The 20 Best Steve Earle Songs, from Copperhead Road to Transcendental Blues

What is Steve Earle's most famous song?

"Copperhead Road", the 1988 title track about a Vietnam veteran and a family of moonshiners, is Steve Earle's most famous and best-selling song. "Guitar Town", his 1986 breakthrough, and "Galway Girl", a 2000 song that became a standard in Ireland, are close behind, along with "The Devil's Right Hand" and "Someday".

Steve Earle's best songs

1. "Copperhead Road", 1988: a bagpipe-and-mandolin rock epic and his signature song.
2. "Guitar Town", 1986: the twangy, rocking title track of his debut, a top ten country hit.
3. "Galway Girl", 2000: an Irish-flavored love song recorded with Sharon Shannon.
4. "The Devil's Right Hand", 1988: an outlaw ballad later recorded by Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.
5. "Someday", 1986: a small-town song about dreaming of escape.
6. "Goodbye", 1995: a tender acoustic ballad later covered by Emmylou Harris.
7. "My Old Friend the Blues", 1986: a heartfelt ballad from Guitar Town.
8. "Hillbilly Highway", 1986: a song about leaving home for work.
9. "Goodbye's All We've Got Left", 1987: a top ten country single.
10. "Transcendental Blues", 2000: the title track of one of his best albums.

More Steve Earle songs

11. "I Feel Alright", 1996: the defiant title song of his comeback era.
12. "Fort Worth Blues", 1997: a tribute to his mentor Townes Van Zandt (see our Townes Van Zandt songs).
13. "Christmas in Washington", 1997: a folk protest song later covered by Joan Baez.
14. "Taneytown", 1997: a dark story song from El Corazón.
15. "Jerusalem", 2002: a hopeful song of peace.
16. "Johnny Come Lately", 1988: recorded with the Pogues.
17. "Little Rock 'n' Roller", 1986: a gentle song for his young son.
18. "City of Immigrants", 2007: a celebration of New York from Washington Square Serenade.
19. "This City", 2011: a song about New Orleans written for the TV series Treme.
20. "Ellis Unit One", 1995: a powerful song about a prison guard.

Who is Steve Earle?

Steve Earle was born on January 17, 1955, at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and grew up in Texas, mainly around San Antonio. As a teenager he ran away to find his hero, the songwriter Townes Van Zandt, and in Nashville he played bass for Guy Clark. His 1986 debut, Guitar Town, made him one of the leaders of a new, tougher kind of country music, and Copperhead Road two years later pushed him further into rock. He has won three Grammys, all for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Trouble and a comeback

By the early 90s Earle was struggling with heroin and cocaine addiction. After arrests in 1993 and 1994 he served about 60 days of a one-year jail sentence and then completed a treatment program. He came back in 1995 with Train a Comin', a quiet acoustic album, and has since released records at a steady pace, writing openly about recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For more, see our songs about addiction.

Galway Girl

Earle wrote "Galway Girl" after time spent in Ireland and recorded it with the Irish accordion player Sharon Shannon for Transcendental Blues in 2000. Versions by Irish singers made it a pub and wedding favorite across Ireland. It is a different song from Ed Sheeran's 2017 hit of the same name. For more, see our Irish drinking songs.

Actor and writer

Earle also acts and writes. He played Walon, a recovering addict and counselor, in The Wire, and Harley, a street musician, in Treme. He has published a novel and a book of short stories, and in recent years he has recorded tribute albums to his mentors and friends, including Townes, GUY and Jerry Jeff. His son, the singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, died in 2020, and Steve honored him with the album J.T.

Steve Earle albums to start with

• Guitar Town (1986): the landmark debut.
• Copperhead Road (1988): country meets rock.
• Train a Comin' (1995): the acoustic comeback.
• Transcendental Blues (2000): with "Galway Girl".
• Townes (2009): his Grammy-winning tribute to Townes Van Zandt.

Steve Earle songs for a road trip or a wedding

For a drive, play "Guitar Town", "Copperhead Road", "Hillbilly Highway" and "The Devil's Right Hand". "Galway Girl" is a joyful choice for an Irish wedding, and "Goodbye" and "My Old Friend the Blues" suit a quiet, reflective night. For more, see our road trip songs and Irish wedding songs.

More country storytellers

If you love Steve Earle, explore our Jason Isbell songs, Colter Wall songs and Kris Kristofferson songs.

A story song about them

Steve Earle's songs are full of real people and real places. A personalized song can tell the story of someone you love the same way: their name, their hometown, the road they have traveled and the second chances they have earned. It makes a meaningful gift for a birthday, a sobriety milestone or a retirement.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: country, folk, rock and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or details about them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.