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.
Falling In A Deep Hole
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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Busted for a reefer ninety-nine years solitar'
You can be my keeper
Falling in a deep hole, and it's getting deeper
Stranded on the desert, you can bring me water
Falling through the blue sky from an airplane
You can parachute down and save me
Mixed up like a puzzle; you put me together
Paranoia nightmare raging in my sleep
You can kiss me on the cheek and soothe me
Want to go to paradise? Baby, you can take me
Need to take my medicine Baby, your love can make me
Falling in a deep hole, and it's getting deeper
The song "Falling in a Deep Hole" by Emmylou Harris is a plea for help and a declaration of trust all wrapped into one. The lyrics speak to being in a dark place, whether it be drowning in the ocean or stranded on a desert, and needing someone to be a lifeline or a savior. The metaphor of falling deeper and deeper into a hole is used to convey the feeling of hopelessness and desperation that the singer is experiencing, and the repeated lines "You can be my lifeboat" and "Your love can take me" emphasize the importance of having someone to rely on for support and comfort.
The references to legal trouble and a paranoid nightmare add to the sense of being trapped and overwhelmed, while the idea of putting together a puzzle hints at the possibility of finding a way out of the darkness with the help of a caring companion. The overall message of the song is one of vulnerability and trust, with the singer acknowledging that she needs help and turning to someone she loves and trusts to provide it.
Line by Line Meaning
Drowning in the ocean you can be my lifeboat
In my distress, I hope you can be my savior and help me stay afloat
Busted for a reefer ninety-nine years solitar'
I have been caught with drugs and may face a long time of isolation and imprisonment
You can be my keeper
You can be my protector and keep me safe from harm
Falling in a deep hole, and it's getting deeper
I feel like I am falling into a dangerous and difficult situation that is only getting worse
Stranded on the desert, you can bring me water
When I am in need and helpless, I hope you can provide me with the essential resources to survive
Falling through the blue sky from an airplane
Life can feel like an unpredictable and uncontrollable free fall, and I am searching for someone to catch me
You can parachute down and save me
In my time of need, I hope you can come to my rescue and help me overcome my challenges
Need to take my medicine Baby, your love can take me
I may have some personal struggles, but I believe that your love and care can help me feel better
Mixed up like a puzzle; you put me together
I am feeling lost and confused, but I hope that you can help me make sense of things and put me back together
Paranoia nightmare raging in my sleep
My mind is plagued with fear and anxiety, making it hard for me to rest peacefully
You can kiss me on the cheek and soothe me
It may seem small, but your affection and comfort can help ease my worries and anxieties
Want to go to paradise? Baby, you can take me
I want to escape from my current struggles and find happiness and comfort, and I believe that being with you can take me to that paradise
Need to take my medicine Baby, your love can make me
I may have some challenges to face, but I believe that your love and care can be the medicine that helps me heal
Falling in a deep hole, and it's getting deeper
Once again, I feel like I am spiraling down into a dark place that is only getting harder to climb out of
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: BILL DANOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind