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.
Golden Ring
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a sunny summer day.
A couple gazes at the wedding rings,
There on display.
She smiles and nods her head,
As he says: "Honey that's for you.
"It's not much, but it's the best,
"That I can do."
Golden ring, (Golden ring.)
With one tiny little stone,
Waiting there, (Waiting there.)
For someone to take to you home.
By itself, (By itself.)
It's just a cold metallic thing.
Only love can make a golden wedding ring.
In a little wedding chapel,
Later on that afternoon,
An old upright piano,
Plays that old familiar tune.
Tears roll down her cheeks,
And happy thoughts run through her head.
As he whispers low:
"With this ring, I thee wed."
Golden ring, (Golden ring.)
With one tiny little stone,
Shining ring, (Shining ring.)
Now at last it's found a home.
By itself, (By itself.)
It's just a cold metallic thing.
Only love can make a golden wedding ring.
In a small two room apartment,
As they fought their final round,
He says: "You won't admit it,
"But I know you're leavin' town."
She says: "One thing's for certain,
"I don't love you any more."
And throws down the ring,
As she walks out the door.
Golden ring, (Golden ring.)
With one tiny little stone,
Cast aside, (Cast aside.)
Like the love that's dead and gone.
By itself, (By itself.)
It's just a cold metallic thing.
Only love can make a golden wedding ring.
In a pawn shop in Chicago,
On a sunny summer day.
A couple gazes at the wedding rings,
There on display.
Golden ring.
The song "Golden Ring" by Emmylou Harris tells the story of a couple who first purchase a small golden ring at a pawnshop in Chicago. Although the purchase is a small one, it is given with love and affection. Later that day, the couple gets married in a small wedding chapel. The lyrics depict a happy moment full of love, as they start their journey together.
However, the song takes a sad turn when the couple is in a small two-room apartment and is fighting. The woman admits she isn't in love anymore and throws the ring when she leaves. The once-thought-to-be precious thing is now abandoned and cast aside.
The lyrics symbolically describe how love can create a once-beautiful bond between two people, but can also cause heartbreak, resulting in split paths. Although the ring is just a small metal object and has no hold over their love, the emotions attached to it make the couple's love seem all the more precious.
Overall, "Golden Ring" is a story that shows how love can be both beautiful and painful. It's a reminder that love is truly what makes a marriage, not the object or material item that represents it.
Line by Line Meaning
In a pawn shop in Chicago,
The setting for this song begins in a Chicago pawn shop where this sentimental tale unfolds.
On a sunny summer day.
The sun shines brightly in the backdrop of this bittersweet love story.
A couple gazes at the wedding rings,
Two people are looking at wedding rings on display, likely considering making a lifelong commitment to each other.
There on display.
The wedding rings are openly and prominently exhibited to attract potential buyers.
She smiles and nods her head,
The woman approves of the selection presented by her partner and perhaps hints at her desire to be married with a smile and nod.
As he says: "Honey that's for you.
The man tells his partner that he wants to buy the ring to gift it to her, calling her 'honey' with a tone of affection.
"It's not much, but it's the best,
Although the ring may not be grand, the man proclaims that it's the best and represents his desire to marry her and build a life together.
"That I can do."
The man is giving his all to this purchase, indicating his commitment to their relationship and willingness to do anything for his partner.
Golden ring, (Golden ring.)
The focal point of this song is a golden wedding ring, forever representing the love and commitment between two people.
With one tiny little stone,
The ring is adorned with a single small stone, perhaps symbolic of the simple beauty and elegance of love and marriage.
Waiting there, (Waiting there.)
The ring's placement in the pawn shop is a waiting period before it can become part of someone's love story.
For someone to take to you home.
The ring is yearning for someone to take it home and wear it as a symbol of their love.
By itself, (By itself.)
Without any meaning attached to it, it's just a simple object made of metal and stone.
It's just a cold metallic thing.
Without being imbued with love and emotion, the ring is just a piece of inanimate matter, insignificant and meaningless on its own.
Only love can make a golden wedding ring.
The only way for this plain object to become meaningful and beautiful is to be worn as a symbol of love.
In a little wedding chapel,
The story advances to a wedding chapel where the couple is taking their vows.
Later on that afternoon,
The day is advancing as the couple becomes married and starts their journey as a married couple.
An old upright piano,
The melody of the couple's union is carried by the sweet sound of an old, upright piano.
Plays that old familiar tune.
The piano plays a familiar song that carries a special meaning for the couple.
Tears roll down her cheeks,
The happiness of the new union is represented by the tears of joy shed by the bride.
And happy thoughts run through her head.
The bride is filled with positive and joyful thoughts of the future that lies ahead of the newly married couple.
As he whispers low: "With this ring, I thee wed."
The bridegroom vows to the bride with this traditional wedding phrase, solidifying their union by placing the ring on the her finger.
Shining ring, (Shining ring.)
In this moment, the ring starts to shine, representing the celebration of the newlywed's love and commitment.
Now at last it's found a home.
The ring has found a home on the bride's finger, representing the love and commitment between the new couple.
In a small two room apartment,
The story progresses through time to a small apartment where the couple seems to be experiencing marital issues.
As they fought their final round,
The couple are in the midst of an argument, which seems to be the end of their relationship.
He says: "You won't admit it,
The man accuses the woman of hiding something about the relationship from him.
"But I know you're leavin' town."
The man believes that the woman is planning to leave town, perhaps indicating the end of their marriage.
She says: "One thing's for certain,
The woman seems to be certain in her decision to end the relationship, despite any protests from her partner.
"I don't love you any more."
The woman reveals that she has fallen out of love with the man and no longer feels any emotions for him.
And throws down the ring,
The woman discards the ring, representing the end of their marriage and any love that they once shared.
As she walks out the door.
The woman departs, representing the conclusion of their relationship and any hope for reconciliation.
Cast aside, (Cast aside.)
The ring is thrown down and disregarded, representing the end of the love and the union it represented.
Like the love that's dead and gone.
The ring and relationship have reached their end and are now void of any love or meaning, left forgotten and neglected.
Contributed by Max C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.