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.
Juanita
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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When she walked out on me for the very last time
Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say
I don`t know what I've done to be treated this way
In a cold dirty room that's where I found myself
With a bottle of wine and some pills off the shelf
Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say
I don't know what I've done and I`m feeling so ashamed
Then an angel appeared she was just 17
In a dirty old gown with a conscious so clean
Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say
She's brought back the life that I once threw away
She's brought back the life that I once threw away
The lyrics to Emmylou Harris' song "Juanita" speak of heartbreak and despair. The opening lines "No affection were the words that stuck on my mind, when she walked out on me for the very last time," paint a picture of a relationship that has ended badly. The singer is struggling to make sense of the situation and is reaching out for help from his mother, asking "Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say? I don't know what I've done to be treated this way."
The second verse speaks of the singer's state of mind after the breakup. He finds himself alone in a "cold dirty room" with a bottle of wine and some pills, clearly indicating that he is struggling with depression and possibly even contemplating suicide. Once again, he reaches out to his mother for help, asking "Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say? I don't know what I've done and I'm feeling so ashamed."
The final verse sees a glimmer of hope for the singer. "Then an angel appeared, she was just 17, in a dirty old gown with a conscience so clean." The angel metaphorically represents someone who has lifted him up from his despair and given him a renewed sense of purpose. He once again calls out to his mother, but this time it is to tell her that the angel has "brought back the life that I once threw away." The song therefore uses powerful imagery to convey a message of hope in the midst of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
No affection were the words that stuck on my mind
I was hurt by the lack of love and care from my former lover.
When she walked out on me for the very last time
My ex left me for good, and it left me feeling lost and abandoned.
Oh mamma sweet mamma can you tell me what to say
I am seeking comfort and guidance from a motherly figure in my time of need.
I don`t know what I've done to be treated this way
I am confused about why I was treated badly and left behind.
In a cold dirty room that's where I found myself
I was alone and isolated in a depressing environment.
With a bottle of wine and some pills off the shelf
I was turning to substance abuse to cope with my pain and despair.
Then an angel appeared she was just 17
Someone young and innocent showed up unexpectedly to save me.
In a dirty old gown with a conscious so clean
Despite her humble appearance, she had a pure heart and a clear mind.
She's brought back the life that I once threw away
She helped me find a reason to live and reminded me of the value of my own life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HILLMAN, GRAM PARSONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind