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.
Goodbye
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are laying around in tatters
Sounding absurd
Whatever I try
But I love
And that's all that really matters
If this is goodbye
If this is goodbye
Your bright shining sun
Would light up the way before me
You were the one
Made me feel I could fly
And I love you
Whatever is waiting for me
If this is goodbye
If this is goodbye
Who knows how long we've got
Or what were made out of
Who knows if there's a plan or not
There is our love
I know there is our love
My famous last words
Could never tell the story
Spinning unheard
In the dark of the sky
But I love you
And this is our glory
If this is goodbye
If this is goodbye
If this is goodbye
If this is goodbye
The lyrics of Emmylou Harris's song "Goodbye" have a touching and emotional depth to them, describing the end of a relationship between two people in a poignant and heartfelt manner. The opening lines, "My famous last words, are laying around in tatters, sounding absurd, whatever I try," indicate that the singer has reached a point where they feel like they've said everything they can to save the relationship but all of their words have fallen on deaf ears. They sound ridiculous to the other person, leaving them feeling helpless and lost.
The chorus serves as a reminder that love is at the center of everything. Despite the pain of the impending goodbye, it is the love that they have shared that truly matters. The singer sings, "But I love, and that's all that really matters, if this is goodbye, if this is goodbye," implying that love will always be the one lasting thing that will stay with them long after they have said their goodbyes. They continue to express their love and admiration for the other person, even though they know that their time together is coming to an end.
The final lyrics offer a sense of hope and optimism, while still acknowledging the underlying pain of the situation. The lines "But I love you, and this is our glory, if this is goodbye, if this is goodbye" convey a beautiful message of how, even in moments of sorrow, we can find something beautiful and lasting to hold onto – in this case, the love that they shared. "Goodbye" is a powerful testament to the importance of love, even in the face of loss and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
My famous last words
The words that will be remembered after I am gone
Are laying around in tatters
They are in disarray and do not make sense anymore
Sounding absurd
They do not sound believable or sensible
Whatever I try
No matter what I attempt to do
But I love
Despite everything else, I feel love
And that's all that really matters
Love is the most important thing and the only thing that truly counts
If this is goodbye
If this is the end of our time together
Your bright shining sun
You were the light of my life, my guide and my inspiration
Would light up the way before me
You would show me the way and make everything clear
You were the one
You were the most important person in my life
Made me feel I could fly
You gave me confidence and made me feel like I could accomplish anything
And I love you
Despite everything else, I feel love for you
Whatever is waiting for me
I do not know what the future holds for me
Who knows how long we've got
We do not know how much time we have left together
Or what were made out of
We do not know what we are made of, what our purpose is, or what our destiny is
Who knows if there's a plan or not
We do not know if there is a predetermined plan for us or if we have control over our own lives
There is our love
The only thing we know for sure is the love we share
I know there is our love
I am certain that our love will keep us connected forever
My famous last words
The words that will be remembered after I am gone
Could never tell the story
They are not sufficient to tell the full story of our lives together
Spinning unheard
They are lost in the vastness of the universe and unheard by anyone
In the dark of the sky
Lost in the immense darkness of the universe
And this is our glory
Our greatest achievement is the love we share with each other
If this is goodbye
If this is the end of our time together
If this is goodbye
If this is the end of our time together
If this is goodbye
If this is the end of our time together
If this is goodbye
If this is the end of our time together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brianhunt1103
I remember holdin' on to you
All them long and lonely nights I put you through
Somewhere in there
I'm sure I made you cry
I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall
All of them nights down in Mexico
One place I may never go
In my life again
Was I just off somewhere
Or just too high?
But I can't remember
If we said goodbye
I only miss you
Every now and then
It's kinda soft breeze
Blowin' up from the Caribbean
Most Novembers
I break down and cry
'Cause I can't remember
If we said goodbye
But I recall
All of them nights down in Mexico
One place I will never go
In my life again
Was I just off somewhere
Or maybe just too high?
But I can't remember
If we said goodbye
No, I can't remember
If we said goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
@UCqkdtMiE5ZquD_lF9prae4Q
বিদায় বলেছি কিনা মনে করতে পারছি না....💓💑.💓
Lyrics:
I remember holdin' on to you
All them long and lonely nights I put you through 💑.
Somewhere in there, I'm sure I made you cry
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I may never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere or just too high
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
I only miss you every now and then
Like the soft breeze blowin' up from the Caribbean
Most November I break down and cry
Cause I can't remember if we said goodbye
But I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
One place I will never go in my life again
Was I just off somewhere or just too high
But I can't remember if we said goodbye
No, I can't remember if we said goodbye
Goodbye goodbye
@victoredwards0530
Emmylou's importance is not simply her marvelous voice, but her contribution to the preservation of really good country music. She also has crossed over to achieve marvelous strides with such artists as Sheryl Crow, Mark Knopfler, and others. She is simply an important person in the history of music.
@yaakov2342
So very true.
@wadecollier4757
Well said. A legend - such a beautiful creation from our God.
@BIGMAMAUSA1
I agree ☝️… love ❤️ from Brasil 🇧🇷
@robertbryant2721
Could hardly hav said it better, Victor. WELL SAID, from all our Hearts ,all over the world, and may i add , the last 50 years..........or more.
@jakeowen2478
That's so sweet of you to say Victor😊. Well thanks once again for the love, affection and support you've shown towards my career 😉 it really means alot, I'm so overwhelmed 🎶❤️
@davidwestphal3469
Doesn’t get any better than this. What a voice. What an arrangement.
@pullyourownweight442
Not only is Emmylou amazing, it has to be acknowledged that the production on this album by Daniel Lanois is mind blowingly great, the soundstage is incredible.
@darlincommitme
Steve Earle is the writer and helped produce this one, so gets some credit as well.
@steelskyblue
It is not just the voice, this is a great ensemble of musicians and recording technicians. Her albums sound just so good.