I Ain't Ever Satisfied
Steve Earle · Definitive Collection [2006]
I was born by the railroad tracks
Well the train whistle wailed and I wailed right back
Well papa left mama when I was quite young
He said now "One of these days you're gonna follow me son"
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I ain't ever satisfied
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I ain't ever satisfied
Now I had me a woman she was my world
But I ran off with my back street girl
Now my back street woman could not be true
She left me standin' on the boulevard thinkin' bout you
I got an empty feeling deep inside
I'm going over to the other side
Last night I dreamed I made it to the promise land
I was standin' at the gate and I had the key in my hand
Saint Peter said "Come on in boy, you're finally home"
I said "No thanks Pete, I'll just be moving along"
Well the train whistle wailed and I wailed right back
Well papa left mama when I was quite young
He said now "One of these days you're gonna follow me son"
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I ain't ever satisfied
Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I ain't ever satisfied
Now I had me a woman she was my world
But I ran off with my back street girl
Now my back street woman could not be true
She left me standin' on the boulevard thinkin' bout you
I got an empty feeling deep inside
I'm going over to the other side
Last night I dreamed I made it to the promise land
I was standin' at the gate and I had the key in my hand
Saint Peter said "Come on in boy, you're finally home"
I said "No thanks Pete, I'll just be moving along"
I Ain't Ever Satisfied
Steve Earle's 'I Ain't Ever Satisfied' stands as a potent example of his signature blend of folk-rock and social commentary. Recorded for the 2006 'Definitive Collection,' the track channels the same gritty, working-class sensibility found in his earlier masterpieces like 'Copperhead Road.' The song reflects Earle's lifelong commitment to exploring themes of economic struggle and personal dissatisfaction, delivered with a raw, acoustic-driven intensity that defines his discography. It serves as a testament to his ability to translate the struggles of the everyday man into resonant, timeless music that continues to influence the roots-rock genre.