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.
Child Of Mine
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Different from me
Sometimes I can touch upon
The wonders that you see
All the new colors
And pictures you've designed
Oh, yes sweet darling
Child of mine
Child of mine
Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine
You don't need directions
You know which way to go
And I don't want to hold you back
I just want to watch you grow
You're the one who taught me
You don't have to look behind
Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine
Child of mine
Child of mine
Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine
Nobody's gonna kill your dreams
Or tell you how to live your life
There'll always be people to make it hard for a while
But you'll change their heads when they see you smile
The times you were born in
May not have been the best
But you can make the times to come
Better than the rest
I know you will be honest
If you can't always be kind
Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine
Child of mine
Child of mine
Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine
Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine
Child of mine
Child of mine
Oh, yes sweet darling
So glad you are a child of mine
The lyrics of Emmylou Harris's "Child of Mine" express a deep sense of gratitude and pride for the qualities of a child, such as their creativity, independence, and potential for shaping a better future. The first and second verses contrast the different perspectives and experiences of the adult and the child, but also acknowledge the opportunity for learning and empathizing across generations. The refrain "Oh, yes sweet darling, so glad you are a child of mine" reinforces the unconditional love and support that the singer feels for the child, while also acknowledging the child's own agency and autonomy.
The third verse turns to a more external perspective, with the singer reassuring the child that they will face obstacles and negativity from others, but that they have the capacity to change minds and spread positivity through their own presence and resilience. The final verse rounds out the message with a sense of optimism and faith in the child's character, that they will strive for honesty and kindness even in uncertain times.
Overall, "Child of Mine" can be interpreted as a celebration of both the unique qualities of a child, as well as the universal parent-child bond that transcends differences and inspires hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Although you see the world
Even though you perceive things differently from me
Different from me
In ways that are unique to you
Sometimes I can touch upon
Occasionally I can understand
The wonders that you see
The amazing things that you experience
All the new colors
Every fresh and vibrant hue
And pictures you've designed
As well as the images you imagine
Oh, yes sweet darling
Oh, my beloved and cherished child
So glad you are a child of mine
I am grateful that you are my offspring
Child of mine
My beloved offspring
You don't need directions
You know the way forward on your own
You know which way to go
You have an internal compass directing you
And I don't want to hold you back
I do not want to hinder your progress
I just want to watch you grow
I simply want to observe you mature
You're the one who taught me
You have expanded my understanding
You don't have to look behind
You do not need to dwell on the past
Nobody's gonna kill your dreams
No one can shatter your aspirations
Or tell you how to live your life
Or dictate how you should exist
There'll always be people to make it hard for a while
Other individuals may create obstacles that you must overcome
But you'll change their heads when they see you smile
But your positive demeanor will transform them
The times you were born in
The era in which you entered the world
May not have been the best
May have been challenging or difficult
But you can make the times to come
However, you possess the power to improve the future
Better than the rest
To make it better than what came before you
I know you will be honest
I am confident you will have integrity
If you can't always be kind
Even if you are not always able to be compassionate
Oh, yes sweet darling
Oh, my beloved and cherished child
So glad you are a child of mine
I am grateful that you are my offspring
Child of mine
My beloved offspring
Oh, yes sweet darling
Oh, my beloved and cherished child
So glad you are a child of mine
I am grateful that you are my offspring
Child of mine
My beloved offspring
Oh, yes sweet darling
Oh, my beloved and cherished child
So glad you are a child of mine
I am grateful that you are my offspring
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King, Gerry Goffin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind