# Steve Earle **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 22, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182 "2002-07-22T06:59:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182/21 "2002-07-23T06:14:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by belladonna \* > \*\*Wow, you learn something new every day. Thanks guys. > > bella \*\* I concurr. Thanks for the links, folks. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182/22 "2002-07-23T10:17:29Z")
Well, on the link that **ignatius\_reilly** posted, there’s a verse of the song in question, written indeed from Lindh’s point of view. Earle doesn’t really have a history of spotlight-chasing; he just does what he does and makes some good music. _The Hard Way_ is my favourite album of his, although _El Corazon_ is great too. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182/23 "2002-07-23T12:49:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BarBQSauce \* > \*\*I dunno folks, if Foxnews has the lyrics down accurately, I’m not sure how saying that Lindh will “rise into the sky like Jesus” could be written from Lindh’s perspective. \*\* Does anybody really believe that Earle thinks Lindh is going to ascend into heaven, or is the 2nd coming? Could it be that Earle is making something of a joke here? Seems fairly obvious to me that he is. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182/24 "2002-07-23T15:49:55Z")
> [@](#): > > I dunno folks, if Foxnews has the lyrics down accurately, I’m not sure how saying that Lindh will “rise into the sky like Jesus” could be written from Lindh’s perspective. If I remember correctly, Moslems believe Jesus was an important prophet, though not a son of God, and was brought to Heaven by him (alive). ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182/25 "2002-07-24T17:50:46Z")
I _like_ Steve Earle, his lyrics are humorous and thoughtful by turns. Having heard the song, I can’t imagine how anyone listening to it critically could possibly think that it was meant to “honour” or “glorify” John Walker Lindh. It seems like CNN, the Post, _et al_, are reporting from the same third-hand account, and go to great lengths to quote from it in a misleading and inflammatory way. From most of the articles I’ve seen, you can’t even tell that the lyrics are written from a first-person point of view. One should be able to tell from the opening lines that what follows is not intended to be interpreted as gospel truth: > [@](#): > > Just an American boy, raised on MTV > I’ve seen all them kids > In the soda pop ads- > None of them looked like me. > So I started looking around > For a light out of the dim. > And the first thing I heard > That made sense was the word > Muhammad peace be upon him. The bit about JWL’s assumption is not an assertion of Earle’s, (duh.) > [@](#): > > And if I should die > I’ll rise up in the sky > Just like Jesus peace be upon him. For the love of God, it’s _the blues_. It’s freaking traditional to have the narrative voice describe bad decisions and behaviour that led to ruination. It’s _not_ advocacy. > [@](#): > > But Allah has some other plan > Some secret not revealed > Now they’re dragging me back > With my head in a sack > To the land of the infidels. If there’s a lesson in the song, (and there certainly doesn’t _have_ to be one,) it’s that shallow consumer culture isn’t enough to give your kids, and you’d better make some attempt to provide spiritual/intellectual nourishment, or who knows where they may turn to fill the void. [redneck] Hangin’s too good fer 'im! [/redneck] **(Insert obligatory rolleyes smiley here.)** ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182/26 "2002-07-24T18:20:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \*\*\* > It’s freaking traditional to have the narrative voice describe bad decisions and behaviour that led to ruination. It’s _not_ advocacy. \*\* Amen. There are vast amounts of ignorant people who think that simply mentioning something = advocacy. ---
**Author:** ![BarBQSauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@BarBQSauce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarBQSauce)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182/27 "2002-07-25T02:04:07Z")
Hi Larry, Did you find those lyrics online anywhere, or is that your recollection? I searched many places for those. Ill concede; thoses lyrics are well within my range of good taste. Strike up another victory in the fight against ignorance. Thanks to everyone who replied. ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2002, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182/28 "2002-07-25T02:42:52Z")
[Here’s a link to the full lyrics.](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=495&ncid=495&e=2&u=/ap/20020723/ap_en_mu/music_john_walker_s_blues_lyrics_1) I wish I could get a copy of this song, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be anywhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-earle/120182.md?page=1)