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.
Queen of the Silver Dollar
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She arrives in all her splendor
Each night at nine o'clock
Her chariot is the crosstown bus
That stops right down the block
Now the old piano minstrel plays her tune as she walks in
And the Queen of the Silver Dollar's home again
She's the Queen of the Silver Dollar
She rules this smokey kingdom
Scepter is a wine glass and a bar stool is her throne
Now the jesters flock around her tryin' to win her favors
To see which one will take the
Queen of the Silver Dollar home
Now her royal dress is satin
It's shabby and it's torn
The royal jewels are rhinestones
The shoes are scuffed and worn
Of the many roads she's been down,
And the places that she's seen
Well they all look at her and say God save the queen
Now the Queen of the Silver Dollar
Is not as haughty as she seems
She was once an ordinary girl with ordinary dreams
But there's a man who found her
And he brought her to this world
He's the one who made a queen of a simple country girl
Yes I'm the Queen of the Silver Dollar
I rule this smokey kingdom
Scepter is a wine glass and a bar stool is my throne
To see which one will take the
Queen of the Silver Dollar home
Yes I'm the Queen of the Silver Dollar
I rule this smokey kingdom
Scepter is a wine glass and a bar stool is my throne
Now the jesters flock around me tryin' to win my favors
To see which one will take the
Queen of the Silver Dollar home
"Queen of the Silver Dollar" is a song written by Shel Silverstein and performed by Emmylou Harris, which tells the story of a woman who arrives every night in a smoking district bar, known as "the kingdom," and becomes the center of attention among the rough crowd of regular patrons. Although she is described as the "Queen," she is not as refined as she appears, wearing a shabby and torn satin dress and rhinestones for jewelry. The Queen's presence in the bar is elevated by the admiration of the jesters who compete for her attention, trying to prove themselves worthy enough to take her home at night.
The song is a representation of the character's lifestyle, suggesting that she was once an ordinary girl with ordinary dreams. However, she was transformed into a queen by a mysterious man who brought her to the kingdom. The setting of the song is the kingdom, and the Queen is the star attraction. The song reflects a common theme in Silverstein's writing, which is the concept of life as a kind of carnival. It shows us that things are not always what they seem at first glance, and that those who arrive in shabby dresses with rhinestones for jewelry might possess a certain majesty and grace far exceeding that of those in more refined attire.
Line by Line Meaning
She arrives in all her splendor
The Queen of the Silver Dollar makes her entrance with confidence and beauty.
Each night at nine o'clock
Her arrival is scheduled and expected at the same time every evening.
Her chariot is the crosstown bus
The Queen of the Silver Dollar travels on the bus instead of a fancy car or carriage.
That stops right down the block
The bus stop is conveniently located near her destination.
Now the old piano minstrel plays her tune as she walks in
The pianist plays a special song when she enters the bar.
And the Queen of the Silver Dollar's home again
She feels at home in this bar and is welcomed there.
She's the Queen of the Silver Dollar
The singer reiterates the subject of the song.
She rules this smokey kingdom
The bar is her domain and she holds power there.
Scepter is a wine glass and a bar stool is her throne
The objects that symbolize power for the Queen of the Silver Dollar are a wine glass and a bar stool.
Now the jesters flock around her tryin' to win her favors
Men try to impress her and gain her attention.
To see which one will take the Queen of the Silver Dollar home
They want to be the one who takes her home at the end of the night.
Now her royal dress is satin
Her dress is luxurious material, but it is old and worn.
It's shabby and it's torn
Despite its material, her dress is not in good condition.
The royal jewels are rhinestones
Her jewels are not valuable; they are imitations of real jewels.
The shoes are scuffed and worn
Even her footwear reflects her financial situation and the hardships she's faced.
Of the many roads she's been down
The Queen of the Silver Dollar has had a difficult life full of struggles and challenges.
And the places that she's seen
She has traveled to different places and has experienced a variety of situations.
Well they all look at her and say God save the queen
Despite her rough exterior, people respect and admire her in their own way.
Is not as haughty as she seems
Despite her title and power, she is not as arrogant as she may appear.
She was once an ordinary girl with ordinary dreams
Before becoming the Queen of the Silver Dollar, she had humble aspirations like anyone else.
But there's a man who found her
Someone discovered her and changed the trajectory of her life.
And he brought her to this world
He introduced her to this world of bars, music, and fame.
He's the one who made a queen of a simple country girl
This man elevated her status and made her the Queen of the Silver Dollar.
Yes I'm the Queen of the Silver Dollar
The Queen of the Silver Dollar is speaking.
I rule this smokey kingdom
She is in charge of the bar and its patrons.
Scepter is a wine glass and a bar stool is my throne
She feels powerful when holding a wine glass and sitting on a bar stool.
Now the jesters flock around me tryin' to win my favors
Men try to impress her and gain her attention.
To see which one will take the Queen of the Silver Dollar home
They want to be the one who takes her home at the end of the night.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Iricom US Ltd
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind