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.
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.
@ 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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
"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!
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 ..
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.
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....
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.
Wow!!! Absolutely freakin' amazing! The kind of performance that resonates and reverberates long after the song is over. Thanks for a great post! Cheers!
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.
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.
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 !!!
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!
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....
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.
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.
@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.
Not from I have read in interviews and his biographies. He might have stopped for a little while when you talked to him (or been lying to you/himself,) but he and his sister have both said in interviews that he was not only using dope, but had escalated to crack by this point. He had used off and on since he was a teen. He pretty much dropped out of sight by 92. I have a bootleg from March '91, where he sings CCKMP for the first time, and the song says cocaine is not enough any more.
@nonirockify Yep - it is easy to misunderstand or be misunderstood in these brief comments. Peace. Enjoy the music. Hope you get to see him this tour. I saw him a few weeks ago and am loving the new band.
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.
Dude, Townes died in 1997, by which point Steve had been sober for several years. How many videos do you spread bullshit on?
I absolutely agree 💯
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.
@ 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.
Words can't do it justice. Steve Earle is in a class by himself. He did a bluegrass album, The Mountain, that is amazing.
Magic from a living legend
amen
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.
"I didn't make the papers, cos I only killed one man...." Genius at his best!!
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.
Not afraid to admit it, damn this song sends a shiver down my spine and tear down my cheek everytime. Beautiful.
Stark and haunting .Only Steve Earle could write this
One man. One guitar. The power to change the world.
the boy was dope sick and could still play a guitar and sing like no other on earth....God bless his soul and thanks to God for sparing him for us...
You better believe it! Thank you Steve for this song, and THANK GOD for sparing the one and only HARD-CORE TROUBADOUR (STEVE EARLE)❤
Outstanding song. I worked the death row unit at Holman prison for over 23 years, and can definately relate to this.
I've been listening to Steve for 30+ years, and this song is just one of his most powerful songs. it is absolutely haunting.
Blow my mind, break my heart, tears my eyes, along with Goodbye and Ft. Worth Blues this is my fav Steve Earle song.
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...
This just simply makes me tear up every single time... bless you Steve Earle.
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.
I've seen him in concert 4 times and he only sang "billy austin" one time. he truly is the world's greatest song writer.
Thanks for posting this video
a tip: watch movies at Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching lots of of movies these days.
@Khalid Alonso yup, been using Flixzone for since november myself =)
@Khalid Alonso definitely, I've been using flixzone for since november myself :)
@Khalid Alonso Definitely, I have been watching on Flixzone for years myself :D
@Khalid Alonso yup, I've been watching on Flixzone for since december myself :D
Just love this song. The man's a legend simple as....
"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!
gigglydookie y6
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
..
Thank you for posting this - my favourite song of Steve's and done acoustically - mindblowing. This was 1990. By '91 the darkness was arrivng...
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.
Incredible songwriter.
Steve Earle & The Dukes are some of the finest hardest working musicians around.
Just love this guys music
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....
Chilling!! Felt like I was having a conversation with a condemned man.
He and Jason Isbell are the greatest living writers. Saw him in a coffee shop in Nashville the year the got out of prison. So amazing.
This strung out early 90s period is my favorite
Man it is amazing the music he was making then... this is way ahead of the times in '91. Truly a great songwriter.
My favorite of him singing this haunting song. Pure.
Not too many songs make me cry but....
Must be one of the best lyrics ever produced, Steve Earle is quality from top to toe.....
thank you for this song i cry when here it
The guitar playing in this song is perfect.
It is although he does make a mistake right near the beginning and you can see he wasn't happy with it! It happens when playing live.
@@RichBaxterMusic yeah, after the first verse. It does not detract from the song though, kinda fits somehow.
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.
it still makes the hair on the back of neck raise up.........and i'm an old timer ....big fan
One of my favorite Earle songs...ever. First time Ive seen this video. THx for sharing.
stiill watching this clip! 14 years later. Still a favorite.
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 is my new obsession and this song makes me cry
great song sends chills up spine
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.
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.
My favourite for many years. TX. And Steve!!! welcome back to Norway. You are the best.
what a great song steve earl one great song writer
god this is so good. steve in his prime.
Thanks for this, it's one of my favourite songs. I love the studio version but I reckon this is even better.
Sitting here flat stunned by this man and his song
this song gets me everytime!
hey, thanks for all these clips. I've been a fan since Guitar Town and am enjoying them!
Nothing will ever meet this ...lyrics, music or otherwise....wish I's written it!!!
Brilliance at work.
Check out the Waterboys live @ the el mocombo, Toronto..red Army Blues
Had the pleasure of hearing this song live in 2006 sydney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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 !!!
This is heavy. What a beautiful song.
best song writer of the last 30 years...awesome song
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!
rich always finds the best stuff to put up here...i've seen Steve three times now, he's incredible...God bless him...and rich, too, of course
BRILLIANT . Makes u think
Steve looks different in every video I've seen. I've seen dozens on youtube and I don't recognize him here. So many different looks and sounds.
I love this song. Thank you!!
Thank you for posting. I love this song.
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....
Just speaks to the soul.
Awesome
Amaing performance of an amazing song by an amazing songwriter.
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.
thank you
Steve Earle. The new Dylan....
Not quite the same range as Dylan, but this is a great song!
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.
One of the greats!
☮️
It's crazy only 2730 people have watched this video.
Great music, can't be copied!
UNREAL THANKS.
amazing
Poor bastard is so messed up, and still sounds this good!
💐
There is no other musician out there that puts their soul in their music more than Steve. Thank you
Wow! Im a huge Steve Earl fan, but this dong!... wow!
THE best song in the world. Pro or not.. just love it.
shivers...
@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.
He is the best songwriter,,on earth!!!!!awesome he is,,,,,,,,
awesome performer
greatest living singer songwriter
i love this song!
What the hell?!!!! This was the greatest vid ever until it cut off too soon. I need the "...I'm told." Please put up the full song.
Great song.
hats off to steve man .....
the best singer songwriter barre none!!!!!!
can someone please post esmiraldas hollywood i cant find it anywhere.
Just brilliant.....
Hay I am not a old timer but my dad got me in to Steve Earl like when I was 4 lol Copperhead road was our four wheeling song lol we are just hicks
@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.
Nice song!
Cool!
Not from I have read in interviews and his biographies. He might have stopped for a little while when you talked to him (or been lying to you/himself,) but he and his sister have both said in interviews that he was not only using dope, but had escalated to crack by this point. He had used off and on since he was a teen. He pretty much dropped out of sight by 92. I have a bootleg from March '91, where he sings CCKMP for the first time, and the song says cocaine is not enough any more.
Best songwriter since what 83.
@nonirockify
Yep - it is easy to misunderstand or be misunderstood in these brief comments. Peace. Enjoy the music. Hope you get to see him this tour. I saw him a few weeks ago and am loving the new band.
Shame the ending is cut off! :-(
Ali Whitwell I know...
@nonirockify
Oops - just checked and see that you are in Australia - guess you will have to hope he adds some dates down under!