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 Is
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is to love, love, love him
Just to see him smile
Makes my life worthwhile
To know, know, know him
Is to love, love, love him
And I do
I'll bring love to him
Everyone says there'll come a day
When I'll walk alongside of him
Yes, just to know him
Is to love love love him
And I do
Why can't he see
How blind can he be?
Someday he will see
That he was meant for me, oh
To know, know, know him
Is to love love love him
Just to see him smile
Makes my life worthwhile
To know, know, know him
Is to love love love him
And I do
The song "To Know Him Is to Love Him" by Emmylou Harris is a cover of the 1958 hit written by Phil Spector, who started his career as a singer before he became one of the most influential producers in the history of pop music. The original version was performed by his band, The Teddy Bears, and it became a No. 1 hit in the US. The main theme of the song is the happiness and fulfillment that come from being in love, and the conviction that the subject of the song is the right person to love.
The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but they convey a deep emotional truth that resonates with many couples: the feeling that knowing your partner is a privilege that fills your life with joy and purpose. The repetition of the phrase "to know, know, know him" creates a sense of certainty and determination that underlines the singer's commitment to her lover. The line "I'll be good to him, I'll bring love to him" shows the singer's willingness to be a supportive and caring partner, and her confidence in her ability to make their relationship work.
The bridge of the song introduces a note of sadness and frustration, as the singer wonders why her beloved is not reciprocating her feelings. The lines "why can't he see, how blind can he be?" suggest that the singer feels like her lover is missing out on something wonderful by not recognizing her love. However, the final verse reasserts the strength of her bond, as she declares that "someday he will see that he was meant for me". This message, combined with the upbeat melody and the catchy chorus, make the song an iconic expression of romantic love that has inspired many covers and adaptations over the decades.
Line by Line Meaning
To know, know, know him
Knowing him completely is the only way to love him
Is to love, love, love him
Being completely acquainted with him fills my heart with love
Just to see him smile
Happiness simply radiates from him, and it brings me joy
Makes my life worthwhile
The delight he brings me adds purpose to my existence
I'll be good to him
I vow to treat him with respect and kindness always
I'll bring love to him
I will show him love every chance I get
Everyone says there'll come a day
Many individuals believe that a day will come when we are together
When I'll walk alongside of him
We will walk together in happiness, side by side
Why can't he see
I wonder why he doesn't see how wonderful we could be together
How blind can he be?
I am baffled how someone could fail to see the possibilities
Someday he will see
Eventually, he will comprehend how much we belong together
That he was meant for me, oh
He is the one I have been searching for all my life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Phil Spector
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind