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.
Clocks
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my mind to someplace else
Little gold clock ticking by my bed
Funny little people dancing 'round my head
Morning brings me things to do
Morning brings me thoughts of you
Gentle sunshine through the curtain lace
Counting hours making days
Watching time throwing love away
Nothing golden never stays
That's what I heard the poets say Mmm ...
Time is always taking me
Places I don't want to be
But when the morning rise the moon
I know a bird day's coming soon
Counting hours making days
Watching time throwing love away
Nothing golden never stays
That's what I heard the poets say Mmm ...
Morning brings me things to do
Morning brings me thoughts of you
Gentle sunshine through the curtain lace
Some of which shining on your sweet face
The lyrics of Emmylou Harris's song "Clocks" describe the passage of time and how it affects one's thoughts and feelings. Harris paints a picture of two clocks ticking away in her life - an old brown clock on the shelf that takes her mind to someplace else and a little gold clock by her bed that has funny little people dancing around her head. The morning brings with it new tasks to complete and thoughts of a loved one. The sunshine streaming through the curtain lace even has a way of shining on the loved one's sweet face.
As the song continues, Harris speaks to the fleeting nature of time. Hours and days move quickly, and sometimes it feels like love is slipping away just as fast. Yet, Harris acknowledges that nothing golden ever stays; a sentiment she has heard poets express. Despite this, the morning provides her with hope that a new day is coming, and with it, something positive has the potential to arrive.
Overall, "Clocks" is a poignant reminder that time waits for no one and that everything in life is temporary. The lyrics encourage listeners to appreciate those they love and to be present in the moment, rather than becoming too consumed with the passing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Old brown clock ticking on my shelf
The ticking of the old brown clock on my shelf takes my mind to a place other than my reality.
Take my mind to someplace else
The ticking of the clock on my shelf helps me escape from reality.
Little gold clock ticking by my bed
The ticking of the little gold clock by my bed is a reminder of the constant passage of time.
Funny little people dancing 'round my head
The ticking of the clock by my bed causes me to have strange thoughts and images in my mind.
Morning brings me things to do
The start of a new day fills me with tasks and responsibilities to fulfill.
Morning brings me thoughts of you
When I wake up, I am reminded of you and my mind begins to ponder about you.
Gentle sunshine through the curtain lace
The gentle sunlight shining through my curtains creates a peaceful atmosphere and a sense of warmth.
Some of which shining on your sweet face
I imagine the sunlight shining on your sweet face, which fills me with comfort and joy.
Counting hours making days
The passage of time is marked by the counting of hours, which eventually become days.
Watching time throwing love away
I am aware that the passage of time can sometimes result in the loss of love and relationships.
Nothing golden never stays
The things we cherish in life can never stay forever; everything is fleeting.
That's what I heard the poets say Mmm ...
I have read and heard from poets that everything in life is temporary.
Time is always taking me
The constant march of time propels me forward, bringing change and growth.
Places I don't want to be
The movement of time often takes me to situations or circumstances that are challenging or unpleasant.
But when the morning rise the moon
When morning comes and the moon sets, I know that a new day is beginning.
I know a bird day's coming soon
I am optimistic that a new day, filled with new opportunities and experiences, is just around the corner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EMMYLOU HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind