i'll stand on bob dylans coffe table in my cowboy boots and i'll tell him that steve earle is the best song writer ever!

The best in the business as a songwriter....song is almost 30 years old now and as powerful as ever

I have read so many comments, and I am just so very grateful that people listen to stuff like this. I heard this song a long time ago and still love it. My thoughts on this song are that of my own, but thank all of those who listen to real country music.And thank you Steve Earl for such deep lyrics, with great instrumentals.

Leave it to Steve! Personal life of pain and heartbreak yet he marches on... One of the most prolific songwriters of our generation! God bless the man....

Last day of been been 29. I always remembered this song cuz my family played it growing up. The whole time I’ve been 29 this song hits my mind, from now on it might hit different, feel like I’m getting old lol. But naw this song will always hold a spot in my heart

He's always had the ability to make me cry and laugh and rage and barn dance - amazing artist

This could've been me last year. Deep in my alcohol and heroin addiction. I've robbed and stolen. But last year in Reno an Angel came to save me from doing worse than I could've done. I'm 14 months clean now

Back in the 90's, I can't remember the exact year, On a friends recommendation, I went to see a solo Steve Earle at the 'old' Riverside music venue (behind the now long gone Tyne-Tees TV studios) in Newcastle upon Tyne, N.E. England. I didn't know any of his songs at the time (I am now a big fan and have seen him and the band on many occasions). I was very impressed with his songs and enjoyed a good night. This the song that stood out for me, remember I had never heard S.E. before. I stood 6 feet away from him when he sang this song with such emotion and sincerity I was just mesmerised. I will remember that night and the sentiment of the song for ever.

More than any other song I have known this one makes me stop and listen. Not a wasted word in it.

Saw Steve Earle live with my dad probably around 1990 this song was so powerful and emotional I had to get up from the show and go to the bathroom had me weeping in public

This is hands down my favorite Steve Earle song

You have to respect his story telling ability, always enjoyed listening to Steve.

About 6 years ago now, my Dad showed me this song when Copperhead Road showed up on the radio. He told me that true folk music is about telling the story of a man most wouldn't give a second thought to, but who lived a life that any of us could have lived, if we made a few more mistakes. He told me that men of the working class love Copperhead Road because it's an anthem about giving a middle finger to the lawgivers and jackboots who try to tell ordinary men what to do, but most of them never see the other side of the coin, or hear the quiet desperation of the man who wasn't lucky, who didn't make the cut, who couldn't handle the suffering, who wasn't made hard by his experiences, who only looked for a way to stay alive, until one day he looked for a way out. We need to think more about the Billy Austins of the world; who sat with 27 men in their final days, before joining the legions of other unlucky ordinary men who fell on the wrong side of the powers that be. We need to remember that John Lee Pettimore would die like his granddaddy did, burning in a big black dodge, or like Billy Austin, with 10 000 volts in a steel chair.

This man has always been my favorite. I hope to see him one day and thank him for his years of great music!❤

Brilliant! One of the greats in my book! This one still gives me goose bumps. Saw him at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, '91. Brilliant! (Will T. Massey opened, not too shabby himself.)

Beautiful song about ugly truth... I'll leave everyone else to "solve the worlds justice problems" ... I just came here to listen to a good song...

A lot of songwriters make you dance or tap your toes. Steve makes you think.

This has to be one of my favourite songs of all time. Certainly my favourite of Mr Earle's.

The greatest writer ever. The most important writer of our time. He IS our Dylan. The world is a better place because of him. What a fuckin great song. Peace to you Steve!!!!!!

I'm a 52yr old rock & metal addict but still remember the first time i bought this cassette, just blew me away how it made me think about the stupidity of decisions made , regretted & payback time for your actions.

Whenever I am asked who my favorite artist is of all time his name pops up immediately every time, however, I refrain from saying it out loud because I love and respect so many but at the core of me it is him. I love Townes, Clark, and all his mentors as well and the only groupie thing I ever did was go to his office on music row and pose as an intern for a friend in the business to pick up product for a fictitious festival booking and as I walked into the receptionists' office to pick up the cds he walked in and said hello and nodded, I thought my knees would buckle when my eyes looked into his but I played it cool and said hello back, stated to the secretary why I was there and she handed the product to me and I left. I'll never forget it as long as I live as it made my day, my week, my year to meet a living legend so casually. The man who set me up to meet him in this manner took his own life last year and I wish I could have thanked him one last time for this opportunity...May you rest in peace Rusty.

Steve was always the underdog in the music industry and perpetually underestimated time and time again , He was used to hard knox and had many demons he overcame though his songwriting stands as a testament to his incredible genius and devil may give a shit attitude ! You either love him or hate him either way he will show them up every time !

One of my fav Steve Earle songs..a blessing to hear.

Nobody get's to the nub of it quite like Steve Earle. Oldie by goodie!

Sends chills down the spine everytime.

Saw Steve last night, solo acoustic set in Wellington, New Zealand; stand up crowd in a bar. Man's a musician not a rock star. Got to be said, the bar bar was jam packed.

A marine stationed at Tindall AFB in Oklahoma City........ Drinking beer and listening to Essential Steve Earle

awesome song.

His openness about his addiction ect ,his insight ,his losses of loved ones. His integrity and humanity add to his / of perhaps are his genius. I'd love to find an Australian song written like him. The late Archie Roach and perhaps Kasey Chambers are some where up there.

I usually don't cry over songs. This one ekes a tear.

Stunningly tragic video to one of Steve's greatest songs. Can you watch it and not shed a tear??

Yes, I've always liked his story songs, too. He makes me feel like I'm there, no matter what the story may be.

The sound of his voice with his powerful lyrics makes him one of my favorite artists of all time

love ya Steve!! refined through the fire you are!! SOLID GOLD!!!

Shot i am 39 and have been listening to steve earle since i was 13. And he is the bom i love his music always and forever. Billy Austin is a wild song to be honest but its one.of my favorites. We love ya Steve music is awesome and great

what a great song, really simple just acoustic guitar vocals and some strings but yet again it is really powerful, just a true classic

When I was doing hard time in Arizona's super max prison, I finally got to work a job as a porter on Death Row. It opened my eyes. I began to realize just how lucky I was. Three years earlier I was involved in a shooting in South Scottsdale. Were it not for two dedicated paramedics and the miracle of modern medicine, I could have easily ended up on "The Row". Every time I hear "Billy Austin" I think "But for the grace of God"....................................

I love the verse i dont deserve to die

i love the fact that Steve never hit the mainstream in a wanky way. True poet , every tune hits me somewhere, and i actually like shedding a tear to this. Genius 👊❤️‍🔥✌️

learned this song on my guitar last week... promise I made to my father in-law that said I'd never do it.. BTW; dad.. I taught myself to play the guitar.........

best song ive heard shivers everytime i hear it

Just came home from doing twelve years in prison from 17 to 29 this song means a lot to me

ive always pictured this story in my head. nice to have a video to relate to, face and visualize it externally. very inspiring

If you do not have tears in your eyes listening to this, then you are not paying attention.

i love this man and his music

got to best the song I've heard reminds me granda he learnt me all the words xxx

There will never be another Steve! Earle and the Dukes at their best!

What a profound sad song ! It was written after a young black man was put to death! I love this guy! ❤

Yes will never be no other Steve Earle and the dukes music come from the heart got listen more once. I love video middle part true. I alway picture his I hear him singing in concert. A plus song. Steve Earle music will live forever. I believe in him front second record I love first record. Music I love hear. My brother Steve use take my tapes I always buy new ones. Greatest all record and music sings god bless him and the first Dukes .

just heard of steve about a year ago, i'm. 73 , where the F have i been, to much rock and roll , this guy is fantastic, hay dude the boss sucks

Great song and great video editing at 5:55

Beautiful. Much love for you and your music.

LYRICS My name is Billy Austin I'm twenty-nine years old I was born in Oklahoma Quarter Cherokee I'm told Don't remember Oklahoma It's been so long since I left home Seems like I've always been in prison Like I've always been alone Didn't mean to hurt nobody Never thought I'd cross that line I held up a filling station Like I'd done a hundred times The kid done like I told him He lay face down on the floor Guess I'll never know what made me Turn and walk back through that door The shot rang out like thunder My ears rang like a bell No one came running And so I called the cops myself Took their time to get there And I guess I could'a run I knew I should be feeling something But I never shed tear one I didn't even make the papers Because I only killed one man But my trial was over quickly And then the long hard wait began Court appointed lawyer Couldn't look me in the eye He just stood up and closed his briefcase When they sentenced me to die And now my waiting's over As the final hour drags by I ain't about to tell you That I don't deserve to die There's twenty-seven men here Mostly black and brown and poor And most of 'em are guilty And who are you to say for sure? So when the preacher comes to get me And they shave off all my hair Could you take that long walk with me Knowing Hell's waiting there? Could you pull that switch yourself, sir With a sure and steady hand? Could you still tell yourself, sir That you're better than I am? [Outro] My name is Billy Austin I'm twenty-nine years old I was born in Oklahoma Quarter Cherokee I'm told

What gives us the right to take another's life?

Like I've always been in prison Like I've always been alone

this is a new one on me, not the song, but the video...what can you say? Steve never fails, now or then, or whatever....

great hard song

The best song ever my fave along with few others by Steve earle my dad got into him from very young age

Any am I always so late..... Great voice

This is true country,not some hip-hop stage act,it brings out the truth about life & living,she's a cruel mistress but we have to play the cards we're delt,nothing more,nothing less.

Car cooking hard.

Love this song copper head rd. 3;20am gotta hear it.first maybe six before my brother died at 61 we both all types of music never could on music. Stations thank who ever put music to us who where not in the know about steve earl. I have been reading all post about this song. Ya' all seem. To be from. The mtns. Thats cool & i seem alittle older im totaly. Down with believing. In what vou got with m.shine. check the "band" last waltz. Rick danko also plays mandolin.

Classic Earle !!!

his songs have gotten me through the heartbrek of two divorces but i have sadly followed his foot steps of addiction that has wasted the better part of my life and now here i am twenty years later white knuckle sober wondering which direction to run.

I picked up on Earle with Coppertown Road, backpedaled to Guitar Town and Exit 0 until he released The Hard Way and followed him until Transcendental Blues. After that, I paid attention sporadically. Copperhead and The Hard Way, however, remain closest to me thanks to tracks like Billy Austin and his harder rockin' ways. Earle can certainly tell a story and write a lyric as Billy Austin, a spiritual heir to Springsteen's Johnny 99, exemplifies. Listening to this cut reminds me it's time to queue up some Earle.

Such a god damn powerful song.

Steve Earle = God

I've been listening to this song since it was first released and I stumbled upon it by accident on one a CASSETTE TAPE, however, this is the first video that I have ever seen for it. When was it made? This is a great, emotional song and I'm pleased to see that someone has finally attempted to create a meaningful video. Earle never received the acclaim that he should have for this masterpiece of a song.

Thanks a bunch. :)

Had to listen for school project at paw schools lol

beautiful fucing tune,,,, gets ya right in the feels !!!

Wow thats all i can say, this was my first time hearing this song, what a wonderful piece, its like an older version of eric churchs lightning.

There has always been bad pop music, even if it is more abundant today... but there has also always been an undercurrent of great music. If you are not looking for and supporting lesser known talented artists today, you are part of the problem. There are some great folks out there, and I find even folks who normally don't seek out good music like it if you introduce them to it.

I,,,too,,have always been alone,,,,except when I had my sons. Then thr died thru the years ,,now I’m alone again. :(

if this doesn't get you thinking nothing will. thank you for getting me off my arse Steve.

If you can you're better than I am.

☮️

This song i coukd listen tooooo Robert. Pray for me I HAVE to start going to bed by 9:30. THAKS a whike for me to brush my teeth ect.

Give it a rest. This song has an incredible backstory if you took a minute to study the career of Steve Earle. This isn't a black/white issue.

Omg love it

Such a good one

beautiful song, but some folks gotta be put down, you can't let serial killers remain on this planet

This song hits different in your 14th b day 😔

Steve desde Euskal Herria ánimo. Soy muy pesado te sigo escuchando. No siempre no te pases... También a johon hiatt, emmylou harris, dwight yoakam, kevin welch, jimmy barnes😂

A pry bar atop ny can opener!

his best song

brilliant!

How in the fuck is this man not Nationally recognized!?!?!?

@barrj2007 You must have missed the line that reads "I'm not about to say I don't deserve to die." This song is about the experience of a death row inmate and capital punishment and nowhere implies there shouldn't be prisons. The song is intended to present an alternate viewpoint on the issue and get people to think- in some cases getting people to think is far too much to ask.

What a sad song.

good tune. the best song springsteen never wrote.

I could definitely pull the switch, boy.

A god. Hands down

🌅

yelling YEEHAW N' WHISTLIN DIXIE CUZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that's my name

Really great storyteller Steve Earl is. Disclaimer: We in the comment section apologize to the really good music lovers for Lady Gaga's face being wrongly posted on left hand side while real music is playing. Please not that we in the comment section take no responsibility for thise tragic mishap.

Brantley Gilbert is prolly the closest thing we have to the great Steve Earle nowadays..how he's hit the scene this past year..that man will be a legend in 20 years..just like this guy

wow i live in oklahoma grate place

Fax that 2 uncle Bill