Always loved this number. At the age of eighty, I still find it as exciting as I did back in the day! These TH-cam postings are such a wonderful facility. It is like having an infinitely large collection of records to call upon. . I think it is wonderful ......... Good luck to those enthusiastic youngsters who post their favourites, for the appreciation of all. . Long may they continue. to do it!
"Hey pretty baby don't you know it ain't my fault, love to hear the steel belts hummin' on the asphalt" - If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand......
Earle says it is a song about himself as a musician on the road, but he is glad truckers identify. Also, lots of musicians smoke, though it affects their voice, and Steve did at the time. Touring musicians are just as likely to like the sound of the bus on the road. How many truckers travel with a band (me and my boys got this rig unwound/ rockin' little combo) or worry about whether they will make it with a "Jap guitar?" Sing it however you like, but you can't argue with the writer.
Sharky0512 - Thanks for uploading this little ditty, just one of the best ever. Super lyrics. For me the best line is: "Got a two-pack habit and a motel tan." Ya won't hear that in hip-hop, thank God or I might be tempted to listen to that crap.
I met him last Sunday, May 6, which was my birthday and my present to myself. He played a tremendous concert at Renfro Valley, KY, and afterward he signed everyone's stuff and made photos with everyone there, including me. It was a wonderful night and we made a great picture!. Steve is touring now, so try to catch him somewhere and he will talk to you after his show.
I have heard Steve say (in an interview, not to me!) that truckers relate to it, which is cool, but it is about his own experience as a musician touring. The rig is a bus. And when he wrote it, trucking slang was cool because of Smokey and the Bandit, like calling Nashville Guitar Town, but you can't argue that the lyrics are different than he published them on the album. Sing them that way if you like, but that is not what he sings... riser, not horizon and local yokel, not yogo.
@MrsJenTrees According to the liner notes on the album, it is "back to the riser" (referring to part of a stage; the boards are the floor of the stage.) These lyrics are correct, with a couple words dropped from the written lyrics. The best place for Earle lyrics, if you don't have the album, is a fan site called the unofficial Steve Earle site.
The riser (singular) is the back of a stage, not the seats. If you think of the stage as a step, the riser is the vertical part behind the artist. Confusing though, since the seats are also usually stepped on risers (plural.)
Lyricsmode is a wiki site, which means anyone can post what they think they hear. If you want to know the lyrics as Steve wrote them, you are better off looking at the liner notes or at the "unofficial Steve Earle" fan site, which takes the lyrics from the liner notes.
Do young people even know what a bird dog is, let alone use them anymore? It may be outshined by GPS now, but GPS won't keep smoky bear/local yokels out of your rear view if you're doing more than the double nickels. Yes kids, he's talking about radar detectors aka BirdDogs
Typos maybe, but for an artist like Earle who is focused on writing, lyrics are usually accurate. Cover artists get lyrics wrong, but not the original. An important word change like horizon/riser would be noticed, though at times the notes may reflect copyright rather than later changes in the studio. In any case, unless you are looking up the copyright, liner notes are more trustworthy than other sources, especially fan generated lyrics on you tube and most lyric sites.
The Guitar Town, he means Nashville, right ? When he says he has a 2 pack habit and a Motel Tan, I don't think he is talking about Cigarettes. I love Stave Earle!
@mitchelle47 So you know the lyrics better than Steve Earle did when he wrote them? It is "riser" not horizon. Check the album, the lyrics are included.
Always loved this number. At the age of eighty, I still find it as exciting as I did back in the day! These TH-cam postings are such a wonderful facility. It is like having an infinitely large collection of records to call upon. . I think it is wonderful ......... Good luck to those enthusiastic youngsters who post their favourites, for the appreciation of all. . Long may they continue. to do it!
this song will never get old
This is my favorite song he sings. Thank you for posting it
its ashame young kids these days dont know what good music is im 14 and i love this kinda music i love bluegrass and songs like this
There are multiple guitars, but the signature riff is a Dano six string bass played by Richard Bennett.
Good tune....Steve Earle is awesome!!
Still rockin it after a few decades yah baby lets keep up the fun times.
Just the greatest song..."with the radio blastin' and the bird-dog on..."
Sounds like me...... driving all night with the hammer down. I wished I knew of this song back then. Perfect road trip tunes.
He sure is a fine singer and a credit to all San Antonians !!!
really good song i think this is the best out of all his songs
great song i use to listen to all the time they don't make music like they use to.
"Hey pretty baby don't you know it ain't my fault, love to hear the steel belts hummin' on the asphalt" - If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand......
so like my home town!!
Earle says it is a song about himself as a musician on the road, but he is glad truckers identify. Also, lots of musicians smoke, though it affects their voice, and Steve did at the time. Touring musicians are just as likely to like the sound of the bus on the road. How many truckers travel with a band (me and my boys got this rig unwound/ rockin' little combo) or worry about whether they will make it with a "Jap guitar?" Sing it however you like, but you can't argue with the writer.
shit this brings back so many memories. dont know where to begin.
oh but it does! :)
my mom and my dad LOVE this song!
Excellent song !! Enjoyed it very much thanks !!!
I drove trucks over the road for 15 years and love this song...But I don't think it's about trucking, I think it's about a musician on the road.
Sharky0512 - Thanks for uploading this little ditty, just one of the best ever. Super lyrics.
For me the best line is: "Got a two-pack habit and a motel tan." Ya won't hear that in hip-hop, thank God or I might be tempted to listen to that crap.
Steve Earle is a self proclaimed HillBilly (yes, capitalized) and a truly talented guy. I would love to meet him .
I met him last Sunday, May 6, which was my birthday and my present to myself. He played a tremendous concert at Renfro Valley, KY, and afterward he signed everyone's stuff and made photos with everyone there, including me. It was a wonderful night and we made a great picture!. Steve is touring now, so try to catch him somewhere and he will talk to you after his show.
I have heard Steve say (in an interview, not to me!) that truckers relate to it, which is cool, but it is about his own experience as a musician touring. The rig is a bus. And when he wrote it, trucking slang was cool because of Smokey and the Bandit, like calling Nashville Guitar Town, but you can't argue that the lyrics are different than he published them on the album. Sing them that way if you like, but that is not what he sings... riser, not horizon and local yokel, not yogo.
this is the funnest song to sing everr
a 2-pack habit and a motel tan,he writes from the heart
this song AWESOME
This song was wild then slow then boy I am that mature then here u go I want another keeping for me.
@MrsJenTrees
According to the liner notes on the album, it is "back to the riser" (referring to part of a stage; the boards are the floor of the stage.)
These lyrics are correct, with a couple words dropped from the written lyrics. The best place for Earle lyrics, if you don't have the album, is a fan site called the unofficial Steve Earle site.
The riser (singular) is the back of a stage, not the seats. If you think of the stage as a step, the riser is the vertical part behind the artist. Confusing though, since the seats are also usually stepped on risers (plural.)
Lyricsmode is a wiki site, which means anyone can post what they think they hear. If you want to know the lyrics as Steve wrote them, you are better off looking at the liner notes or at the "unofficial Steve Earle" fan site, which takes the lyrics from the liner notes.
I love this song thanks for posting it
with my back to the horizon and make my stand!!
omg!! i love this song!! x-D
Here's another good place that I found for the lyrics, cuz I just love Steve Earle -
lyricsmode
Now this is good music!
great tune period
Good song with guitar
Helllllll Yeahhhh
man people barly likes this i really love this song
#37 on my cover list
Hell yeah!
what type of guitar is that that is used..
Do young people even know what a bird dog is, let alone use them anymore? It may be outshined by GPS now, but GPS won't keep smoky bear/local yokels out of your rear view if you're doing more than the double nickels. Yes kids, he's talking about radar detectors aka BirdDogs
steve earl and george througood at house of blues so, cal kodiak moment 4 ever
i like listn to this when i drink good song steve earl go earl go
This song goes along with truckers like piss bottles and lot lizards!! lol
Typos maybe, but for an artist like Earle who is focused on writing, lyrics are usually accurate. Cover artists get lyrics wrong, but not the original. An important word change like horizon/riser would be noticed, though at times the notes may reflect copyright rather than later changes in the studio. In any case, unless you are looking up the copyright, liner notes are more trustworthy than other sources, especially fan generated lyrics on you tube and most lyric sites.
Love itt
You need to do a lyrical version of Hillbilly Highway because I can't find one lol
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
The Guitar Town, he means Nashville, right ? When he says he has a 2 pack habit and a Motel Tan, I don't think he is talking about Cigarettes. I love Stave Earle!
@mitchelle47
So you know the lyrics better than Steve Earle did when he wrote them? It is "riser" not horizon. Check the album, the lyrics are included.
This song is just fun. Anyone can sing along.
@TeiyoYeiyo are you a truck driver?
this song fantastic I heard it last week on outlaw country radio 100.7 that's 1st time I heard it friggin rocks awesome kickass
Yeah, same here! I never was much into country music, but then I found that station and loved almost everything they played! :D
im gettin out of this town
@jc05100 mind posting correct lyric?
looks like 3 people got shut down by some local yokels.
fucking adds
god, i'm sooo-tired..
this song will never get old