Steve Earle - Jerusalem

Review by Denise V

Jerusalem by Steve Earle: A Raw, Rootsy Journey Worth Remembering Let’s cut to the chase—Steve Earle’s Jerusalem is one of those albums that doesn’t just sit in your playlist; it grabs you by the collar and demands attention. Released back in 2002, this record blends country, rock, folk, blues, and even a dash of world music into something both timeless and urgent. It’s like an old friend who shows up uninvited but leaves you glad they came. Now, let me tell ya, there are some real gems on here. Two tracks stand out for me personally: “John Walker’s Blues” and the title track, “Jerusalem.” They’re not just songs—they’re stories, man. Stories with teeth. “John Walker’s Blues” hits hard right from the first chord. Written from the perspective of John Walker Lindh (you know, the so-called “American Taliban”), it's haunting as hell. Earle doesn’t judge; instead, he steps into Lindh’s shoes and gives voice to confusion, anger, and regret. The lyrics feel raw, almost too personal, like reading someone’s diary without permission. And that harmonica? Damn. It wails like a ghost stuck between worlds. I remember listening to this late at night once, headphones on, feeling like I was eavesdropping on a conversation meant only for me. Goosebumps city. Then there’s “Jerusalem,” which feels like a spiritual gut-punch wrapped in rootsy instrumentation. With its driving rhythm and fiery vocals, it’s impossible not to get swept up in it. This isn’t just another protest song—it’s bigger than that. It’s about hope, redemption, and maybe even forgiveness. When Earle sings, “If I were King of Jerusalem / I’d blow up the mosques and put up souvenir stands,” you can hear the sarcasm dripping off every word. But beneath the snark lies a deeper truth about humanity’s endless cycle of violence and longing for peace. Every time I hear it, I think about how messy life is—and how beautiful, too. The production deserves a shout-out, too. Brad Talbott’s art direction nails the gritty vibe, while Tony Fitzpatrick’s cover art looks like it belongs framed on a wall somewhere. And kudos to Ray Kennedy for engineering—it all sounds crisp yet lived-in, like these songs have been waiting years to find their way to us. What makes Jerusalem stick, though, isn’t just the music or the politics. It’s the honesty. Earle wears his heart on his sleeve, flaws and all. He’s pissed off, hopeful, lost, and found—all at the same time. You don’t listen to this album; you live through it. So yeah, if you haven’t spun Jerusalem yet, do yourself a favor and hit play. Just don’t expect easy answers or catchy hooks. What you’ll get instead is a mirror held up to the soul of America—and maybe your own soul, too. Oh, and here’s a random thought to leave you with: If Steve Earle ever decided to run for president, I’d vote for him. Not because he has all the answers, but because he asks the right questions.

Artist: Steve Earle
Album: Jerusalem

2017

Rating: 4.75

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Filename: steve-earle-jerusalem.zip

MP3 size: 75 mb
FLAC size: 865 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
John Walker Blues	3:41
Jerusalem	3:56
What's A Simple Man To Do	2:29
Ashes to Ashes	4:2
America v. 6.0 (The Best We Can Do	4:19
Ashes To Ashes	4:02
Jerusalem	3:56
I Remember You *	2:52
What's a Simple Man to Do?	2:29
What's A Simple Man To Do?	2:29
John Walker's Blues	3:41
John Walker's Blues	3:40
The Kind	2:4
Shadowland	2:52
Amerika v. 6.0	4:19
I Remember You	2:52
Conspiracy Theory	4:14
Amerika V.6.0	4:19
Go Amanda	3:34
Jerusalem (Album Version)	3:56
Amerika V. 6.0 (The Best We Can Do)	4:19
What's A Simple Man To Do ?	2:29
Jerusalem (Radio Edit)	3:42
Conspiracy Theory	4:14
The Truth	2:21

Video

Ashes to Ashes ~Steve Earle~

Amerika V. 6.0 (The Best We Can Do) by Steve Earle

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Catalog Numbers

Labels

Warner Bros. Records, E-Squared
E-Squared
Artemis Records, E-Squared
Epic
Rykodisc
Artemis Records

Listen online

écouter en ligne
kuunnella verkossa
online luisteren
lytte på nettet
ascolta in linea
escuchar en línea
online anhören
lyssna på nätet
ouvir online

Formats

Vinyl
LP
Album
CD
CDr
HDCD
Reissue
Repress
Promo
Single

Companies

Role	Company
Licensed To	Warner Bros. Records
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Steve Earle
Copyright (c)	Steve Earle
Recorded At	Room & Board Recording
Mixed At	Room & Board Recording
Mastered At	Mastermix
Pressed By	United Record Pressing
Lacquer Cut At	Nashville Record Productions
Published By	Primary Wave Earle
Recorded By	Cowboy Technical Services Recording Rig
Distributed By	Sony Music
Manufactured By	Sony Music
Made By	Sony Music Studios, London
Licensed From	Artemis Records
Marketed By	Rykodisc
Glass Mastered At	Sony DADC
Record Company	Nonesuch Records

Credits

Role	Credit
Art Direction	Brad Talbott
Design	Brad Talbott
Bass	Kelley Looney
Cover	Tony Fitzpatrick
Illustration	Tony Fitzpatrick
Drums	Will Rigby
Percussion	Will Rigby
Engineer	Ray Kennedy
Guitar	Steve Earle
Mandolin	Steve Earle
Banjo	Steve Earle
Harmonica	Steve Earle
Harmonium	Steve Earle
Synthesizer	Steve Earle
Organ	Steve Earle
Vocals	Steve Earle
Mastered By	Hank Williams
Photography By	Glen Rose
Producer	The Twangtrust
Written-By	Sheryl Crow (tracks: 8), Steve Earle
Coordinator	Elisa Sanders
Lacquer Cut By	WG
Layout	Ed Sherman
Liner Notes	Steve Earle
Management	Danny Goldberg, Jesse Bauer
Booking	Paul Fenn
Legal [For Carroll	Rosemary Carroll
Guido and Groffman]	Rosemary Carroll
Public Relations [France Publicity	Michel Pampelune
for Fargo Mafia]	Michel Pampelune
Public Relations	Bobbie Gale
Public Relations [UK Radio & TV	Richard Wootton
for Richard Wootton Publicity]	Richard Wootton
Artwork By	Tony Fitzpatrick
Drum Programming	Dane Clark (tracks: 3)
Electric Piano	John Jarvis (tracks: 8)
Recorded By	Tim Hatfield (tracks: 2)
Musician	Emmylou Harris (tracks: # 9)
Administrator [Sarangel Music Administered By	Tom Snell
For Sussman & Associates (US & Canada) And Bug Music (International)]	Tom Snell
Artwork	Tony Fitzpatrick
Booking [Int'l	Paul Fenn, Steve Cheney
For ASGARD]	Paul Fenn, Steve Cheney
Booking [US & Canada	Frank Riley
For High Road Touring]	Frank Riley
Legal [For Codikow	Janine Natter, Rosemary Carroll
Carroll	Janine Natter, Rosemary Carroll
Guido & Groffman]	Janine Natter, Rosemary Carroll
Management [Business	Charles Sussman, Kurt Vitolo
For Sussman & Associates]	Charles Sussman, Kurt Vitolo
Songwriter	Steve Earle

Notes

Warner Bros Records Inc., A Warner Music Group Company. 3300 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505-4694, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-6708. ©℗ 2002 Steve Earle under exclusive license to Warner Bros. Records Inc for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside the U.S. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. Manfactured in the E.U. (printed on back of sleeve). Vinyl manufactured in the Netherlands (printed on B-side label).
Includes inner credit sleeve
Category on spine: SE-E2-003
Category on rear sleeve and label: SE-E2-004
All songs published by Primary Wave Earle [ASCAP] except
"Go Amanda" published byPrimary Wave Earle [ASCAP]/Old Crow Music (BMI)/Warner-Tamerlane (BMI)
Warner Bros Records Inc., A Warner Music Group Company. 3300 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505-4694, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-6708. ©℗ 2002 Steve Earle under exclusive license to Warner Bros. Records Inc for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside the U.S. Printed in Canada. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. Sleeve printed in Canada. Vinyl manufactured in the Netherlands.
Includes printed inner sleeve containing liner notes, lyrics, and credits.
ⒸⓅ 2002 E-Squared, LLC / Sheridan Square Entertainment, LLC.
All songs published by Sarangel Music (ASCAP) except track 8 published by Sarangel Music (ASCAP)/Old Crow Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co. (BMI)
Made in Austria
Not for production.
Factory pressed CDR. Plastic wallet, wraparound insert.
℗ & © 2002 E-Squared, LLC / Sheridan Square Entertainment, LLC
Manufactured in the EU
Package includes an 8 page booklet featuring front cover, notes by Steve Earle (July 4 2002), lyrics, credits, religious symbol artwork and photograph.
All songs published by Sarangel Music (ASCAP) except track 8 published by Sarangel Music (ASCAP) / Old Crow Music / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co. (BMI)
©℗ 2002 Steve Earle
This appears to be a recent repress by one of the North American Technicolor plants acquired from Cinram.
Issued in a standard jewel case with an 8-page cover booklet. Printed in U.S.A.
* duet with Emmylou Harris
All songs published by Sarangel Music (ASCAP) except “Go Amanda” published by Sarangel Music (ASCAP)/Old Crow Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co. (BMI)
Emmylou Harris appears courtesy of Nonesuch Records
Recorded and Mixed at Room & Board, Hermitage, Tennessee except: “Amerika v. 6.0 (The Best We Can Do)” recorded at Cowboy Technical Services Rig, Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY with additional recording at Room & Board
Mastered at Mastermix, Nashville, TN
©℗2002 E-Squared, LLC/Sheridan Square Entertainment, LLC.
Manufactured and marketed by Artemis Records
back cover art:
©℗2002 E-Squared, LLC/Sheridan Square Entertainment,LLC
Manufactured and Marketed by Artemis Records.
Distributed by RED Distribution, Inc.
disc art:
©℗2002 E-Squared, LLC/Sheridan Square Entertainment, LLC
Manufactured and Marketed by Artemis Records. Distributed by RED Distribution, Inc.
Issued with back insert.

Barcodes

Barcode: 093624911678
Label Code: LC00392
Matrix / Runout (Side A Runout (Etched)): 20308 1A 1-562328
Matrix / Runout (Side B Runout (Etched)): 20308 1B 1-562328
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): SE-E2-003-A WG/NRP ⓤ
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): SE-E2-003-B NRP ⓤ
Matrix / Runout (Side A Runout, Etched): 20308 1A 1-562328
Matrix / Runout (Side B Runout, Etched): 20308 1B 1-562328
Rights Society: ASCAP
Rights Society: BMI
Barcode: 5099750948026
Label Code: LC 00199
Matrix / Runout (CD label): 5094802000-509480 2
Matrix / Runout (Variant 1 and 2): Sony Music S5094802000-0101 15 A4
Matrix / Runout (Variant 3): Sony Music S5094802000-0101 15 A0
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L555
Mould SID Code (Variation 1): IFPI 947C
Mould SID Code (Variation 2): IFPI 9450
Mould SID Code (Variant 3): IFPI 942R
Other (Mould ring): *
Rights Society: SACEM/SDRM/BIEM
Matrix / Runout: Sony Music S5094802000-0101 15 A4
Mould SID Code: IFPI 947C
Barcode: 9399700104776
Barcode (Scanned): 0014431701320
Barcode (Text): 0 014431 701320 >
Matrix / Runout (Variant 1): [SONY DADC Logo] RCD17013 15 A01
Mastering SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI L555
Mould SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI 94K1
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2): [SONY DADC Logo] RCD17013 15 A01
Mastering SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI L555
Mould SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI 94K7
Barcode (Printed): 0 93624 91166 1
Matrix / Runout: 1 562328-2 TEXT 01 0001
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L779
Mould SID Code: IFPI KK7Z
Rights Society: ASCAP/BMI
Barcode: 0 74649 16842 1
Barcode: ARTCD 167
Barcode (Text): 6 99675 11472 5
Barcode (Scanned): 699675114725
Matrix / Runout: [wea mfg. OLYPHANT logo] Y20008 A2 751147-2 05
Matrix / Runout (Stamped): M1S3
Mastering SID Code: ifpi L903
Mould SID Code: IFPI 2U3W

About Steve Earle

American singer-songwriter. Born January 17,1955, in Fort Monroe, Hampton, Virginia, USA. He was married to from 2005 to 2014. He is the older brother of and . Father of (19822020) and John Henry Earle (2010-).

Real Name

Stephen Fain Earle

Name Vars

Dad
Earl
Earle
S, Earle
S. Earl
S. Earle
S.E.
Stephen Earl
Stephen Earle
Stephen F Earle
Stephen F. Ear
Stephen F. Earle
Stephen Fain Earle
Steve
Steve Earl
Steven F. Earle (Fain)

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s an interesting fact: Steve Earle’s album *Jerusalem*, released in 2002, is a genre-blending masterpiece that tackles heavy themes like politics, war, and faith. One of the standout tracks, "John Walker's Blues," tells the story of John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban." Earle wrote the song from Lindh’s perspective, sparking both controversy and deep reflection. The album was recorded in multiple countries and features Emmylou Harris on one track, adding her signature harmonies to the mix. It’s worth noting that Sheryl Crow co-wrote one of the songs too—track 8, “Amerika V. 6.0 (The Best We Can Do).” With its raw lyrics and rootsy sound, *Jerusalem* remains a bold statement in Earle’s catalog.

Comments

churchillmonti

2025-03-15

Looking back onto this album from the year's end of 2020, his prophesies appear far too over optimistic. But you cannot blame him, it needed a far wilder imagination to guess how bad things could really get.

wwwcoffie360

2025-03-15

Look at ya
Yeah, take a look in the mirror now tell me what you see
Another satisfied customer in the front of the line for the American dream
I remember when we was both out on the boulevard
Talkin' revolution and singin' the blues
Nowadays it's letters to the editor and cheatin' on our taxes
Is the best that we can do
Come on
Look around
There's doctors down on Wall Street
Sharpenin' their scalpels and tryin' to cut a deal
Meanwhile, back at the hospital
We got accountants playin' God and countin' out the pills
Yeah, I know, that sucks Ã??Ã?? that your HMO
Ain't doin' what you thought it would do
But everybody's gotta die sometime and we can't save everybody
It's the best that we can do
Four score and a hundred and fifty years ago
Our forefathers made us equal as long as we can pay
Yeah, well maybe that wasn't exactly what they was thinkin'
Version six-point-oh of the American way
But hey we can just build a great wall around the country club
To keep the riff-raff out until the slump is through
Yeah, I realize that ain't exactly democratic, but it's either them or us and
And it's the best we can do
Yeah, passionely conservative
It's the best we can do
Conservatively passionate
It's the best we can do
Meanwhile, still thinkin'
Hey, let's wage a war on drugs
It's the best we can do
Well, I don't know about you, but I kinda dig this global warming thing...

globalflyer

2025-03-15

Agenda 21-30 ,thats the song we r singing now

bensclimate

2025-03-14

jumping jack flash meets modern day we cant save everybody its the best we can do.

veruna1999

2025-03-13

I can't dig this global warming thing.

cooperca13

2025-03-13

Just watched Silver City and this plays over the end credits

culinarycritique

2025-03-13

Still cranking. "Meanwhile..."

youyoud

2025-03-12

Keef Richard's would appreciate this song and as exhaled a large amount of Rastafarianfairy dust into your face he would tell :don't ya take it so hard,brother

djdurueke

2025-03-11

A little altered Jumping Jack Flash & a load of earle attitude -- heaven..

professorlindalautrec

2025-03-11

The Capital of dust.....

cheeurs

2025-03-11

This song was ten years ahead of it's time.

ivan336279598

2025-03-10

Trump Amerika killin us all

fatihmutlu348

2025-03-09

Even more significant since the onset of Trump Disease.

aboodi766666

2025-03-09

Definitely picking up a Keith Richards vibe rhythm wise, Steve's lyrics are the best tho

davyleal

2025-03-09

I've been a Steve Earle fan since my "little" brother turned me onto Exit 0. And I saw Steve when he toured to support the release of Jerusalem. This might have been written during the reign of Bush and Cheney but man does this song fit what the Carrothead in the Whitehouse is doing to our wonderful country!! Mar-Lago being the "new" country club only the privileged can enter....but I'm ok with being some of the "Riff-Raff!" Rock On Steve!!

temitope0328

2025-03-08

They said Earle was too country for rock stations and too rock for country stations, but he found a loyal audience and critical raves anyway. This is one of his best, especially because he's so pissed off.

laidlaid

2025-03-08

They asked him in one interview why he liked to play so loud and his reply was because it makes my dick hard. He is the best.

jurbinamolina900

2025-03-07

Song suggests building a wall long before Trump did.

herwiene75

2025-03-06

been workin for audubon and sierra club projects for over 40 years. i am sad too steve. love ya!

betperry

2025-03-06

He's not always right about everything...but he's right about this.

mangopearmedia

2025-03-06

This song plays over the end credits of the John Sayles movie "Silver City." That's one of the things I love about John Sayles. Not only is he a great writer and movie director but he really has a fantastic ear for music. Good music, that is.

heitormatias

2025-03-06

you get what your hand calls for. whoevers in, draw cards...

fileytown

2025-03-06

.. inspired after seeing a Stones gig maybe

21projectnavis

2025-03-05

i bought 'guitar town' on vinyl in '86, and have followed his rises(and falls) over the last god knows how many years. the man just tells it like it is, and always make you think. he's hailed as 'the new johnny cash' but he's deeper than that. he's a liberal, a radical, a poet, a speaker of truths, a patriot. if the us actually listened to (and acted upon) the concepts that he promotes, perhaps americans would not be so universally despised. the song is a ball-tearer as well.

shshircox32

2025-03-05

This song is about short changing American's (The best we can do is not enough) is what Steve is saying. He's saying we can do better

crober3

2025-03-04

The fact that this is a riff on 'Satisfaction' works perfectly with the theme of the song. It's hard to get any Satisfaction with what's going on in today's Amerika.