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.
Everybody's Talkin'
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't hear a word their sayin'
Only the echos of my mind
People stop and stare
I can't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin'
Goin' where the weather suits my clothes
Bankin' off of the northeast winds
Sailin' on summer breeze
And skippin' over the ocean like a stone
I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin'
Through the pourin' rain
Goin' where the weather suits my clothes
Bankin' off of the northeast winds
Sailin' on summer breeze
And skippin' over the ocean like a stone
Everybody's talkin' at me
Can't hear a word their sayin'
Only the echos of my mind
I won't let you leave my love behind
No i won't let you leave
I won't let you leave my love behind
The song "Everybody's Talkin'" by Emmylou Harris talks about the feeling of isolation and disconnection from the world around us. The lyrics suggest that people are talking to the singer, but she cannot hear what they are saying. She only feels the echoes of her own mind. The people around her are reduced to shadows of eyes, suggesting that they are distant and unapproachable.
The song's refrain is about the singer's desire to escape to a place where she can find peace and the weather suits her clothes. She talks about "banking off the northeast winds" and "sailing on summer breeze," suggesting that she wants to be free and unrestricted. The song also suggests that the singer's escape is not physical, but a metaphorical one. She is trying to escape from her own thoughts and feelings by going to a place where she can start fresh and find a new perspective.
The last stanza of the song suggests that the singer is desperately holding onto love, even as she feels isolated and disconnected from the world around her. She does not want to leave her love behind, indicating that love is what is keeping her grounded and hopeful.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's talkin' at me
Many people are talking to me
I don't hear a word their sayin'
I am not listening or paying any attention to them
Only the echos of my mind
I am lost in my thoughts and not fully present
People stop and stare
Others are looking at me
I can't see their faces
I am disconnected and not making eye contact
Only the shadows of their eyes
I sense their presence, but not seeing them clearly
I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin'
I am going where life is pleasant and satisfying
Through the pourin' rain
Despite adversities, I am moving towards happiness
Goin' where the weather suits my clothes
I am choosing a life that suits me
Bankin' off of the northeast winds
I am taking advantage of opportunities and resources around me
Sailin' on summer breeze
I am enjoying life and experiencing freedom
And skippin' over the ocean like a stone
I am moving towards my goals effortlessly
I won't let you leave my love behind
I will not give up on love and let it slip away
No i won't let you leave
I will do everything to hold onto love
I won't let you leave my love behind
I am committed to making love work
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: FRED NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jpalberthoward9
Even at this early stage, those magnificent golden pipes that we all know and love as Emmylou Harris are there. You can tell that she's still working on phrasing and control, taking command of how to use the great gift she has, sort of like driving the Ferrari and getting used to the gears and the steering and how it handles. Emmy Lou`s voice and dynamics are very much like a finely tuned Ferrari. You can easily see why Parsons was so impressed and wanted to work with her and introduce her to the finer points of singing country music. He could hear right away that there was a great artist just waiting to emerge. This whole album is very good for a first time effort, and it hints at the amazing things that were to come.
I have heard Emmy herself say that she's a little embarrassed about this record, but I would disagree with her and if I could talk with her I'd say "hey, you have to start, someplace, and besides, there are lots of great moments on this record". Sort of like listening to Jimi Hendrix when he was playing with King Curtis or little Richard.
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 75yo Aussie fan.
Miriam Boyd
1969
Miriam Boyd
1969