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.
Bright Morning Stars
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bright morning stars are rising,
Bright morning stars are rising,
Bright morning stars are rising,
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
Oh, where are our dear mothers,
They are down in the valley praying,
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
Oh where are our dear fathers,
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
They have gone to heaven shouting,
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
Bright morning stars are rising,
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
The traditional song "Bright Morning Stars" as interpreted by Emmylou Harris has a deeply spiritual theme. The lyrics center around the idea of a new day dawning, both literally and metaphorically, as daybreak signifies both the beginning of a new day and the dawn of a new era in one's spiritual journey. The repetition of "bright morning stars are rising" reinforces the idea of hope and renewal, and in the chorus, "day is a-breaking in my soul," the singer is expressing her own personal sense of enlightenment.
The second verse introduces the idea of the singer's missing parents, and how they play a role in her spiritual journey. The implication is that they have already passed away, and are therefore no longer physically present. However, the singer imagines them down in the valley praying, a reference to the Biblical account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. The third verse speaks to the departed fathers, whom the singer imagines have already gone to heaven shouting, another biblical reference to the joyous exultation of the redeemed.
Overall, this song speaks to the transformative power of faith, and how the hope of new beginnings can be a source of comfort even in the face of loss and grief.
Line by Line Meaning
Bright morning stars are rising,
Hope is on the horizon and a new day is beginning in my heart.
Bright morning stars are rising,
The light is shining and illuminating the world around me.
Bright morning stars are rising,
A symbol of new beginnings and the promise of a fresh start.
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
A sense of renewal is taking place within me.
Oh, where are our dear mothers,
Where have the women who nurtured us gone?
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
A dawning realization that new growth and change is happening in my spirit.
They are down in the valley praying,
They are in the midst of the hardships and they are seeking guidance.
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
Discovering that transformation can be found even in the midst of life's challenges.
Oh where are our dear fathers,
Where are those who have come before us for guidance and wisdom?
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
A new understanding and compassion is being born within me.
They have gone to heaven shouting,
They have left this world with triumph and joy.
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
A sense of peace and fulfillment is slowly taking root within my spirit.
Bright morning stars are rising,
The promise of a better tomorrow is within reach.
Day is a-breaking in my soul.
A new perspective is arising, fueled by newfound hope and faith.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EMMYLOU HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind