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.
Here We Are
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A place you’ve never been?
Well here it is
Here it is
And you’ve been down there on the bottom
And looking out for a friend
Here I am
[Chorus]
We’ve both grown tired
Of running after rainbows
Here we are
Darling, here we are
When it feels like you’ve been driftin'
And you don’t know where you’ve been
Come on in
You can come on in
And if all you’ve seen are back doors
That lead you out of town
Turn around
You can turn around
[Chorus]
We’ve both grown tired
Of running from each other
Here we are
Darling, here we are
Here we are
Here we are
The lyrics of Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell's song Here We Are are a depiction of two people who had been seeking for their identity in different places, but finally find themselves together. The opening line "Did you say that you’ve been searching for a place you’ve never been?" sets the context of the song. The two protagonists of the song have traveled far and wide in search of something that they've never experienced before. The next line, "Well here it is, here it is" suggests that they've finally found what they've been looking for in each other.
The second verse brings out the idea of loneliness and the longing for companionship. The person addressed in the song has been on the bottom, taking all the hits of life, and has been looking out for a friend. The singer affirms that he/she is the friend that the person has been searching for. The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "Here we are", signifying that the two protagonists have finally found each other after a long search.
The final verse of the song has a similar theme to the second one. It talks about the journey of life, the hardships faced, and the uncertainties that come with it. It encourages the listeners to come on in when they feel they've been drifting and are unsure of themselves. The chorus ends with the affirmation that the two protagonists have grown tired of running after rainbows and are done with running from each other. This suggests that they've found love and companionship in each other after a long search.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you say that you’ve been searching for
A place you’ve never been?
Have you been looking for something new and exciting?
Well here it is
Here it is
Well, congratulations, you found it!
And you’ve been down there on the bottom
And looking out for a friend
You've been feeling low and reaching out for help.
Here I am
Here I am
I'm here for you. You can count on me.
[Chorus]
We’ve both grown tired
Of running after rainbows
Here we are
Darling, here we are
We both realize that chasing impossible dreams isn't worth it. We're content with each other's company now.
When it feels like you’ve been driftin'
And you don’t know where you’ve been
Come on in
You can come on in
When life feels like it's been aimless and confusing, come find refuge with me.
And if all you’ve seen are back doors
That lead you out of town
Turn around
You can turn around
If all you've found so far are dead ends and failures, don't give up. You can always start over and find a new path.
[Chorus]
We’ve both grown tired
Of running from each other
Here we are
Darling, here we are
We've both realized that running away from each other was pointless. We've come back together and are happy to be here.
Here we are
Here we are
We're here, together, and that's all that matters.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: RODNEY CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind