The brilliant Steve Earle (during what I think are his best songwriting days) performing 'Billy Austin' acoustic on the UK show "New Country" back in 1991.
Top notch spooky folk song...Mr Earle makes you believe every word, every syllable, and hang on his every breath while spinning this modern American tale of tragedy, woe, murder, & regret. In my opinion, Steve Earle is simply one of the best damned songwriters of all time, transcending category, genre, & musical styles with the greatest of ease, ability, & conviction....a true American legend.
Steve was in the midst of the darkness at this point. He and Townes were horribly destructive influences on each other in spite of their tragicomical efforts to "clean each other up". It happened the way it was supposed to, Townes died on New Years like he always said he would, Steve went down the drain and came back up purer and stronger than ever. The first 2 songs he wrote sober were "Goodbye" and "Fort Worth Blues". Hell, his best songwriting days are still ahead of him.
@ 5:37, chills every time. Steve is a real successor to the country and folk artists whose music really meant something and had something to say that is worth saying and needs hearing.
Steve was great with the Guitar Town and Copperhead Road type stuff, but I really love his later (post mid-90s), more introspective songs even more. He's one of the best artists the US has produced. Songs like this one must blow minds in the UK, home of probably the world's best audiences.
Seen him in concert more times than I can count since '89. This has always been my favorite song, but all his work is brilliant. Probably one of the most underrated musicians of this era.
"my name is billy austin, i'm 29 years old, i was born in oklahoma, quarter cheroke i'm told, don't rememver oklahoma, been so long since i left home, seems like i've always been in prison, like i've always been alone" i absolutely adore this song. it makes me cry!
This video is great. Steve Earle at what was his best songwriting days. I love this song and this performance. Yeah, he may have been on the junk, but his music has influenced me as a singer and songwriter. Gotta love Steve man.
This song always brings me back to when I discovered it. I was sleeping on a pool table in a flooded basement, and I would fall asleep listening to Steve Earle sing about ol Billy!
+thyamelate Strange how we look back at those rough times and consider them fun. The Band's music does that to me, I was fucked up as they come but I thought I was having a good time?? I love Steve Earle too, a brilliant musician, and yes, he too makes me think of those times and so happy that we (Steve and me and it sounds like you, as well) made it through them...
Steve seems like a great guy He can relate to most guys. No one heres him or what has to say. Listening to his lyrics the pain and suffering he has gone through no one knows....this comes from the heart....god if you haven't been hurt you don't know.... steve thank you for your music..emotion . Your terrific Amanda ..
I was privileged to see Steve Earle open the new Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. He was a last-minute sub for Richard Thompson, who had suffered a family emergency. I first saw Steve with the Dukes in '90 in Edinburgh and subsequently again with them in Chicago after the OTSOFM show. The show at OTSOFM was undoubtedly the finest one-man acoustic set I have ever witnessed. "Ellis Unit One" maybe the greatest anti-killing song ever made.
rich always find the best stuff....steve never fails, or failed, to put every bit of his wonderful soul into his music.....incredible singer/songwriter and just a real pleasure to see, saw him in Minneapolis in March, still looks great and the sound is so powerful....
as a recovering addict myself, i can tell you, life isn't easy high...it isn't easy sober for that matter, but God gave Steve Earle a special place in the world, thank heavens he lived to be a part of it all.
Wow!!! Absolutely freakin' amazing! The kind of performance that resonates and reverberates long after the song is over. Thanks for a great post! Cheers!
Steve Earle from the mid 90s onwards was just amazing! Great album after great album. Not that his early stuff was shabby. This is one of his CLASSICS!
Steve Earl is pure genius singer/song writer. Has the ability to take the listener to a very dark place where you are forced to take a long look in the mirror. This is one of his greatest works of creativity. Makes my skin crawl. Love him, period.
I remember watching this back when I was 17. For some reason, we had a telly in one of the rooms in our cadet hut. Secreting myself away from the mischief the others would have been getting, I'll never forget Steve perform. The performance left me chilled to the bone. The songs subject really sunk in.
From the beginning, and through every stage of his career, Steve Earle has written honest, relevant, extraordinary songs. He continues to do it right now. I don’t think the comparison is off-base.
It's no wonder the poor man had so many demons to fight - he actually lives the songs he writes and sings. Thank God he made it through with that brilliance intact.
OMG....I forgot about this song....WOW....yes....still brings chills to me. I love the concept about crossing the line....a line that we all have inside, and might just be able to cross ourselves one day....we are capable of amazing things....sometimes scary things !!! One of our best artists !!!
It was actually recorded and broadcast very early in 1991, I saw him 6 months later acoustic in London days before his lights went out and wow, did he look bad....
@unrepentant42 hello my friend! this is an incredible video and yes, God bless Steve, at this time he was in really bad shape, fighting his demons. Thank God he lived through it all and is still here with us, gracing our lives yet with his incredible talents.
@lisasullharr Steve DID write a collection of short stories, Doghouse Roses. It is fiction, but several stories clearly have biographical elements, especially the first, which is about an addicted country-rock musician.
