Ghosts of West Virginia- Steve Earle

Graham Craycraft

Steve Earle’s 2020 album, Ghosts of West Virginia, is largely based around the mining communities of West Virginia and the conditions and lives of the miners there-of. Steve Earle has often been extremely political during his concerts including the sporting of the Soviet Union hammer and sickle emblem on apparel and equipment. Despite the brash political commentary during his shows, his albums have almost always been tasteful and subtle. This album is no different. It traverses subjects such as lost time, death, struggles of the miners, and learning to get by. It is thought provoking without being preachy or pedantic. It tells the stories for how they are without overarching bias.

Songs in this album are more connected than other albums because of the consistent subject matter. Lines like “it can only get better/ it’s just a matter of time,” in one song plays, tragically, well with lines like “time is never on our side.” A sense of consistent hope that will never come to fruition. “Black Lung” is a prime example of the terrible conditions the miners face their entire lives. Because of the poor economic conditions and limited choices in these communities, these citizens are forced to choose between a life half lived and put out by black lung, or a life of non feasible economic disparity (a choice that is really no choice at all).

The album is beautiful. It balances authentic ballads like “If I Could See Your Face Again” sung by Eleanor Whitmore with fast paced pluckers like “Devil Put the Coal in the Ground” that is well matched by Earle’s gravelly voice. “It’s About Blood” recounts the 2010 mine explosion that killed 29 men and does it in a vicious yet honoring way ending the song by listing all 29 names. Earle visits many of the hardships of the mining communities of West Virginia through different perspectives. Not just stuck on the miners themselves there are songs from a young widow’s point of view, a retelling of the classic John Henry tale, and also a man lucky enough to escape the mountains for a more eventful life. 

There is legitimately not a dull or lacking song on this album. In fact I will even say that all of the songs on the album are great. This is my favorite album of 2020 so far and I will be hitting it hard for the foreseeable future.