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.
Lonely Street
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a sad sad tale to tell
I need a place to go and weep
Where's this place called Lonely Street
A place where there's just loneliness
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and memories meet
Perhaps upon that Lonely Street
There's someone such as I
Who came to bury broken dreams
And watch an old love die
A place where there's just loneliness
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and memories meet
Where's this place called Lonely Street
In Emmylou Harris's song Lonely Street, the singer is searching for a specific location that embodies loneliness and despair. She needs a place to grieve and cry, and she believes that Lonely Street is the perfect destination for her. She describes Lonely Street as a place where there is nothing but loneliness, where the dimly lit atmosphere encourages forgetfulness, and where broken dreams and memories collide. The lyrics suggest that this location is a physical embodiment of the pain and heartbreak that the singer feels.
In the second verse, Harris introduces the idea that she is not alone in her pain. She speculates that there may be others on Lonely Street who share her sorrow and regret. Perhaps they too have come to bury their dreams and let go of old loves. This notion further reinforces the tragedy of Lonely Street - it is a place where people go to lose themselves in sadness.
Overall, Lonely Street is a powerful and evocative song that captures the essence of heartbreak and loss. Emotionally charged lyrics and haunting melodies make this song a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking for that Lonely Street
I am in search of a place called Lonely Street.
I've got a sad sad tale to tell
I have a sorrowful story to share.
I need a place to go and weep
I require a spot to cry in solitude.
Where's this place called Lonely Street
Can you guide me to the location of Lonely Street?
A place where there's just loneliness
A location where one can expect to find isolation.
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
A locale where dim light helps one to forget their problems.
Where broken dreams and memories meet
A destination where shattered aspirations and recollections intersect.
Perhaps upon that Lonely Street
Potentially, somewhere on Lonely Street.
There's someone such as I
Maybe there exists someone like me.
Who came to bury broken dreams
Who arrived to lay to rest their shattered hopes.
And watch an old love die
And to observe the death of an old flame.
Where's this place called Lonely Street
Can you inform me about the whereabouts of Lonely Street?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carl Belew, W Stevenson, Kenny Sowder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind