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.
In The Garden
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the voice I hear falling on my ear the son of God discloses
And he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known
( guitar )
He speaks and the sound of his voice is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
And the melody that he gave to me within my heart is ringing
And he walks with me...
The lyrics in Emmylou Harris's song In the Garden describe a personal spiritual experience. The singer is alone in a garden, experiencing a moment of revelation in which she hears the voice of the Son of God. The voice tells her that she is His own and walks with her and talks with her, and in that moment they share a joy that none other has ever known. The singer also describes the sound of His voice as being so beautiful that even the birds stop singing, and the melody He gives her fills her heart on a deep level.
The song is a classic hymn that has been recorded by many artists over the years, and it has clear religious overtones. That said, the message is not heavy-handed or preachy. Rather, the lyrics are simple and poetic, offering a glimpse into a moment of deep connection with a divine presence. Listening to the song, it's easy to imagine oneself in that garden, experiencing the same joy and peace that the singer describes.
Line by Line Meaning
I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses
I quietly approach the garden in solitude, with the dew still fresh on the nearby roses.
And the voice I hear falling on my ear the son of God discloses
I hear the voice of the Son of God speaking to me and revealing his teachings to me.
And he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own
He accompanies me on my journey, converses with me and assures me that I am his beloved.
And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known
The happiness that we experience together during our time in the garden is incomparable to any other joy known to mankind.
( guitar )
Instrumental break with guitar playing.
He speaks and the sound of his voice is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
The sweetness of his voice is so enchanting that even the birds stop chirping in order to listen.
And the melody that he gave to me within my heart is ringing
A beautiful, timeless melody that he has placed within me continues to play within my heart.
And he walks with me...
He continues to walk with me, never leaving my side on this journey through life.
Contributed by Michael H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.