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.
Nobody
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A little girl out breakin' all the rules
She don't care about the birds and the bees
She's too busy skinnin' both her knees
With the arms of a loving childhood
Wrapped around her
All the wonders of the world surround her
And with the angels up above her soul to keep
She don't need nobody
She don't need nobody
She don't need nobody now
All grown up and livin' on her own
She goes to work and then comes home alone
But she believes someday her prince will come
There's a lot of life to go at twenty one
With nothing but her faith in love to guide her
She'll follow the young heart that beats inside her
Walk right through that door and bet it all
Confidant she can take the fall
She's ready for somebody
She's ready for somebody
She's ready for somebody now
As the years go by
The woman's not so sure
She feels an ache inside
That seems to have no cure
How did life get so long
Does no one ever stay
Was the dream of one true love
Just lost along the way
But she believes she has so much to give
Is there any other reason why we live
She stills want somebody
She stills want somebody
She stills want somebody now
Now that little girl is growing old
All of her sad stories have been told
But there are no regrets, she'll place no blame
She knows for everyone it is the same
Even when the well runs dry and the bread's unleavened
And she wonders if there really is a heaven
She finds her way back to that little girl
And wraps her empty arms around the world
She don't need nobody
She don't need nobody
She don't need nobody now
The song "Nobody" by Emmylou Harris is a reflective ballad about a woman's journey from childhood to old age. The first verse describes the carefree spirit of a little girl riding her bicycle to school and living in the moment with no concern for anything else around her. As the song progresses, the lyrics portray the woman's life experiences and how they have shaped her into the person she is now.
In the second verse, the woman is twenty-one and has faith that she will find love someday. She is optimistic and unafraid to take risks in pursuit of her dreams. However, as time goes by, she becomes less certain and more introspective. She questions whether the dream of finding true love is even possible, but still believes that her life has purpose and value.
The final verse shows the woman in her old age, looking back on her life with no regrets. She finds solace and connection by embracing the carefree spirit of her childhood self and wrapping her "empty arms around the world." Overall, the song speaks to the universal human experience of seeking connection and purpose, while acknowledging the challenges and uncertainties that come with growing older.
Line by Line Meaning
Ridin' on her bicycle to school
As a little girl, she rides her bicycle to school.
A little girl out breakin' all the rules
As a little girl, she is breaking all the rules.
She don't care about the birds and the bees
As a little girl, she doesn't care about the 'birds and bees' talk.
She's too busy skinnin' both her knees
As a little girl, she's too preoccupied scraping her knees.
With the arms of a loving childhood
Her childhood has been full of affectionate memories.
Wrapped around her
These loving memories envelop and protect her.
All the wonders of the world surround her
She is surrounded by all the beautiful things in the world.
And with the angels up above her soul to keep
She believes that angels are watching over and protecting her.
In her bed down here below she falls asleep
She comfortably falls asleep in her bed.
She don't need nobody
As a child, she is content and doesn't need anyone to make her happy.
All grown up and livin' on her own
As an adult, she's independent and lives alone.
She goes to work and then comes home alone
She spends most of her time alone after work.
But she believes someday her prince will come
She is looking forward to finding her future partner.
There's a lot of life to go at twenty one
At twenty-one, she believes there is still a lot she can do with her life.
With nothing but her faith in love to guide her
Her belief in true love is the only thing directing her actions.
She'll follow the young heart that beats inside her
She'll listen to what her heart tells her to do.
Walk right through that door and bet it all
She takes the risk of going through doors regardless of what might happen.
Confidant she can take the fall
She is confident that any mistake she makes will not break her.
She's ready for somebody
She's now ready for a partner to share her life with.
As the years go by
As she ages, she's beginning to become unsure of certain things.
The woman's not so sure
She is not as confident as she once was.
She feels an ache inside
There is a growing feeling of emptiness inside her.
That seems to have no cure
There seems to be no solution for this emptiness.
How did life get so long
She wonders how life passed by so quickly.
Does no one ever stay
No person or situation ever really stays in her life.
Was the dream of one true love
She begins to question whether her dream of true love was ever real.
Just lost along the way
She thinks maybe she lost her way somewhere.
But she believes she has so much to give
She feels she has a lot to offer people.
Is there any other reason why we live
She contemplates if there's a reason for living aside from giving to others.
She stills want somebody
Despite the doubt and emptiness, she still wants a partner.
Now that little girl is growing old
As the woman ages, she remembers herself as a child.
All of her sad stories have been told
She's shared all her griefs and hardships with someone.
But there are no regrets, she'll place no blame
She harbors no regrets about her life, nor does she blame herself or others.
She knows for everyone it is the same
She understands that everyone goes through the same things.
Even when the well runs dry and the bread's unleavened
When she has nothing left, she tries to make the best with what little she has.
And she wonders if there really is a heaven
She reflects on the idea of an afterlife.
She finds her way back to that little girl
She revisits her childhood memories for comfort.
And wraps her empty arms around the world
She is embracing the entire world as a way to fill her emptiness.
She don't need nobody
In the end, she realizes she doesn't need anyone to be happy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEWART HARRIS, KEITH STEGALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind