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.
My Father's House
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last night I dreamed that I was a child
Out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home through the forest
Before the darkness falls
I heard the wind rustling through the trees
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin' at my heels
I broke through the trees, and there in the night
My father's house stood shining hard and bright
The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell, shaking in his arms
I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again, sir, tear us from each other's hearts
I got dressed, and to that house I did ride
From out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light
I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
A woman I didn't recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story, and who I'd come for
She said "I'm sorry, son, but no one by that name lives here anymore"
My father's house shines hard and bright
It stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling, so cold and alone
Shining 'cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned
The song "My Father's House" by Emmylou Harris tells an emotionally charged story that centers around the themes of loss, reconciliation, and the power of memory. The opening lines describe a dream sequence in which the singer, who is portrayed as a child, is trying to make his way back to his father's house through a forest before nightfall. The atmosphere is ominous, with the wind rustling through the trees, and ghostly voices rising from the fields.
As the singer runs through the forest, he is pursued by the devil, symbolizing the obstacles and challenges that he must overcome to reach his destination. Eventually, after breaking through the trees, he finds his father's house standing "shining hard and bright" in the night. This image represents a symbol of hope and the possibility of reconciliation.
However, the dream is disrupted when the singer wakes up and realizes that the hard things that pulled them apart might never be resolved. This is evidenced when he arrives at his father's house, and it is apparent that no one by that name lives there anymore. The final lines of the song, "Calling and calling, so cold and alone/Shining 'cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned," convey a sense of longing and regret.
The song is a poignant exploration of the complexities of familial relationships and the ways in which the past can continue to exert a powerful hold on the present. Overall, the lyrics are masterfully crafted and evoke a deep sense of emotion and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I dreamed that I was a child
I had a dream where I felt like a child again
Out where the pines grow wild and tall
The dream took place in a forest of tall wild pines
I was trying to make it home through the forest
I was trying to find my way back home, but I was lost in the forest
Before the darkness falls
I was in a race against time, trying to reach home before nightfall
I heard the wind rustling through the trees
The wind was blowing hard, making the trees rustle loudly
And ghostly voices rose from the fields
I heard some strange, ghostly voices coming from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
I ran as fast as I could down the rugged path with fear in my heart
With the devil snappin' at my heels
I felt like I was being chased by something evil or dangerous
I broke through the trees, and there in the night
I finally broke through the woods and saw my father's house in the dark
My father's house stood shining hard and bright
My father's house looked bright and beautiful, shining among the darkness
The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
I got scratched by the branches and thorns while making my way to the house
But I ran till I fell, shaking in his arms
I kept running until I reached my father's arms, trembling with exhaustion and relief
I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
I woke up and thought about the issues that caused distance between me and my father
Will never again, sir, tear us from each other's hearts
I came to believe that those issues will never break our bond again
I got dressed, and to that house I did ride
Ready to face my father, I dressed up and went back to his house
From out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light
As I approached the house from the road, I could see the lights shining through its windows
I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
I walked up the stairs and stood at the entrance door
A woman I didn't recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
An unknown woman came and spoke to me through a door with a chain on it
I told her my story, and who I'd come for
I explained to her who I was and why I had come to the house
She said 'I'm sorry, son, but no one by that name lives here anymore'
Sadly, she informed me that my father is no longer there
My father's house shines hard and bright
Even in my father's absence, the house remains prominent and immaculate
It stands like a beacon calling me in the night
The house still calls and attracts me, just like a lighthouse on a dark night
Calling and calling, so cold and alone
The house sounds cold and abandoned, as it calls out to me
Shining 'cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned
Despite our unresolved issues, the house continues to shine brightly, illuminating the darkness of the road where we left our sins unaddressed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind