Harris is truly an innovator. For over 30 years, Emmylou has flowed effortlessly between genres achieving popularity in pop, folk, country and now alternative. The common bridge is an exquisite vocal style and a gift for discovering the heart of a song.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 2, 1947, the daughter of Walter and Eugenia Harris grew up near Washington, D.C. As a college student in the late 60s, she sang with a local folk duo and eventually moved to Greenwich Village. She played the clubs on the local folk scene occasionally sharing the stage with Jerry Jeff Walker and David Bromberg.
Discovered in 1971 by Chris Hillman, Hillman brought Gram Parsons to hear her sing in a small club in the Washington D.C. area. In 1972, she answered the call from Gram to join him in Los Angeles to work on his first solo album, "GP." According to Songfacts, Parsons tragic early death in 1973 left Harris at an emotional and musical crossroads. Her earliest signature song, Boulder To Birmingham was written shortly after Gram's death, and it showed the depth of her shock and pain at losing her friend and mentor.
After the loss of Gram, Emmylou went back to the D.C. area and formed a country band, playing with them until her 1975 major label debut, Pieces of the Sky, when she formed the first version of the legendary Hot Band. Over the years the Hot Band included world class players such as Albert Lee, Rodney Crowell and Hank DeVito.
Emmylou has been called by Billboard Magazine a "truly venturesome, genre-transcending pathfinder." Throughout her career, she has been admired for her talent as an artist and song connoisseur, but it was with her 2000 album, Red Dirt Girl, for which Ms. Harris was awarded her tenth (out of eleven total to date) Grammy, that she revealed she is also a gifted songwriter. Continuing the trend with her September 2003 album, Stumble Into Grace, Emmylou wrote ten of the album's eleven tracks. Though Emmylou is the most admired and influential woman in contemporary country music, her scope extends far beyond it. She has recorded with such diverse artists as Ryan Adams, Beck, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Tammy Wynette, Neil Young, The Chieftains, Lyle Lovett, Roy Orbison, The Band, Willie Nelson and George Jones.
She sings with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt on the incomparable albums Trio and Trio II, making all three artists living American legends.
A longtime social activist, Harris has lent her voice to many causes. She is active in cultural preservation issues, notably the Country Music Foundation and the Grand Ole Opry. As an animal rights activist and the owner of several dogs and cats, Emmylou also supports PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Humane Society. Since 1997 she has been the most visible spokesperson for the Campaign for a Landmine Free World, drawing public attention and notable musical artists to the cause.
Bluebird Wine
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made me put my money in the bank, bank
Straightened out my crooked way of thinkin'
Made it purely pleasure when I drank
And it's all right
I just hit my stride
Right off the bat
Now, baby taught me a different way of thinkin'
Like how to spend my evenings here at home
Listening to the music on the radio
Drinking all the Bluebird we can hold
And it's all right
I just hit my stride
Right off the bat
Lord, I'm drunk on Bluebird Wine
Well, baby says he'd really love a party
We'll get some friends together feelin' fine
Any friend of mine is worth this habit, yeah
A belly full of baby's Bluebird Wine
And it's all right
I just hit my stride
Party just started
Lord, I'm drunk on Bluebird Wine
And it's all right
I just hit my stride
Right off the bat
Lord, I'm drunk on Bluebird Wine
Emmylou Harris's Bluebird Wine is a simple yet highly relatable song about how a lover has changed the singer's life for the better. The first verse mentions how the lover (referred to as 'baby') has improved the singer's financial situation and helped them overcome their unhealthy drinking habits. The second verse talks about how the lover has also taught the singer to appreciate a simpler life, where they can enjoy listening to music and drinking Bluebird Wine at home. The third verse introduces the idea of a party, where the singer and their friends can partake in the Bluebird Wine and have a good time, further emphasizing the sense of community that the lover has helped the singer create.
The song's lyrics are very straightforward and easy to understand, yet they evoke a sense of comfort and belonging. The Bluebird Wine is used as a metaphor for the love and happiness that the singer now feels that they have found with their lover. The entire song is a celebration of this newfound happiness and how it has drastically changed the singer's outlook on life.
Overall, the song's message is about the transformative power of love and how it can change our lives for the better. It's an ode to the everyday moments of joy that we often take for granted but are ultimately what make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby brought me in out off the highway
I was wandering aimlessly on the highway until someone took me in
Made me put my money in the bank, bank
That someone convinced me to be financially responsible and put my money in a bank
Straightened out my crooked way of thinkin'
That someone helped me change my negative and misguided thought patterns
Made it purely pleasure when I drank
That someone taught me to enjoy drinking alcohol without succumbing to addiction or negative consequences
And it's all right
Everything is going well
I just hit my stride
I am moving with ease and confidence
Right off the bat
From the very beginning
Lord, I'm drunk on Bluebird Wine
I am thoroughly enjoying this particular type of wine, feeling a sense of pleasure and relaxation
Now, baby taught me a different way of thinkin'
The aforementioned person has shown me a new approach to how I should think
Like how to spend my evenings here at home
That person suggested a new activity to do in the evenings while at home
Listening to the music on the radio
That new activity includes listening to music that is broadcasted from the radio
Drinking all the Bluebird we can hold
During this activity we consume a large amount of Bluebird Wine
Well, baby says he'd really love a party
That someone is interested in throwing a party
We'll get some friends together feelin' fine
Invite some friends over to relax and have a good time
Any friend of mine is worth this habit, yeah
These social engagements are worth continuing this enjoyable habit of drinking Bluebird Wine
A belly full of baby's Bluebird Wine
We will drink a lot of Bluebird Wine at this party
Party just started
The party has just begun
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Rodney J Crowell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind