@@dianeduvall6907 both are superb poets, Dylan had a universal reach but couldn’t sing for shit, Steve Earle is for the men who have had the rough of life and as a male that falls into the latter, Mr Earle will always be the greatest songwriter and singer of his genre. Dylan fans shop at wal mart, Earle fans shop at Salvation army
I have read so many comments, and I am just so very grateful that people listen to stuff like this. I heard this song a long time ago and still love it. My thoughts on this song are that of my own, but thank all of those who listen to real country music.And thank you Steve Earl for such deep lyrics, with great instrumentals.
Saw Steve last night, solo acoustic set in Wellington, New Zealand; stand up crowd in a bar. Man's a musician not a rock star. Got to be said, the bar bar was jam packed.
Really great storyteller Steve Earl is. Disclaimer: We in the comment section apologize to the really good music lovers for Lady Gaga's face being wrongly posted on left hand side while real music is playing. Please not that we in the comment section take no responsibility for thise tragic mishap.
Guy Clark has been known to write a few songs! I wish I was in Austin In the Chili Par lour Bar Drinking' Mad Dog Margaritas And not caring' where you are But here I sit in Dublin Just rollin' cigarettes Holdin' back and chokin' back The shakes with every breath Chorus Forgive me all my anger Forgive me all my faults There's no need to forgive me For thinking' what I thought I loved you from the git go I'll love you till I die I loved you on the Spanish steps
My name is Billy Austin I'm Twenty-Nine years old I was born in Oklahoma Quarter Cherokee I'm told Don't remember Oklahoma Been so long since I left home Seems like I've always been in prison Like I've always been alone Didn't mean to hurt nobody Never thought I'd cross that line I held up a filling station Like I'd done a hundred times The kid done like I told him He lay face down on the floor Guess I'll never know what made me Turn and walk back through that door The shot rang out like thunder My ears rang like a bell No one came runnin' So I called the cops myself Took their time to get there And I guess I could'a run I knew I should be feeling something But I never shed tear one I didn't even make the papers 'Cause I only killed one man But my trial was over quickly And then the long hard wait began Court appointed lawyer Couldn't look me in the eye He just stood up and closed his briefcase When they sentenced me to die Now my waitin's over As the final hour drags by I ain't about to tell you That I don't deserve to die But there's twenty-seven men here Mostly black, brown and poor Most of em are guilty Who are you to say for sure? So when the preacher comes to get me And they shave off all my hair Could you take that long walk with me Knowing hell is waitin' there Could you pull that switch yourself sir With a sure and steady hand Could you still tell youself That you're better than I am My name is Billy Austin I'm twenty-nine years old I was born in Oklahoma Quarter Cherokee I'm told Songwriters: Steve Earle
Hi mate! I'm Frank and I'm french. I've known this song for so long. When I was about twelve, I did read a report in a famous french magazine, Paris Match. The first six or seven first pages were devoted to a reporter writing about an execution in the US. This made me sick but I read it throughout. This has marked my life forever. When I first heard Billy Austin it made immediate echo to the deep unease I had felt from reading of this execution ( on the electric chair). I was sad and at the same time, I felt happy from a US songwriter to talk about how horrible it is for a man to die that way. I think you have a problem there with violence in America. It's about time you start putting your guns down. Otherwise, you will never be free. Great song, lyrics and music. Steve Earle right up there with the best.
(With a sure and steady hand? Could you still tell yourself sir that your better than I am? ) Maybe he is responsible and Maybe the chair is the right or necessary thing to deal with man. However your statement causes me to assume uv never killed much let alone a man. Cuz anyone who could pull that switch and remain with a sure steady hand is someone just as dangerous and soleless as Billy. Just saying let's not pretend that the question asked directly is one to be answered so easily and cold. Steve has another great song that we could do well to remember. Have mercy. We'd do well to have more of it and a few less switches to pull.
Love this song but have to think about the murdered folk that gets people on the death row. If one of my loved ones was murdered then yes ' I could pull the switch sir'.
putting somebody on deathtrow costs about 10 times as much compared to giving somebody life without parole ,has something to do with the rights for numerous apeals , case reopenings and what more and no chance to kill an innocent or falsely accused
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This could've been me last year. Deep in my alcohol and heroin addiction. I've robbed and stolen. But last year in Reno an Angel came to save me from doing worse than I could've done. I'm 14 months clean now
Leave it to Steve! Personal life of pain and heartbreak yet he marches on... One of the most prolific songwriters of our generation! God bless the man....
Last day of been been 29. I always remembered this song cuz my family played it growing up. The whole time I’ve been 29 this song hits my mind, from now on it might hit different, feel like I’m getting old lol. But naw this song will always hold a spot in my heart
Back in the 90's, I can't remember the exact year, On a friends recommendation, I went to see a solo Steve Earle at the 'old' Riverside music venue (behind the now long gone Tyne-Tees TV studios) in Newcastle upon Tyne, N.E. England. I didn't know any of his songs at the time (I am now a big fan and have seen him and the band on many occasions). I was very impressed with his songs and enjoyed a good night. This the song that stood out for me, remember I had never heard S.E. before. I stood 6 feet away from him when he sang this song with such emotion and sincerity I was just mesmerised. I will remember that night and the sentiment of the song for ever.
Saw Steve Earle live with my dad probably around 1990 this song was so powerful and emotional I had to get up from the show and go to the bathroom had me weeping in public
Brilliant! One of the greats in my book! This one still gives me goose bumps. Saw him at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, '91. Brilliant! (Will T. Massey opened, not too shabby himself.)
LYRICS My name is Billy Austin I'm twenty-nine years old I was born in Oklahoma Quarter Cherokee I'm told Don't remember Oklahoma It's been so long since I left home Seems like I've always been in prison Like I've always been alone Didn't mean to hurt nobody Never thought I'd cross that line I held up a filling station Like I'd done a hundred times The kid done like I told him He lay face down on the floor Guess I'll never know what made me Turn and walk back through that door The shot rang out like thunder My ears rang like a bell No one came running And so I called the cops myself Took their time to get there And I guess I could'a run I knew I should be feeling something But I never shed tear one I didn't even make the papers Because I only killed one man But my trial was over quickly And then the long hard wait began Court appointed lawyer Couldn't look me in the eye He just stood up and closed his briefcase When they sentenced me to die And now my waiting's over As the final hour drags by I ain't about to tell you That I don't deserve to die There's twenty-seven men here Mostly black and brown and poor And most of 'em are guilty And who are you to say for sure? So when the preacher comes to get me And they shave off all my hair Could you take that long walk with me Knowing Hell's waiting there? Could you pull that switch yourself, sir With a sure and steady hand? Could you still tell yourself, sir That you're better than I am? [Outro] My name is Billy Austin I'm twenty-nine years old I was born in Oklahoma Quarter Cherokee I'm told
I've been listening to this song since it was first released and I stumbled upon it by accident on one a CASSETTE TAPE, however, this is the first video that I have ever seen for it. When was it made? This is a great, emotional song and I'm pleased to see that someone has finally attempted to create a meaningful video. Earle never received the acclaim that he should have for this masterpiece of a song.
About 6 years ago now, my Dad showed me this song when Copperhead Road showed up on the radio. He told me that true folk music is about telling the story of a man most wouldn't give a second thought to, but who lived a life that any of us could have lived, if we made a few more mistakes. He told me that men of the working class love Copperhead Road because it's an anthem about giving a middle finger to the lawgivers and jackboots who try to tell ordinary men what to do, but most of them never see the other side of the coin, or hear the quiet desperation of the man who wasn't lucky, who didn't make the cut, who couldn't handle the suffering, who wasn't made hard by his experiences, who only looked for a way to stay alive, until one day he looked for a way out. We need to think more about the Billy Austins of the world; who sat with 27 men in their final days, before joining the legions of other unlucky ordinary men who fell on the wrong side of the powers that be. We need to remember that John Lee Pettimore would die like his granddaddy did, burning in a big black dodge, or like Billy Austin, with 10 000 volts in a steel chair.
Steve was always the underdog in the music industry and perpetually underestimated time and time again , He was used to hard knox and had many demons he overcame though his songwriting stands as a testament to his incredible genius and devil may give a shit attitude ! You either love him or hate him either way he will show them up every time !
Whenever I am asked who my favorite artist is of all time his name pops up immediately every time, however, I refrain from saying it out loud because I love and respect so many but at the core of me it is him. I love Townes, Clark, and all his mentors as well and the only groupie thing I ever did was go to his office on music row and pose as an intern for a friend in the business to pick up product for a fictitious festival booking and as I walked into the receptionists' office to pick up the cds he walked in and said hello and nodded, I thought my knees would buckle when my eyes looked into his but I played it cool and said hello back, stated to the secretary why I was there and she handed the product to me and I left. I'll never forget it as long as I live as it made my day, my week, my year to meet a living legend so casually. The man who set me up to meet him in this manner took his own life last year and I wish I could have thanked him one last time for this opportunity...May you rest in peace Rusty.
The greatest writer ever. The most important writer of our time. He IS our Dylan. The world is a better place because of him. What a fuckin great song. Peace to you Steve!!!!!!
@barrj2007 You must have missed the line that reads "I'm not about to say I don't deserve to die." This song is about the experience of a death row inmate and capital punishment and nowhere implies there shouldn't be prisons. The song is intended to present an alternate viewpoint on the issue and get people to think- in some cases getting people to think is far too much to ask.
learned this song on my guitar last week... promise I made to my father in-law that said I'd never do it.. BTW; dad.. I taught myself to play the guitar.........
+Anthony Gioviannia good for you T ,gotta show them father-in-laws that their daughters made the right choice ,, even knowing this song shows me she made the right choice ,, strum on brother
if u can look up a song called "one second chance" cant remember the man who sang it , but its based on his true story of rebuilding his life after prison. edit : its by Jeff Bates the 10 minute one has his full story as a voice over. the 5 minute one should be just the song
I'm a 52yr old rock & metal addict but still remember the first time i bought this cassette, just blew me away how it made me think about the stupidity of decisions made , regretted & payback time for your actions.
steve earle is the most significant singer/songwriter since woody guthrie, he uses the form of music to, promote his beliefs and politics, I do not agree with steve on immigration, but, he has made me look at the death penalty issue through this song. No, I am in no way worthy to pull the switch on anybody considering the life I have lived
Great song, but you damn right I could pull the switch to Billy Austin. Fuck you for killing an innocent person. This video is terrible and is not worthy of the song. Should have just left it alone.
+Jeff Thompson I think the reason they chose this video was to show how happy a loving family can be and how it would be destroyed if someone was murdered beacause of the bond
@850ovlov Is this english? If you speak english as an alternate language I do not to be rude. I would seriously engage you in conversation and likely do not know your language. If english is your first language I do not feel we would ever reach a mutual understanding due to our different levels of cognitive and rhetorical abillity.
His openness about his addiction ect ,his insight ,his losses of loved ones. His integrity and humanity add to his / of perhaps are his genius. I'd love to find an Australian song written like him. The late Archie Roach and perhaps Kasey Chambers are some where up there.
+wheelmanstan yeah, but understand Steve Earle went PC Communist Leftist Lib - just to appeal to the NYC/Hollywood media elites that hate the South. It's called taking the "30 pieces of silver" Steve Earle is a traitor to our people.... but his best music from the 80s is really, really great.
yeah but the guy just walked back in and shot the kid who was face down on the floor, I'm not saying he deserved the chair, but it doesn't sound like much of an accident, he murdered that kid, he might not deserve the death penalty as he did turn himself in, but quite a few really need to leave this planet and I'll never understand why some people want to end the death penalty
Jim Holroyd well it's not like they're hanging them in the town square which I bet would help lower the murder rate, the more violent areas have the more violent people, the death penalty isn't about scaring violent offender, many would rather die than serve life in prison, it's about keeping murders from ever getting the opportunity to do it again
Yes will never be no other Steve Earle and the dukes music come from the heart got listen more once. I love video middle part true. I alway picture his I hear him singing in concert. A plus song. Steve Earle music will live forever. I believe in him front second record I love first record. Music I love hear. My brother Steve use take my tapes I always buy new ones. Greatest all record and music sings god bless him and the first Dukes .
Love this song copper head rd. 3;20am gotta hear it.first maybe six before my brother died at 61 we both all types of music never could on music. Stations thank who ever put music to us who where not in the know about steve earl. I have been reading all post about this song. Ya' all seem. To be from. The mtns. Thats cool & i seem alittle older im totaly. Down with believing. In what vou got with m.shine. check the "band" last waltz. Rick danko also plays mandolin.
When I was doing hard time in Arizona's super max prison, I finally got to work a job as a porter on Death Row. It opened my eyes. I began to realize just how lucky I was. Three years earlier I was involved in a shooting in South Scottsdale. Were it not for two dedicated paramedics and the miracle of modern medicine, I could have easily ended up on "The Row". Every time I hear "Billy Austin" I think "But for the grace of God"....................................
Good song about the death penalty tye only Way id be able to die is from the main street vetranarial hospital in adventure City however I go to Royal road vet so I won't die and im not a human by the way im a dog
@850ovlov If Steve Earle was only interested in money, he would be a much richer man. I do think he has made some decisons (such as letting his music be used for a couple commercials) for money since his last marriage, but he is certainly not a superstar and still sings about the same themes. If anything he is more, not less, explicit about his opiions, and that has lost him fans and money, not gained them.
Been a fan of Earle since his first single Someday in 1986. Been a fan of Springsteen since I saw the river tour in 1981. Both have the ability to captivate you with their stories. Scottish born Austrailian Eric Bogle is another one of these gifted souls.
@@donknight2832 It's a shame he got into drugs so badly. I think he's got way more talent than Springsteen, Dylan, Tom Petty, or any of those 'Americana' writers. I can't stop listening to Steve Earle, but I can't sit and listen to those guys much.
@@americanpig-dog7051 Some of his best songs were written in jail, an experience he may not have had access to without the heroine addiction, which he seems to have kicked. I love that he has done his own thing regardless of what the critics had to say. In Canada he has been too country for rock and too rock for country. He is one of the best story tellers of our generation.
Shot i am 39 and have been listening to steve earle since i was 13. And he is the bom i love his music always and forever. Billy Austin is a wild song to be honest but its one.of my favorites. We love ya Steve music is awesome and great
