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.
How She Could Sing the Wildwood Flower
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How she could sing the Wildwood Flower
The orphan girl he would love so long
In the end he knew she'd been his finest hour
And all he has left of her is a song
He first saw her
Standing by a cabin door
Out in a voice so strong and sure
To the lonesome valley
He bring her there to be his bride
Where they would live and work together
Side by side
She was his sunshine
She was his moon and morning star
His words would ring to
The chords of her guitar
He was driven
And lost to her for days and days
'Til the lonesome valley
Finally drove her far away
[Chorus: ]
We all cling to
As the years keep rolling on
One single promise
Of a love that's past and gone
And that lonesome valley
We all walk it by ourselves
With the wildwood flower
Is a story we will tell
[Chorus: ]
How she could sing the Wildwood Flower
And all we have left of her is a song
The song "How She Could Sing the Wildwood Flower" by Emmylou Harris is a touching tribute to lost love and memories that endure. The lyrics tell the story of a man who fell in love with a woman who had an incredible singing voice and could perform the traditional folk song "Wildwood Flower" with remarkable skill. He took her to live with him in a remote valley where they worked hard and were happy together for a time, but eventually they grew apart and she left him. All that remains is the memory of her beautiful voice and the legacy of the song she used to sing so well.
Line by Line Meaning
How she could sing the Wildwood Flower
Her voice had the power to captivate and move anyone who listened to her rendition of the classic folksong Wildwood Flower
The orphan girl he would love so long
He loved her deeply and devotedly, despite her being an orphan who had no family or home of her own
In the end he knew she'd been his finest hour
He realized that his relationship with her was the most meaningful and memorable moment of his life
And all he has left of her is a song
The only thing that remains of her is the memory of her beautiful voice singing the Wildwood Flower
He first saw her
He first laid eyes on her
Standing by a cabin door
She was standing at the doorway of a cabin
Her song was ringing
Her voice was filling the air with the sound of music
Out in a voice so strong and sure
She sang the song with great confidence and power
To the lonesome valley
The place where they would eventually live together
He bring her there to be his bride
He took her there to marry her and start a life together
Where they would live and work together
They planned to live and work side by side in harmony
Side by side
Together, hand in hand
She was his sunshine
She brought him immense joy and light into his life
She was his moon and morning star
She was a source of comfort and guidance to him at all times
His words would ring to
He would express himself through his words, which would complement her music
The chords of her guitar
The notes which her fingers played on the guitar
He was driven
He was consumed with a passion for her
And lost to her for days and days
He became so entranced by her that he spent days and days pondering over his feelings
Finally drove her far away
The difficult and isolated life in the lonesome valley eventually caused her to leave him
We all cling to
We all hold on to
As the years keep rolling on
As time continues to pass us by
One single promise
The vague and fleeting assurance that love once existed
Of a love that's past and gone
A reminder of a love that has long since ceased to exist
And that lonesome valley
The barren, empty place where they had once lived together
We all walk it by ourselves
We all must face our own personal struggles and heartbreaks alone
With the wildwood flower
But we can take solace in the fact that the memory of her singing the Wildwood Flower will live on as a story for future generations to hear
Is a story we will tell
The story of her voice and their love will become a tale that transcends time and touches the hearts of all who hear it
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EMMYLOU HARRIS, ANNA MCGARRIGLE, KATE MCGARRIGLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hridoye Bangladesh, from Bangladesh
Lyrics:সে ছিল তার চাঁদ এবং সকালের তারা....⭐⭐⭐🌙🌙🌙
How she could sing the Wildwood Flower
The orphan girl he would love so long
In the end, he knew she'd been his finest hour
And all he has left of her is a song
He first saw her
Standing by a cabin door
Her song was ringing
Out in a voice so strong and sure
To the lonesome valley
He brings her there to be his bride
Where they would live and work together
Side by side
She was his sunshine (তিনি তার সূর্যালোক ছিল)
She was his moon and morning star(👉⭐⭐⭐🌙🌙🌙)
His words would ring to
The chords of her guitar
He was driven
And lost to her for days and days
'Til the lonesome valley
Finally drove her far away
We all cling to
As the years keep rolling on
One single promise
Of a love that's past and gone
And that lonesome valley
We all walk it by ourselves
With the wildwood flower
Is a story we will tell
How she could sing the Wildwood Flower
And all we have left of her is a song
গানের কথা:
সে কিভাবে ওয়াইল্ডউড ফ্লাওয়ার গাইতে পারে
এতদিন যে এতিম মেয়েটাকে সে ভালোবাসতো
শেষ পর্যন্ত তিনি জানতেন যে সে তার সেরা সময় ছিল
এবং তিনি তার বাকি আছে একটি গান
তিনি তাকে প্রথম দেখেছিলেন
কেবিনের দরজায় দাঁড়িয়ে আছে
তার গান বেজে উঠল
এত শক্তিশালী এবং নিশ্চিত একটি কণ্ঠে আউট
একাকী উপত্যকায়
সে তাকে সেখানে নিয়ে আসে তার কনে হতে
যেখানে তারা একসাথে থাকত এবং কাজ করত
পাশাপাশি
তিনি তার সূর্যালোক ছিল
সে ছিল তার চাঁদ এবং সকালের তারা(👉⭐⭐⭐🌙🌙🌙)
তার কথা বাজবে
তার গিটার এর chords
তাকে চালিত করা হয়
এবং দিন দিন তার কাছে হারিয়ে গেছে
নিঃসঙ্গ উপত্যকা পর্যন্ত
অবশেষে তাকে অনেক দূরে নিয়ে গেল
আমরা সবাই আঁকড়ে ধরি
বছরের পর বছর চলতে থাকে
একক প্রতিশ্রুতি
একটি প্রেম যা অতীত এবং চলে গেছে
আর সেই নিঃসঙ্গ উপত্যকা
আমরা সবাই এটা নিজেদের দ্বারা হাঁটা
বুনো কাঠের ফুলের সাথে
একটি গল্প আমরা বলব
সে কিভাবে ওয়াইল্ডউড ফ্লাওয়ার গাইতে পারে
এবং আমরা তার বাকি আছে একটি গান
yzetta
She has one of the most beautiful voices on this earth.
John Chapman
Emmylou Harris has a throat of gold. She had it back in the 1970's and she has it still today. I could sit back and listen to her sing all day and all night. Thanks you so much Emmylou.
R. Blakehole
I have been a fan of Emmy Lou since I first listened to her in the 1970's. A long time ago. She is the ultimate in musical integrity. She was, in the 1970s an astonishingly beautiful lady. And yet, she never tried to use sex appeal to promote her music. Huge credit to her for this. And she still sells records today. This is a lesson to today's twerk artists---if they will listen. s
Mizz Mead
Many years ago, Emmy Lou's music was sold in Europe. Imagine how lucky we are to have her ... Lovely incredible woman.
Tom Torrell
@Maija Liepa Thank you..I always appreciate those who find interest in the same types of music I like. There's a lot to know about Gram, Emmylou and the history of country rock. I was lucky to see them a few times in person. Would love to meet Emmylou some day. 😊
Maija Liepa
Tom Torrell 💙also a favorite is when the 3 ladies sang together: emmylou linda dolly. I like emmylou singing with mark knopfler and a-l-l the other duos she’s done. But it all comes back to gram-n-emmylou. Wonder if she feels his presence from the “other side” or if she sees him in dreams. Am grateful i stumbled across the gram recordings - back in the day i didnt know ‘bout him. Just laerned i last few years💙🌎💙🌍💙🌏💙Blessings💙😷PS: hope she never retires. Joan Baez, for example, is painting. I saw a painting on u-tube. Hope emmy will share as much as she’s comfortable💙🐬💙🐋💙🦈💙🐳💙🦋😷PS: that song: “we’ll sweep out the ashes in the morning” is a heavy-duty song. As i write this - its reminding me of his death and the ashes involved with that situation there in the dessert. I appreciate his voice - and certainly his knowledge of country-rock inspired the Eagles and the country-rock that went forward🦋Blessings🦋😷
Tom Torrell
@Maija Liepa You're welcome for the information. Yes...she's been my favorite country-rock singer for nearly 50 years. I heard that when she retires she will write an autobiography of her life. She is a remarkable woman. I love listening to her even when she just talks.
Andy Phillips
THIS is what Country music is missing. She's the Queen of Country. Still great. Nobody quite like her.
Pat Culpepper
Amen
Avian
Not even Dolly? I'd say more than queen, Emmylou is the Outlaw of country.