Transcendental Blues

Steve Earle

What does it mean to live life to its fullest? It’s one of my little obsessions. Each day, how do we do it — how do we come close to being fulfilled? Steve Earle has been on the search since he dropped out of high school. Just a glance at his bio and you’ll see he’s already lived twenty turbulent lifetimes at 67. Steve sings with this beautiful, gnarly Texas twang in his songs, and I think he’s one of America’s greatest songwriters. So prolific and he just keeps going and going — evolving and changing. And he seems to have mastered what it means to jump back up after being knocked down.

I loved COPPERHEAD ROAD when it came out in ‘88. Then he disappeared. No google back then and I didn’t see anything in Rolling Stone. But I looked and I was mystified — it’s like he quit music. Five years later I find out he went to jail and was busy kicking heroin. But he had reemerged from the darkness with two landmark records I FEEL ALRIGHT and TRAIN A COMIN.

So hard to pick one song from Steve — there are so many — but this one jumps out as an unusually beautiful recording and mix — the title track from his 9th record. I love the many influences you can hear, yet it all works together. And I love his metaphysical pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. Even while it remains out of reach.

In the darkest hour of the longest night
If it was in my power I'd step into the light
Candles on the altar, penny in your shoe
Walk upon the water - transcendental blues

Happy ever after 'til the day you die
Careful what you ask for, you don't know 'til you try
Hands are in your pockets, starin' at your shoes
Wishin' you could stop it - transcendental blues

If I had it my way, everything would change
Out here on this highway the rules are still the same
Back roads never carry you where you want 'em to
They leave you standin' there with them ol'
Transcendental Blues