in the rain was a desire of mine.
AROUND THESE STREETS AND OLD HOUSES A LOT OF CHANGES I BEEN THROUGH
I have experienced many changes around these streets and houses.
FROM THE TOP OF THE TOWN TO WASHING CARS , BEING DOWN OUT AND BLUE
I have experienced both good and bad times in this town, from highs to lows.
AND I ONCE MET A WOMAN HERE WITH WAYS LIKE I NEVER HAD SEEN
I once met a woman here who had a unique personality.
WE USED TO RAMBLE BETWEEN HERE AND OLD NEW ORLEANS
She and I used to travel between here and New Orleans together.
SO I’VE JUST COME BACK HERE TO REMEMBER A JOY AND A PAIN
I returned to recall both happy and sad memories from the past.
TO LOOK BACK TO A YEAR THROUGH A TEAR IN AN OLD WINDOW PANE
I want to remember a specific year, which will be emotional for me.
AND I DID WANT TO SEE MONTGOMERY IN THE RAIN.....
Seeing this town in the rain is a crucial part of my memories here.
SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIDE YOUR BABY YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO GET NO GUN
I am not a threat, so there is no need to hide your children or arm yourself.
I KNOW I LOOK FUNNY TO YOU ALL HONEY BUT I’M JUST ONE
I may appear odd or out of place, but I am just one person.
WHO WAS ONCE FROM HERE AND NOW WHOSE COME BACK AGAIN
I am someone who is returning to my hometown.
AND I’M NOT ASKING FOR NOTHING BUT MY SONG A CEMETARY WIND
All I want is to hear the song of the wind at the cemetery.
AND IF ITS ALL RIGHT WITH YOU BEFORE I GET BACK ON Y TRAIN
If it is acceptable to you, I would like to visit a cemetery before leaving town.
I WANT TO GO OUT BY HANK’S TOMBSTONE AND CRY UP A THUNDER STORM CHAIN
I want to visit Hank's tombstone and cry aloud as a symbolic act of mourning.
CAUSE I DID WANT TO SEE MONTGOMERY IN THE RAIN.......
Witnessing Montgomery in the rain was a key part of my emotional return to this town.
Contributed by Sebastian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Camilla Franklin
This, is, the greatest roots rock of all time. Not only was Steve Young a great vocalist, song writer, he was also an amazing guitar player!
Calnon Hardy
Camilla Franklin An incredible guitar player. Country Soul personified.
Jim Gilkeson
A memory of Steve Young: a couple of nights at the Exit Inn in Nashville in the early '70s, I went to hear Josh Graves, the dobro player who played on the album "Seven Bridges Road" by Steve Y. Both times, Josh gets partly into his set and looks out into the audience, acts all surprised and says, "Well, I'll be darned! There a friend of mine . . . let's invite him up to the stage and have him sing a song or two." Of course, it's Steve Young and he comes onstage, hooks his thumbs in his belt loops and sings. He was surprisingly little and he had a huge voice. Great singer, great songs.
Sven E.
Great story. Thanks.
obscurehack
RIP. I exchanged emails with him before he died and he was such an encouraging, amazing talent.
Zimmy Van Zandt
I had the pleasure of exchanging emails with Steve too. He was very polite and encouraging in helping me perform and record. One of a kind and a very special guy for me. Thanks Steve. 🌻💛🎼
katson6
Watching with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. RIP Steve...3-17-2016
Philip Earl McG
what a great song. Hank Jr. did a great cover.
jason horkoff
Philip Earl McG thank you for your recognition of the new south version of this beauty
Camilla Franklin
I Have never understood, how a man who was one of the greatest song writers, guitar players, and most certainly the finest vocalists, has been so ignored. Shame Shame!