Indulge in the Rich Darkness of I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive


Some books are enjoyable more for the tone than for the actual story: Steve Earle accomplishes this in his I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive.

The premise of the book itself is a bit less endearing. The novel’s main character Doc Ebersole is a hack medic the reader is to believe may have given Hank Williams a dose of morphine for back problems that killed the legendary musician in 1953. Doc is tracked through his own intense drug addiction by Williams’ specter.

Doc’s professional life involves providing illegal abortions to Mexican sex workers, as a means of making the money to feed his addiction. The world Doc inhabits is dark, yet he handles his work with care and concern. Earle wisely introduces an assistant, Graciela, who is at first one of Doc’s clients. She provides healing to Doc and his clients that is other-worldy and magical, and gives Doc something to believe in beyond his drugs.

Earle’s history as a songwriter did him many favors here. The pages drip with a sadness and hope that pay tribute to the Williams’ song of the same name. While Doc’s path is fraught with dangers, the words Earle uses to carry us along are as poignant as a well crafted song.

Thanks to the Boston Public Library for recommending I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive.

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