i've been a huge fan of Steve Earle's for a hundred years, we both hail from the same part of Texas and, to me, he is the greatest singer songwriter alive..but,that's just me....a wonderful person, real inspiration to many..and yes, it is a blessing God gave him a second chance at life....
This is so high on my list of favourite performances of all time. I'm not even sure why, really. I've seen Steve live a couple times, and he's always good, but this is something else. The robustness of his playing, the richness and timbre of his voice... it's just spellbinding. I've probably seen this at least 500 times over the last 15 years.
That was some beautiful picking! Makes me want to pick up a guitar again. If only I could sing :( And thanks to Steve for getting and staying clean so we can have him around to hear these beautiful songs.
At 13, Earle was jamming with Guy Clarke and Townes Van Zandt, great troubadour, just happy he is still alive....there was a long period of his life where his odds of another year was probably single digits. True American great
He uses Open D tuning, with the capo at the 2nd fret obviously. He alternates both low D's with his thumb, which is the hard part if you are unfamiliar with finger picking, at least to do so effectively and to stay in rhythm. Steve and Townes are two of the greatest. Thanks so much for showing this. I get more and more blown away each time I listen to it. Simply amazing.
yep, you are right, i've had the joy of seeing Steve twice now on the Townes tour....just wish i could see him every week!!! steve earle is incredible in a thousand different ways.....i've loved him forever and ever.....and, isn't he just a cute feller????
I can't think of a better way to spend 5 minutes of my time. I'm so glad Steve's still here. He fills in a Musical Gap that was missing in my heart, along with peolple like Guy Clark, Playing for Change and a guy named Mike Sinatra. WOW!
Funny, I can hear Tom Rush doing this - its a classic chassis for a song - and I did hear Townes do it to end a show back in '94, just solo in a little town in a little folk joint, without a band, and his eyes welled up with tears at the end of it, like mine are now...
Does anyone know how to put this to an mp3? I'm rying to get it on guitar...would love to be able to play along to it (internet is tough in Africa!) If so, email me!
I love everything about this song, but… It sure would have sounded better if they would have mic'd his guitar instead of playing through the guitar's electronics. Come on fellas… How long does it take to run another mic?
@garywhite67 Steve says here Townes was ONE of the best, not the best. I am sure he would include the others in the list. Arguments about "best" are subjective, but to say Townes only wrote a couple good songs? Do you know his music? He nver made it big, but I have read an interview in which Kris praised his music and would be willing to bet Dylan respected him as well.
I don't think this has anything to do with political correctness, but the complexity of telling Townes's story in a soundbite. For one thing, there were mental issues as well as alcoholism, but some debate among family and friends about the specific diagnosis.
@johnnycanada Sure he talks a lot of Politics, but wouldn't it be cool to spend an hour or 2 talking 1 on 1 with Steve? No one else around, no cameras or mic's.
Fucking political correctness pisses me off ! Why is Letterman so afraid of just telling the damned truth about a man's life ? What's wrong with Americans ?
townes was not the best songwriter steve.come on now.ever heard of kris kristofferson.townes couldnt tie his shoes.for steve to think townes was better then kris is just plain stupid.and i could go on.bob dylan. lennon mc cartney.townes had a couple good songs thats it steve.
Gary is just plain and stupid. To disgrace TVZ, you have a special place in hell. Kris doesn’t have a single good song and you claim Townes only has a couple.
If you're still alive I hope you have profitably spent the last 10 years researching into the catalogue of Townes Van Zandt.Kris Kristofferson virtually worshipped TVZ.Dylan even had TVZ do him an individual concert in Austin,and wanted to do songs with him.You are an ignorant man,Gary.I do hope you have grown up.
