TWISTED BALLAD HONORS TALI-RAT

New York Post ^ | 7/21/02 | ALY SUJO

[kattracks]

July 21, 2002 -- NASHVILLE - American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh is glorified and called Jesus-like in a country-rock song to be released soon by maverick singer-songwriter Steve Earle.

The controversial ballad called "John Walker's Blues" is backed by the chanting of Arabic prayers and praises Allah.

[kattracks]

Peter Jennings will probably love this one.

[Travis McGee]

"Copperhead Road" is pretty cool, if you like outlaw doper songs.

[Sir Gawain]

Never heard of him.

[Libertina]

Friends of the outspoken singer believe Earle will welcome any controversy generated by the new song
If ya can't generate compliments - go for controversy. This guy must be a real dud of a song writer.

[Travis McGee]

Nope, he's a hell of a song writer. But his love for heroin.....

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Man, this guy must be trying to qualify for "Beatin' of the Week!"

[Libertina]

But his love for heroin.....
and political degeneracy will not make him popular in the counrty music scene.

[ActionNewsBill]

and political degeneracy will not make him popular in the counrty music scene.

He never was very popular with the Nashville crowd....but he is an amazing songwriter. More of an "alternative" style of country music.

[Bowana]

This guy must be a real dud of a song writer.

NO, He WAS, and I do mean WAS, a very good song writer!

Maybe he fell of the wagon? Anyone looking for a couple CD's?

[Iscool]

Never heard of him.

And likely never will again...

[Madame Dufarge]

Springtime for Hitler

[csvset]

Prior to last week, I hadn't heard of him either. I saw his bio on CMT. He's a high school drop out for one thing and a a-hole for another. I guess he's into talking smack instead of shooting smack. Perhaps he'll go back to his old ways and choke on his own puke.

[Pharmboy]

Don't be stupid,
Be a smarty,
Come and join the Nazi Party!

Goose step's the new step today!

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Music-industry heavyweights are already expressing outrage over the controversial song, and many predict it will be banned from the majority of radio playlists when it is released in late September.

Earle's music hasn't been on radio playlists for years. He gets most of his exposure from NPR (which will still play him I'm sure)(@$$holes) and David Letterman (who will stop booking him).

I was (until this) a big Steve Earle fan. I think a lot of his fan base was relatively conservative. Farmers, FREEPERS and vets....none of whom are likely to buy his stuff after this.

He'll get a little bump from this controversy but then fade away for good.

[maximus@Nashville]

OK, so Earle is doing anything he can to jump start his DOA career, but what is the target market here? Are there that many Islamic country fans? And what label is this on? Are there no people doing market research before releasing this?

On a related topic, when was the last time you heard a hit by Cat Stevens, or whatever he calls himself now?

[thathamiltonwoman]

Does anybody have a copy of the lyrics? He's either being sarcastic or he really does want his career to go into the same toilet as George Michaels'.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Does anybody have a copy of the lyrics? He's either being sarcastic or he really does want his career to go into the same toilet as George Michaels'.

Earle has always had a suidical streak to him (serious drug problems, actually ended up in prison) as well as lately a desire to be seen as a "rebel." I am sadly sure he means every word of this.

[Bowana]

When The People Find Out
(Steve Earle)

It's late at night
You're all alone
Pale moonlight
Cold as stone
Heart beats fast
Time moves slow
Strangers glance
Does he know
Where you gonna run to
Where you gonna hide
When the people find out
That you lied

They took you in, made you well
They told you things, they never tell
To pay the debt, you made em fools
That's what you get, they trusted you
When they run to the temple and find
That the treasure's gone
Do you think it's gonna be a cross
They're gonna nail you on

From "The Hard Way"

Boy I loved that album, BUMMER!

[wardaddy]

I am very fond of Earle's music but he is one very odd dude. He has been totally irresponsible in his personal life for about as long as he has had one. He can write very nice roots country rock songs but is not terribly bright intellectually. He has a pathological temper and the article is right that he loves to self promote. He played out the publicity over his little 40 days in the joint and made it appear as though he had done serious time in a tough joint. In other words....he's talented to be sure but very flawed. A lifelong doper/drunkard who can write a decent tune but who neglects his family completely and has had an up and down career due mainly to his drug/drink abuse. A talented nut with zippo political acumen. He just sees Johnny Jihad as another rebel much like he fancies himself. No big loss...his prime is past...given his personality ..he'll probably meltdown soon anyhow.