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.
Love And Happiness
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here's a penny for
Any thought it is
That makes you smile
Every diamond dream
Everything that brings
Love and happiness
To your life
Here's a rabbit's food
Take it when you go
So you'll always know
You're safe from harm
Wear your ruby shoes
When you're far away
So you'll always stay
Home in your heart
You will always have a lucky star
That shines because of what you are
Even in the deepest dark
Because your aim is true
And if I could only have one wish
Darling, then I would be this
Love and happiness for you
Here's a spinning wheel
Use it once you've learned
There's a way to turn
The straw to gold
Here's a rosary
Count on every bead
With a prayer to keep
The hope you hold
You will always have a lucky star
That shines because of what you are
Even in the deepest dark
Because your aim is true
And if I could only have one wish
Darling, then it would be this
Love and happiness fot you
And if I could only have one wish
Darling, then it would be this
Love and happiness for you
The lyrics of "Love and Happiness" by Emmylou Harris revolve around the notion of wishing and hoping for love and joy in life. The first two stanzas talk about offering well wishes, pennies, and rabbit's food (all known symbols of good luck) to the listener, urging them to find reasons to smile and bringing love and happiness to their life.
The third stanza is a bit more personal, with Harris telling the listener that they will always have a lucky star that shines because of who they are. It is a recognition that when you stay true to yourself and continue to work towards your goals (the aim is true), it creates a sense of light and hope even in difficult times. The final stanza is a call to learn and grow, with Harris suggesting that the listener use the spinning wheel to turn straw to gold (a reference to the Rumplestiltskin fairy tale) and count on every bead of the rosary to keep the hope they hold.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to find hope and joy in everyday life and to keep their eyes on their goals, even when the going gets tough. It is a heartfelt message that remains relevant and uplifting decades after it was written.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a wishing well
A symbol of hope and opportunity that we all have access to
Here's a penny for
Something small, but precious, that we can spare to share with others in hopes of bringing a smile to their face
Any thought it is
No matter how small, insignificant, or random a thought may be, it is worth cherishing if it brings joy into our lives
That makes you smile
The ultimate goal of our thoughts - to bring happiness and positivity into our lives
Every diamond dream
Our greatest aspirations, hopes, and goals that shine bright like diamonds
Everything that brings
Anything that adds meaning, joy, and fulfillment to our lives
Love and happiness
The two most important things in life that everyone desires and deserves
Here's a rabbit's food
A reminder to keep something close that provides a sense of safety and comfort
Take it when you go
To always remember that the things that bring us comfort and security can be taken with us wherever we go
So you'll always know
To never forget, even when things get tough, that we all have sources of strength and comfort to draw from
You're safe from harm
That our sources of comfort can shield us from the harms of the world and provide us with a sense of security
Wear your ruby shoes
A reference to the red shoes that Dorothy wears in the Wizard of Oz - a symbol of staying true to oneself and never losing sight of home
When you're far away
To remember to keep our sense of home close, even when we are physically distant
So you'll always stay
To always keep our roots and sense of identity close, even when we are far away from our physical homes
Home in your heart
A reminder that our homes are not only physical structures, but they can also be found within ourselves and the people we love
You will always have a lucky star
To always remember that we all have something special about us that shines bright and can guide us through difficult times
That shines because of what you are
That our unique qualities and traits are what make us shine and stand out in the world
Even in the deepest dark
That even in the toughest and most challenging times, we all have something within us that can light the way forward
Because your aim is true
That staying true to our values, beliefs, and passions can guide us forward and ensure that we stay on the right path
And if I could only have one wish
A statement of dedication and commitment to helping others find love and happiness, no matter what
Darling, then I would be this
Expressing a deep connection and feeling of affection towards the other person
Love and happiness for you
The ultimate goal and wish for everyone - that they find love and happiness in their lives
Here's a spinning wheel
A symbol of transformation and the power to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary
Use it once you've learned
To never stop learning, growing, and seeking out new knowledge and experiences
There's a way to turn
To be optimistic and hopeful, even when things seem impossible or challenging
The straw to gold
To make something beautiful and valuable out of something ordinary or seemingly worthless
Here's a rosary
A symbol of faith, devotion, and prayer, and the hope and strength it can bring to our lives
Count on every bead
To never stop believing in the power of prayer and the comfort it can bring to our lives
With a prayer to keep
A reminder that our faith, hopes, and desires can keep us grounded and focused even in the toughest times
The hope you hold
To hold on to our hopes and dreams, no matter what, and believe that anything is possible
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EMMYLOU HARRIS, KIMMIE RHODES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dand4692
Here's a wishing well, here's a penny for
Any thought it is that makes you smile
Every diamond dream, everything that brings
Love and happiness to your life
Here's a rabbit's foot, take it when you go
So, you'll always know you're safe from harm
Wear your ruby shoes when you're far away
So, you'll always stay home in your heart
You will always have a lucky star
That shines because of what you are
Even in the deepest dark because your aim is true
And if I could only have one wish, darlin' then
It would be this, love and happiness for you
Here's a spinning wheel, use it once you've learned
There's a way to turn the straw to gold
Here's a rosary, count on every bead
With a prayer to keep the hope you hold
You will always have a lucky star
That shines because of what you are
Even in the deepest dark because your aim is true
And if I could only have one wish, darlin' then
It would be this, love and happiness for you
And if I could only have one wish, darlin' then
It would be this, love and happiness for you
@hupotasso4705
I love that instead of giving a wedding toast, last week, Eugene Levy (of Schitt’s Creek fame) and his wife sang this duet together for their daughter and son-in-law at their daughter’s wedding.
@jamberstone1
Omg thank you for sharing that 💖 💗 💕 💓 ❤️ 💜
@rosemarymurphy9241
This beautiful song performed by the two legends Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris.The voices dovetail superbly. Absolute gold standard.
@danielpdoyle5741
Simply divine, two really talented artist. Love Emmy Lou and her music. I've been collecting her music for almost 50 years and never tire of it. Daniel D
@jonathanstimes8487
When I danced with my daughter at her wedding 10 years ago, it was to this wonderful song. Pure gold.
@davidparnell1893
A guitar strap upon your shoulder...a silver halo of hair as you grow older...your angel's voice I hear so bolder...your warming thoughts to hold me over...A Gibson guitar and words so true...God bless Emmylou...
@Susan1Minnie
Oh, David Parnell, what perfect wording for the world’s little singbird, Emmylou!
@patriciaweiss4446
Your comment is exquisite poetry
@lindalafferty1846
"And if I could only have one wish, darlin' then it would be this, love and happiness for you." A beautiful song and an even more beautiful gift I received from an old friend. Thank you!
@ItsWaldo
Thanks Linda...glad you liked it :-)