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.
Boxer
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have squandered my existence
On a pocket full of mumbles such are promises
All lies in jest, till a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
Well I left my home and family I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
Layin' low seeking out the poor quarters
Where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know
Li li li
Li li li, li li li li
Li li li
Li li li, li li li li
Li li li
Only seeking workman's wages I come looking for a job
But I get no offers
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there
In a-laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was home
Going home
Where the New York City winters aren't a-bleeding me
Bleeding me
Going home
Da da, da da da, da
Da da da da, da da da da, da da
Da da da da da
In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of every bloke that laid him down or cleft him
Till he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving
But the fighter still remains
Li li li
Li li li, li li li li
Li li li
Li li li, li li li li
Li li li
The first verse of Emmylou Harris's song "Boxer" tells the story of a poor boy who has made poor decisions and squandered his life. He has filled his pockets with false promises and lies, hearing only what he wants to hear and ignoring what he doesn't want to face. Harris presents the idea that this boy has left everything he knows behind and is now stranded in an unknown city with no family, where he feels lost and alone. The boy has no plan and no clear direction, but he is searching for a place to belong. The lyrics are packed with melancholy and loneliness, portraying the hardship that comes with poverty and the struggles of navigating a new and unfamiliar place.
In the second verse, Harris continues to describe the boy's experience. He continues to look for work, but he is never offered anything. Instead, he is approached by prostitutes on the streets of Seventh Avenue in New York City. While he feels entirely alone and overwhelmed, there is a delicate sense of hope that he will make it through. Before the verse ends, there is a feeling of relief as the boy imagines himself going home soon, where he can feel at home and safe once more.
Overall, Harris's "Boxer" is a deeply emotional song about the loneliness and feelings of desperation that can arise when living in poverty far from home. Her lyrics evoke sympathy and compassion for the young protagonist, whose tough breaks have left him alone and lost in a cold, uncaring world.
Line by Line Meaning
I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told
I am a person of low socioeconomic status, and my life experiences often go unnoticed or unacknowledged.
I have squandered my existence
I have wasted my life and opportunities.
On a pocket full of mumbles such are promises
I have spent my time and resources on empty or unfulfilled promises.
All lies in jest, till a man hears what he wants to hear
People often believe what they want to hear, even if it is not true or realistic.
And disregards the rest
The person overlooks important information or doesn't consider alternate viewpoints.
Well I left my home and family I was no more than a boy
At a young age, I decided to leave the familiarity and security of my home and family behind.
In the company of strangers
I have surrounded myself with unfamiliar people.
In the quiet of the railway station runnin' scared
I am frightened and alone in an unfamiliar place.
Layin' low seeking out the poor quarters
I am trying to avoid being noticed by others while looking for a place to stay.
Where the ragged people go
I am searching for the company of others who are also struggling and impoverished.
Only seeking workman's wages I come looking for a job
I am in search of employment that pays a fair wage and provides financial stability.
But I get no offers
Despite my efforts, I am unable to secure a job.
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
Instead of a job offer, I am propositioned by prostitutes who work in the area.
I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome
I admit that I have experienced intense feelings of loneliness and isolation.
I took some comfort there
I found solace in the company of prostitutes, despite the illicit nature of their work.
In a-laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was home
I am preparing for the harsh weather ahead and yearning for the familiarity and warmth of my home.
Going home
I long to return to my place of origin.
Where the New York City winters aren't a-bleeding me
I desire to escape the harsh and unforgiving winter weather of New York City.
In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade
In a specific location, there is a professional fighter who is known for his skills and expertise.
And he carries the reminders
The fighter bears the physical and emotional scars from his past fights.
Of every bloke that laid him down or cleft him
He remembers every opponent who defeated or injured him.
Till he cried out in his anger and his shame
He reaches a breaking point where his frustration and embarrassment are too much to bear.
I am leaving, I am leaving
He decides to quit his profession and move on from his past experiences.
But the fighter still remains
Despite his decision to leave the ring, his identity as a fighter is deeply ingrained in him and will always be a part of him.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@avapepper
She makes every song hers alone. She means what she sings, I love her, what a talent.
@stefanalbrecht1806
This song is from Simon and Garfunkel. She's good anyway.
@TahoeLegend
The greatest voice in modern music. I was just a kid in San Francisco in the Summer Of Love the first time I heard her. She was the most beautiful woman in the new wave of music that was taking over the world, and had the greatest voice. She is still beautiful and still has that magnificent voice.
@danevans5823
Love is sometimes overused as a description of ones voice or talent.This amazing woman seems to me to be love itself.She kills me.❤
@shimmy1952
Emmylou can make great songs sound even better.She is simply awesome!
@soemra229
shimmy1952 .
@richardmbowman
This woman is among the best artists around today. Vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, she can do no wrong. None.
@davejones2970
Emmylou absolutely owns every song she sings. She could sing the Chicago phone book and I'd love to listen.
@tedperry7085
Rebarcheck, Ratkowski, Reimer, Roper, Reinhold and Reacher.....
@roseaddis5207
She is gift. Pure of Heart, Soul and Voice ❤️🌹