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.
I'm Movin' On
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boy and girls
Cowboys and indians
Please welcome Ms. Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band
Well that big eight-wheeler, movin' down the track
Means your true-lovin' daddy ain't comin' back
She's movin' on, I'll soon be gone
I'm movin' on
And that big loud whistle, as it blew and blew
Said hello to the southland, we're comin' to you
I'm movin' on, oh, keep movin' along
You had the laugh on me, so I set you free
I'm movin' on, yeah
Mister fireman, won't you please listen to me
'Cause I got a sweet dada down in Tennessee
Keep movin' me on, keep rollin' along
We can shovel the coal, let this rattler roll
I'm movin' on
Yeah, mister engineer, take that throttle in hand
This rattler's the fastest in the southern land
Keep movin' me on, keep rollin' along
You can ease my mind and put me there on time
I'm movin' on
I've told you baby, from time to time
But you just wouldn't listen or pay me no mind
Now I'm movin' on, keep rollin' along
You've broken your vow and it's all over now
I'm movin' on
Yeah, you've swtched your engine, now I ain't got time
For a triflin' man on my main line
I'm movin on, keep rollin' along
Yeah, I warned you twice, now you can settle the price
I'm movin on
Emmylou Harris’s song “I’m Movin’ On” is a classic country song that was included in her 1975 album, “Elite Hotel”. The song talks about a woman who had been dumped by her partner and she decided to hit the road and leave everything behind. It’s a tale of a woman taking control of her life and her destiny. The song describes her journey on board a train, leaving behind her heartbreak and her past.
The lyrics start with an announcement by Ms. Harris, which is then followed by the sound of a train. The train symbolizes her escape and her new journey. The lyrics include several train-related metaphors, such as “That big eight-wheeler movin' on down the track” and “That big loud whistle as it blew and blew”. These metaphors represent a new start and a new path for the singer. The song is a powerful representation of how women can take control of their lives and decide to leave an unhappy situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well that big eight-wheeler, movin' down the track
Your significant other has left you and isn't coming back
Means your true-lovin' daddy ain't comin' back
The person who once loved and cared for you is no longer going to be in your life
She's movin' on, I'll soon be gone
The person who left you is moving forward in their life and you must also move forward and let go of them
You were flyin' too high, for my little old sky
Your dreams and aspirations were too big for the artist's life and they couldn't keep up with you
I'm movin' on
The artist is leaving the past behind and moving forward in their life
And that big loud whistle, as it blew and blew
The train is making its way towards its destination, announcing its arrival with a loud whistle
Said hello to the southland, we're comin' to you
The train is making its way to the southern states to begin a new journey
I'm movin' on, oh, keep movin' along
The artist is determined to keep moving forward and not look back at what they have left behind
You had the laugh on me, so I set you free
The other person had the upper hand in the relationship and the artist is now letting them go
I'm movin' on, yeah
The artist isn't letting anything hold them back and they are confidently moving on with their life
Mister fireman, won't you please listen to me
The singer is asking for the help of the train's staff to get them to their destination
'Cause I got a sweet dada down in Tennessee
The artist has someone special waiting for them in Tennessee
Keep movin' me on, keep rollin' along
The singer is asking to keep the momentum going and help them reach their destination
We can shovel the coal, let this rattler roll
The staff is being asked to work hard and keep the train moving towards its destination
I'm movin' on
The singer is focused on moving forward with their life
Yeah, mister engineer, take that throttle in hand
The engineer is being asked to control the train and get it to its destination as quickly as possible
This rattler's the fastest in the southern land
The train is one of the fastest in the southern states
Keep movin' me on, keep rollin' along
The singer is asking to keep the momentum going and help them reach their destination
You can ease my mind and put me there on time
The singer is asking the staff to help them get to their destination quickly and without any worries
I'm movin' on
The artist is focused on moving forward with their life
I've told you baby, from time to time
The artist has tried to communicate their feelings to the other person on multiple occasions
But you just wouldn't listen or pay me no mind
The other person didn't take the artist's feelings seriously or didn't care about them
Now I'm movin' on, keep rollin' along
The singer is done trying to make things work with the other person and is focused on moving forward
You've broken your vow and it's all over now
The other person has broken promises and the relationship is over
I'm movin' on
The singer is focused on moving forward with their life
Yeah, you've swtched your engine, now I ain't got time
The other person has changed their mind and is no longer interested, but the singer has already moved on
For a triflin' man on my main line
The other person is no longer seen as important, and is considered insignificant and unimportant now
I'm movin on, keep rollin' along
The artist is confidently moving forward with their life, without looking back
Yeah, I warned you twice, now you can settle the price
The other person was warned about the consequences of their actions, and now they must accept them
I'm movin on
The singer is focused on moving forward with their life
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Snow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@falcorthewonderdog2758
Willy nelson once said there are two kinds of men in rhe world. Those who love Emmylou Harris and those who havent met her.
@hotajax
Only 4 things I like about her - beautiful face, beautiful voice, beautiful hair, and beautiful person. can't think of much else.
@user-ci6by1ky6e
Emmylou is a simple beautiful good ol' traditional country singing gal not many like her anymore
@tinadarm777
Most today's country singers couldn't hold a candle to this lady!
@franklilley6613
No, indeed!
@countrygirlcountrymusiclov5831
Momma B3ar ANY FEMALE ON LITERALLY ANY FM COUNTRY STATION ON THE PLANET IS JUST AS EQUALLY COUNTRY AND EQUALLY TALENTED AS EMMYLOU IS SO YES THEY CAN HOLD A CANDLE TO HER YOU.DUMB ASS. THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE
@TheMargarita1948
I have been hearing that since 1955. Most singers anywhere ever could not hold a candle to Miss Emmylou. But there will always be lots of good singers.
@robertewalt7789
The thing about art, one can say this one is better than that, and I can think the reverse, and it’s all good!
@hotajax
Most? How about nobody?
@bobbeck5866
And that Ladies and Gentlemen is a rare performance of perfection