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.
Every Grain of Sand
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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When the pool of tears beneath my feet, flood every newborn seed
There's a dyin' voice within me, reaching out somewhere
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair
Don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake
Like cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break
In the fury of the moment I can see the master's hand
Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear
Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer
The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay
I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame
And every time I pass that way, I always hear my name
Then onward in my journey, I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand
I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night
In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of a wintry light
In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space
In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face
I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me
I am hanging in the balance of a perfect finished plan
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand
The lyrics to "Every Grain of Sand" by Emmylou Harris are introspective and contemplative, expressing feelings of despair, remorse, and spirituality. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song, with the singer confessing their turmoil and the overwhelming flood of tears that surround them. There's a sense of reaching out for guidance or salvation as the voice within cries out for help. The second verse speaks to the singer's need for redemption and the desire to break free from a chain of events that have plagued them like Cain. The use of religious imagery is evident throughout the song, with the master's hand being referenced and the idea that every hair is numbered like every grain of sand, suggesting an omniscient force at work.
The following verses touch on themes of temptation, indulgence versus conscience and good cheer, and the passing of time. The lyrics suggest a struggle to resist the call of temptation, to push through and continue the journey despite the challenges that arise along the way. As the song progresses, there's a sense of accepting one's place in the grand scheme of things, that each person is a part of a perfect finished plan. The final lines bring everything together nicely, with the comparison of every sparrow falling to every grain of sand, emphasizing the idea that every tiny detail matters and has significance.
Line by Line Meaning
In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
During my confession, at my greatest time of need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet, flood every newborn seed
My tears are so numerous that they flood anything new
There's a dyin' voice within me, reaching out somewhere
There is a voice inside of me that is almost gone, but still trying to reach out
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair
I am struggling in a dangerous and hopeless situation
Don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake
I do not want to dwell on past mistakes
Like cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break
Like Cain from the Bible, I am aware of a bad series of events that I need to break
In the fury of the moment I can see the master's hand
In moments of intense passion, I see the hand of a higher power
In every leaf that trembles and in every grain of sand
I find that higher power in everything, no matter how small
Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear
I see the good and bad times of the past
Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer
Those past experiences have stifled my conscience and happiness
The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way
The sun has shone on the path of my life
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay
The sun has helped me deal with lazy times and dying memories
I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame
I am tempted and see the dangerous consequences
And every time I pass that way, I always hear my name
I am constantly drawn towards that temptation and feel it calling me
Then onward in my journey, I come to understand
As I continue on, I gain understanding
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand
Everything is significant and has a purpose, no matter how small
I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night
I have experienced both great suffering and extreme joy
In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of a wintry light
I have experienced both intense passion and stark reality
In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space
I have felt the sadness and emptiness of loneliness
In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face
I see the shattered remnants of my own innocence on the faces I encounter
I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
I hear the sounds of history like the ebb and flow of the ocean
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me
Sometimes there is companionship, other times there is only solitude
I am hanging in the balance of a perfect finished plan
I am part of a greater plan, yet I am unsure of my place in it
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand
My life is significant and unique, like every small living thing and mineral on Earth
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind