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Fleeting Times in Steve Earle’s “Galway Girl”

Steve Earle Galway Girl
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Released in his 2000 album Transcendental Blues, Steve Earle’s “Galway Girl” talks about his reaction to a girl he met in Ireland.

It is one of Steve Earle’s songs in which several artists have released versions of the track, including Mundy, Ritchie Remo, and Fiddler’s Green.

Meaning Behind the Song

“Galway Girl,” with its upbeat and Irish vibes, was written by Steve Earle and Irish musician Sharon Shannon. Initially, the track was entitled “The Galway Girl,” but the songwriters eventually removed the article.

The song talks about how Earle met a woman in Galway, Ireland, hence the song’s title.

RELATED: 7 Unusual Things About Steve Earle That You’ll Want to Know

The lyrics tell the story of their first meeting and how they eventually parted. In the song, Earle takes a stroll, meets a girl, and they stop to talk. Earle described her as a woman with black hair and blue eyes. The moment he met her, he knew that he’d be swept up on his feet.

When the rain poured as they were still together, the woman asked if they could stay in her flat for some time, just for the rain to pass. Earle realized at that very moment that he had fallen in love with the “Galway Girl.”

Unfortunately, when Earle woke up in the morning, he found himself alone. With a broken heart, he decided to buy a ticket home. Even though he’s traveled worldwide, he said he had never seen anything like the “Galway Girl.”

The song also hints at the message of unrequited love. Having feelings for someone who doesn’t feel the same way might be heartbreaking, and that is what Steve Earle’s “Galway Girl” might be about.

Take a listen to Steve Earle right here.

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