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.
C'est La Vie
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre
Did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame
Have rung the chapel bell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
It goes to slow you never can tell
They furnished off an apartment
With a two room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was crammed
With T.V. Dinners and ginger ale
But when Pierre found work
The little money comin' worked out well
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
It goes to show you never can tell
They had a hi-fi phono
Boy did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records
All rockin' rhythm and jazz
But when the sun went down
The rapid tempo of the music fell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
It goes to show you never can tell
They bought a souped-up Jimmy
T'was a cherry-red fifty three
Drove it down to Orleans
To celebrate their anniversary
It was there that Pierre
Was wedded to the lovely mademoiselle
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
It goes to show you never can tell
It was a teenage wedding
And the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre
Did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame
Have rung the chapel bell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
It goes to show you never can tell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
It goes to show you never can tell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
It goes to show you never can tell
In Emmylou Harris's song "C'est La Vie," she tells the story of a young couple, Pierre and his mademoiselle, who get married as teenagers. The old folks of the town are there to wish them well and say "c'est la vie" meaning "that's life," as they recognize how unpredictable life can be. After the wedding, the couple moves into a furnished apartment, but things are tight financially. However, when Pierre finds work, things start to look up for them. They splurge on a hi-fi phono and play rockin' rhythm and jazz music, but even with their newfound prosperity, the tempo of the music slows down with the sun setting. Finally, the couple celebrates their anniversary in Orleans, driving their newly-bought souped-up Jimmy. The song ends with the line "C'est la vie," once again emphasizing the unpredictability of life.
The lyrics are telling a story of a couple who started out young, naive, and in love, and who encountered difficulties and joys as they grew together. The song shows how life is unpredictable, with ups and downs, and how the old folks of the town have experienced enough of it to know that things often don't go as planned.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a teenage wedding
The couple being referred to had their wedding when they were teenagers.
And the old folks wished them well
The elderly people present at the event wished the couple well.
You could see that Pierre
It was clear that Pierre loved the girl he was getting married to.
Did truly love the mademoiselle
He had genuine feelings of love towards the girl.
And now the young monsieur and madame
The young French couple referred to in the song.
Have rung the chapel bell
A traditional way of announcing that a wedding has taken place in France.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
A French phrase meaning 'that's life' used to indicate accepting the ups and downs of life.
It goes to show you never can tell
A reminder that life's surprises are unpredictable and can occur unexpectedly.
They furnished off an apartment
The couple got their first apartment together after getting married.
With a two room Roebuck sale
They furnished their apartment with items they purchased from a Roebuck sale.
The coolerator was crammed
The fridge was filled with a lot of TV dinners and ginger ale.
With T.V. Dinners and ginger ale
They stored TV dinners and ginger ale in their refrigerator.
But when Pierre found work
When Pierre found employment, things improved.
The little money comin' worked out well
The small income they received was sufficient for their needs.
They had a hi-fi phono
The couple owned a high-fidelity phonograph.
Boy did they let it blast
They played the music at a high volume setting on their phonograph.
Seven hundred little records
The couple had a collection of 700 music records.
All rockin' rhythm and jazz
The type of music that they played and enjoyed was mostly rhythm and jazz.
But when the sun went down
When it got late in the evening.
The rapid tempo of the music fell
They reduced the loudness and took it slow with their choice of music.
They bought a souped-up Jimmy
They bought an enhanced and customized GMC Jimmy car.
T'was a cherry-red fifty three
The car was bright red and manufactured in 1953.
Drove it down to Orleans
The couple drove the car to New Orleans.
To celebrate their anniversary
They were celebrating their wedding anniversary.
It was there that Pierre
During their celebration in New Orleans.
Was wedded to the lovely mademoiselle
They renewed their wedding vows in New Orleans.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks
The old folks present when the couple renewed their wedding vows, again said 'that's life'
It goes to show you never can tell
Reiterating the idea that the unpredictability of life is inevitable.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vdnneves2068
It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53
They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversary
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely mademoiselle
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
@massimo5526
t was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53
They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversary
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely mademoiselle
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
@phav1832
I'm one of those people who often say, "I don't really like country music" . . . until I hear about any song that Emmylou ever did . . .
@WysteriaGuitar
Emmylou - such a beautiful and talented woman!
@pismorichy
Most beautiful 77 year old human on earth..
@michaelterry1000
"There are two types of men. Men in love with Emmylou Harris and men who never met her" -Willie Nelson
@garyjanssen5388
I near fell off my chair,
@1234larry1
Man, you’re tellin’ me!
@danielsawyer355
michaelterry1000 and I sir am one of those men
@murraymarshall5865
michaelterry1000 I thought it was Linda Ronstadt he said that of, could be he said it of both.
@spratzattack
She kills me when she looks down at her mic, slightly cross-eyed.
@Patrick_B687-3
Albert Lee. One of the MOST unsung of all time. And God is she a beauty.