Steve Earle - Ellis Unit One

[MrRazorblade999]

Can't believe a "civilized" country as USA still has death penalty. Here in Europe it's abolished thank god.

[pepper4950]

this is perfection!

try to play it like he does

fuckin perfection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!

[loneranger711]

we are troy davis.

[dwayne22891]

Jesus must live on Ellis unit 1. I have so many old things holler ' Oh God, So many times when they were killing each other.Beleive it or not they can get the death penalty now for killing one another.Sure has cut down on in house murder.When I was employed at ellis Unit1 Hot Months 1 to 5 murders per day.Reserch it if you like.

[dwayne22891]

After reading some of these comments I see why there is so much muder,no penalty. Why not? By the way no one was ever shocked,or needled at Ellis unit 1 I worked there. Death Row is now in Livingston Texas. The execution chamber is At the Walls unit in Huntville Texas.By the way we just had a visitor there who put a chain around a black mans neck.Drug him behind a pickup,and pulled his head off Am I for the death penalty Hell yes.He won't pull anothers head off.

[dwayne22891]

I worked at Ellis Unit 1 Maybe Steve Did not know the candy man or Watts or the animal. I reckon it is allright what they did. B.S.

[MrDrewlips]

Steve Earle is an activist against the death penalty. That is what this song is about. Period.

[danocable]

like i said its about prison.

[danocable]

It is just about prison.

[nilradem]

@danocable

Not sure what you mean by your comment, but Steve is explicit in interviews that this is about the conscience of a prison guard on Texas's death row (Ellis Unit One) and what the death penalty does to all of us. Steve is strongly against the death penalty, and has written essays about it, in addition to songs.

[72183richard]

great song great artist

[72183richard]

no one can take away the fact that steve has heart

[Dtapped]

Such an amazing song. 17 years on and it's lost none of its impact. Earle has always struck me as someone who has some personal demons to live with, but that's what makes the best poets/artists/song writers out there. The struggle that comes with this life brings insight and Earle has that in spades.

[Bluenose2]

I'm getting old.This one still makes me cry.The best anti-death penalty song ever.

[jerandamanda]

this is one of the best songs ever!!!!so unknown and needs way more views

[murmac61]

Steve has grown so much as a songwriter---although when you look at some of his earlier stuff--EXIT 0 for example--he always was great---he is just so much better now--

[TheSatchnell]

Ah yes, another one of Stevie's opinion songs!!! Got to love them!! Man Stevie knows it all, he has got it figured out. If Stevie ruled the U.S. we would all be gay,black,muslim,yankee terrorists who never get the death penalty!!!

[dissimulate666]

Earle is opposed to the death penalty. He explains his position in remarks made right before this song, which are, unfortunately, missing in this video. He is opposed to the death penalty because it doesn't heal anything. He's right. He also notes that it's racist and classist. He's right about these problems, too.

[bvallier100]

I'm reading comments that Steve is one of 3 best song writers around. While I'm a huge Earle fan, some of the people out there are forgetting Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, just to name two.

[sullymichaels]

@bvallier100 those are the other two...

[anarchistns1]

@bvallier100 Exactly. One of the 3 best AROUND. Woody is dead. Earle, Springsteen, and Tom Russell blow Dylan right out of the water. Besides, Townes is better than all of them combined

[Fijnenvent]

Ah, the album's name is Seven Curses not Black Curses

[Fijnenvent]

A great cover of this song is on a record full with songs at the tipping point of death,life, reason, madness and injustice:

Mark Erelli and Jeffrey Foucault - Black Curses

I personally think it's a great song that leaves the verdict about the death penalty just in the middle ground. To me the protagonist takes no sides and just tells it like it is. It makes you think, and that's the first step to stopping the death penalty.

[Anttikarppinen1]

A good song. It describes how the christian right wing try to make murder OK. They are against abortion!!! But it's OK killing criminals!! Where's the moral in that??

Please try to explain that to me, i'm from sweden. We have a totally different system.

[ThePunisherdesign]

@Anttikarppinen1. It isn't exactly about the Christian right wingers. It is about the prospect about murdering criminals, and certainly more instinctively the internal conflict of the executioner as stated in the song, and the movement to more conventional means of execution. The executioner dreams that it is them strapped in the chair. Earle is against the death penalty, as you may know, and wrote this for a movie "Dead Man Walking." Anyone feel free to interject their opinion.

[darlincommitme]

@ThePunisherdesign

I would add two points: 1- support for the death penalty is certainly not limited to Christian right wingers and 2 - the opposition to the death penalty in the US includes many Christians, on right and left wings. (Conservative Catholics, for instance, would hold both abortion and death penalty to be wrong, and some evangelicals agree, especially after the Karla Faye Tucker case.) I don't think this is aimed specifically at Christians.

[Tharix88]

More like on the list of the top THREE best songwriters ever. That would be him townes and Guy clark

[outofnames0]

amazing song, he and springteen are the best songwriters around

[darkhouse9]

i wonder if steve knows that he's better than townes?

[darkhouse9]

and bruce for that matter.

[rickheddle]

. A good Steve story.........., Steve played a solo gig, in my hometown. Well. of course, right in front of the stage, was a table full of these vacant bimbo's and yeah, they were celebrating the age of being legal. Man, were they noisy!!! Steve suffered this for about 20 minutes. Finally he asks," Pne of y'all havin' a birthday?" They all start squealing and making a spectacle, Steve looks at them and says, " That's alright darlin', I remember when i had my 1st beer too!!'

[jmswannabe]

..I don't think he does...unfortunatley for SE...radio never knew where to put him in the late 80's...The man is fucking brilliant...its too bad so many have missed his music ...due to marketing...

[darkhouse9]

@jmswannabe Good point. But I learned long ago, that good music ain't always on the radio. I do recall one of my local "Rock" stations playing Copperhead Road back in the day, though. I even wrote to the station to play some his 'I Feel Alright' album when it was released... to no avail. At least he gets some play on satellite radio now.

[molanlabexm15]

Do not be for abortion or the death penalty or war unless you would be wiling to do the killing yourself.

[scottreed101]

reminds me of growing up in east Texas

[exaltica]

impressive song. makes you think about god and man and respect for life

[skrat5]

*Goosebumps*

[molanlabexm15]

Me too.

[electraluxx]

And though he is not the one who committed the crime or decided the sentence, he is the one who must inject a lethal poisn. He is conflicted by his need to do his job well, remain detached and still be the main participant in taking a life. As a result he has nightmares.

The song is really about the executioner. I think it is he who is praying for deliverance, "Swing Low Swing Chariot".

[electraluxx]

The executioner supposedly has nothing to do with the reasons for the execution, he's just a cog in the machine and should be emotionally separate from his act. However, he escorts the terrified prisoners to the execution room, sometimes 'dragging them when they can not stand'. He sees the crying families.

[electraluxx]

The executioner is a working class confused vet who wants to care and provide for his family. Probably the best paying job he could get as is usually the case.

[electraluxx]

I don't think this song is about mistakenly executing those who are actually innocent. I think it is about the impersonalization of executing a life and the internal conflict of the executioner. The execution has become cold clean and hidden from the public (collage boys can't see the flahing lights) by switching from the visceral electric chair to the 'civilized' lethal injection.

[ThePunisherdesign]

@electraluxx I have to agree with your synopsis of this song. I had to think about the lyrics, but once I read your post, I can see what your saying. This is certainly backed up by the words. Thank you.

[ColinPGrove]

@electraluxx - what are collage boys? Is it like a club of young males who do scrapbooking and things of that nature?

[subterranean47]

beautiful song

original

genius

[Panfukintera1]

Ellis Unit 1 is a true story. Steve went to the prison n watched the kids execution! True Story!

[darlincommitme]

You are thinking of Jonathan's Song, which is about Steve's friend Jonathan Nobles. Ellis Unit 1 was written before Noble's execution for the Dead Man Walkin sound track. He decided to write a song from the perspective of theorrection officer after watching a scene from the movie.

[4thandinches]

I love Steve Earle's rendition of Springsteen's Nebraska, but I can't find it on YouTube. It is a live recording that only seems to be found on 1 of his double albums. Limewire had the song, but that site seems to be a virus waiting to happen on my computer so I ditched it years ago.

[foulst2262]

I'm a recent convert to Steve Earle, always knew of him, Copperhead & Guitar Town etc., but man this tune is just the finest thing I've heard since Pontius was a pilate. The last thousand or so viewings of this vid are all me !!!!

[Gekokujo76]

That is great to hear Foul...I was the same way about 5 years ago. I "grew up on" Steve Earle to a degree, but I still didnt know more than 4 songs or so.

Ellis Unit One was the song that got me to dig deeper and now my favorites by him are all songs that I hadnt heard when I was growing up.

Ben McCulloch

Dixieland

Tom Ames Prayer

Over Yonder

Billy Austin

Christmas in Washington

John Walker's Blues

These are all great songs that I think anyone who enjoys this song would also enjoy by Steve.

[gus963]

What exactly does "swing low and carry me home" mean?

[modi0perandi]

I assume it's a play on "swing low, sweet chariot" and Elijah being carried to heaven by a chariot.

I'm assuming. I'm probably right off.

[darlincommitme]

Definitely a reference to the spititual "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," and going home to heaven.

[GuitarDudeXXX]

Does anyone know if this episode of "Sessions @ 54th" available on DVD?

[boarhunter336]

further more the ellis unit housed deathrow inmates from 1965-1999 they are now housed at the polunsky unit were they are tansfer the morning of exicution to the huntsville unit just a little info for more info check tdcj web site

[boarhunter336]

funny thing about this song, the only death house in texas is at the huntsville unit aka "The Walls" been in the room errie place

[tincankid]

if the state wrongly convicts a person to death then by thier own rules the whole state should be put to death... Homicide.

[bigbadnewman]

Interesting fact:

Under Jewish law, a judge who sentences an innocent man to death is guilty of murder. I guess they'd think twice before handing a death sentence down.

[DevilsBackboneTavern]

haha sure. like anyone who has been killed by the state in the last ten years has been "innocent". and where did you get this information? I find it hard to believe that David would have been so humble.

[dw1144]

I guess Jewish law does not apply to Palestinians.

[bigbadnewman]

Killing terrorists actually DOES come under Jewish law. It's MANDATORY!

..............and in the case of muslims it's also fun!!

[danielward351]

possibly the most important song ive ever heard! where did the story come from? imagine your brother being put to his death! imagine your brothers death being avenged by the state! right or wrong yes's and no's they swing low on elis unit one...

[rufufus]

he wrote the song for a cd of songs inspired by Tim Robbins' movie Dead Man Walking

[allorno1thing]

exellent artist

[axerzen]

cant you feel the reality...the souls expression is reflective, somehow when i see fly on the wall documenteries I see the facts, but hear the feelings.

[axerzen]

cant you feel the reality...the souls expression is reflective, somehow when i see fly on the wall documenteries I see the facts, but hear the feelings.

[bombalu5]

Brings tears to my eyes..

[donnyoh]

I saw Steve Earle sing "Ellis Unit One" at The Blue Bird Cafe on the evening of 9/13/95. SRO crowd and you could've heard a teardrop fall. I'll never ever, forget that moment. Thanks Steve.

[Panfukintera1]

Unbeleiveable.

[mikeclaw]

On the short list of the best songwriters of a generation.

[jacotango]

@mikeclaw yes. stone cold classic

[pukarj]

this song sends shivers thru my spines!!..love it

[simonon]

absolutely genius, eye to eye with dylan..

[SouthShorePkr]

Yet more proof of Steve Earle's talent. This entire performance is incredible.

[lyncheez]

..cant stop listening to this song..it goes straight to your heart...only steve could sing it..

[daesonesb]

aside from most of the nonsense in these comments, this is an amazing song. Sends chills up my spine every time i hear it.

[kingaep]

great song - makes me meditative

steve is a extraordinary artist

happy christmas for all

[roadrunner304]

My favorite song you ruuleeeeee steve!

[dinnerbucket9]

Great song.....but you miss everything he said? If you take the long ride with Steve Earle you come to undestand he is an outlaw because he loves justice before ordinary violence as retribution. The sorrow in his voice comes from knowing that people like you will never understand.

[resonatorplate]

This song is about a friend Steve met on death row, who invited Steve to his execution. Truly a heart felt song.

[darlincommitme]

This is a song he wrote for Dead Man Walking, after seeing the rough cut of a scene where a guard is talking to Sr. Helen Prejean. He was writing to his friend Jonathan Nobles at the time, but the song he wrote for Nobles after witnessing his execution is called Over Yonder. Both are powerful songs!

[BrynMawrYamBag]

Great song...but still...the death penalty is a needed evil. To many people are working too hard to support their families due to the already overwhelming tax burdens. Meanwhile if you give this scum live without parole. They get legal money,education money,food,housing and medical care which most working people cant afford. They get rewarded for being murdering animals. That aint right.

[princessofhesse]

yeah, maybe, but you won't convince Steve Earle of that....i'm torn myself....but, regardlesss, he is an incredible singer/songwriter....my favorite from way back....

[BrynMawrYamBag]

I totally agree with you about his artistic skill.. He's just way left of me on crime and punishment.

[lukethadrifter]

but who are you to say for sure?

[BrynMawrYamBag]

Have you had violent crime affect your family or worked in corrections babysitting these animals. The only humane option is to find an island with no life on it. Air drop the inmates in and let them prey on each other.Just give em an island out in the Pacific where there is no chance of them ever reaching regular society.

[lukethadrifter]

that would be life inprisonment. much better as a last resort than murder.

[BrynMawrYamBag]

life imprisonment is TOO easy as it is now. 3 hots and a cot,education,free medical care on the taxpayer dollar while more often then not hardworking people can barely make ends meet.The death penalty aint murder...Its ultimate justice. We could learn a few things from the Muslim countries on how to treat criminals.

[lukethadrifter]

well I wouldnt want to trade places with anyone for 3 hots and a cot, & I also wouldnt want to trade places with a death row prison guard, who has to live with the death & the possibility of a wrongfull conviction.

I reckon humane tratment of prisoners would cost hardworking people a lot less than rich people's tax evasion.

[BrynMawrYamBag]

luke...when I started working the blocks in 2000. At that time the average incarcerated inmate cost between 30-40,000 a year. And that is not counting any unexpected costs. In this day and age if the criminal left their DNA all over the scene/victim. That should be enough to curb their appeals and assist the inmate in assuming a horizontal position 6 feet below ground and pushing up grass and daises.

[cannoncube]

Mashallah ☆ GO YamBam!

[princessofhesse]

incredible, incredible singer, beautiful song.....

[kingaep]

great song - make me crying

[orphanejk]

OMG! I have this on VHS.. this song is so damn good!

[yarbles67]

great song. i could imagine Cash doing this song because it paints such a vivid picture.

[hobeshill]

if you can't feel this, your heart is broken. if this doesn't break your heart, you ain't got a heart at all.