Steve Earle and the Bluegrass Dukes

by Coni

Steve Earle is a name I'd heard a time or two on the fringes of researching my eclectic tastes, but no songs came to mind. One day I had "Music Choice TV" on in the background, tuned to the Americana channel, and I heard Emmylou Harris doing a duet with someone, a sweet sad song about lost love remembered. It was Steve Earle's "I Remember You," from his controversial CD "Jerusalem

Amazon.com is an amazing thing. I had my copy of "Jerusalem" within days. By that time I'd done my usual obsessive research and learned that Steve was a legend, one of the pioneers of alt.country/Americana. I'd also learned that those on the Far-Right were aghast at Steve's tribute to John Walker Lindh, the young man from California who joined the Taliban. I couldn't wait to hear it all. What a treat! Intelligent, thoughtful lyrics -- AND you can dance to it!!!!

In describing, Jerusalem, Earle says, "This is a political record because there seems no other proper response to the place we're at now. But I'm not trying to get myself deported or something. In a big way this is the most pro-American record I've ever made. In fact, I feel URGENTLY American. I understand why none of those congressmen voted against The Patriot Act, out of respect for the Trade Center victims' families. I've sat in the death house with victims' families, seen them suffer. But this is an incredibly dangerous piece of legislation. Freedoms, American freedoms, things voted into law as American freedoms, everything that came out of the 1960's, are disappearing, and as any patriot can see, that has to be opposed." (from http://www.steveearle.com )

The title song, Jerusalem

I woke up this mornin' and none of the news was good
And death machines were rumblin' 'cross the ground where Jesus stood
And the man on my TV told me that it had always been that way
And there was nothin' anyone could do or say

And I almost listened to him
Yeah, I almost lost my mind
Then I regained my senses again
And looked into my heart to find

That I believe that one fine day all the children of Abraham
Will lay down their swords forever in Jerusalem

Well maybe I'm only dreamin' and maybe I'm just a fool
But I don't remember learnin' how to hate in Sunday school
But somewhere along the way I strayed and I never looked back again
But I still find some comfort now and then

Then the storm comes rumblin' in
And I can't lay me down
And the drums are drummin' again
And I can't stand the sound

But I believe there'll come a day when the lion and the lamb
Will lie down in peace together in Jerusalem

And there'll be no barricades then
There'll be no wire or walls
And we can wash all this blood from our hands
And all this hatred from our souls

And I believe that on that day all the children of Abraham
Will lay down their swords forever in Jerusalem
 

Steve's strong, clear vision of a peaceful world comes through just listening to him, regardless of the topic of the song. In addition to legendary singer/songwriter, Steve is an outspoken advocate for the end of the death penalty. He is also an author of a book of short stories, Doghouse Roses. Jerusalem

Steve is appearing at the following Pacific Northwest venues:

June 28, 2004 Aladdin Theater Portland OR

June 30, 2004 Woodland Park Zoo Ampitheatre Seattle WA

July 02, 2004 Britt Festival Jacksonville OR

Coni