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.
Raise The Dead
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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He sang I'll never get out of this world alive
Now it's been a long time since I was that kid
And I've seen a lot more than Hank ever did
I've done the down and out in every dark end dive
But I'll never get out of your love alive
Sam Cook met the woman at the well
And I think he knew a change was gonna come
Still he lived too fast and he died too young
Well dyin' young I have survived but I'll never get out of your love alive
I got washed in the blood of Bill Monroe
When he sang about the the blues in the body and soul
He believed in a God that could raise the dead
Still it's a mighty dark night to travel he said
I've seen a mighty dark night and I made that drive
But I'll never get out of your love alive
Robert Johnson had a hellhound on his trail
Drove him to the coffin like a hammer and a nail
It takes a powerful man to carry that load
When your tryin' to beat the devil to the old crossroads
I wrestled the devil lived to testify but I'll never get out of your love alive
I'll never get out of your love alive
I'll never get out of your love alive I'll never get out of your love alive
The opening stanza of the song, "Hank Williams died when I was five, he sang I'll never get out of this world alive" sets the tone for the entire song. The lyrics reflect on the inevitability of death and our mortality but emotes that the love we share lives on beyond the grave. The singer then speaks about the many life experiences they went through and although they may have 'done the down and out in every dark end dive' they are still as alive and in love as ever. The next reference to Sam Cook revealed the profound effect that the woman at the well had on him, and she told him something he 'could never sell'. Despite knowing that a change was going to come, he still lived too fast and died too young. The singer remarks that they too have 'survived' but will never get out of the love that they share, emphasising that the love we feel for another person is eternal.
The song then goes on to reference Bill Monroe and his faith in a God that could raise the dead. The darkness of night is used to symbolise the challenges we face in life, but the singer reveals that they made it through the dark night even though it was tough. Finally, the song references Robert Johnson and his fabled hellhound, using the hammer and nail metaphor to illustrate the burden that he had to carry. The singer wrestles with the devil, but all in vain as they acknowledge that they will never get out of the love they share.
Line by Line Meaning
Hank Williams died when I was five
When I was very young, Hank Williams passed away.
He sang I'll never get out of this world alive
One of Hank Williams' popular songs included the lyrics discussing how he will always be stuck in this world and never able to leave it.
Now it's been a long time since I was that kid
Since that time when I was young, many years have gone by.
And I've seen a lot more than Hank ever did
I have experienced and witnessed much more in my life than what Hank Williams was able to before he passed away.
I've done the down and out in every dark end dive
I have been in many low and desperate situations in many different types of seedy places.
But I'll never get out of your love alive
Despite everything I've experienced, I will never be able to escape your love for me.
Sam Cook met the woman at the well
Sam Cook had an encounter with a woman at a well.
She told him that his song was something he could never sell
The woman at the well informed Sam Cook that his music was not something he could make a profitable business out of.
And I think he knew a change was gonna come
I believe that Sam Cook had an understanding that there were some positive changes on the horizon.
Still he lived too fast and he died too young
Despite the potential of a positive future, Sam Cook passed away prematurely as a result of his fast-paced lifestyle.
Well dyin' young I have survived but I'll never get out of your love alive
I have survived dying young, but I will never escape your love.
I got washed in the blood of Bill Monroe
The music of Bill Monroe had a deep impact on me and it was something I felt strongly about.
When he sang about the blues in the body and soul
Bill Monroe's music had themes about the deep, personal emotions of the individual.
He believed in a God that could raise the dead
Bill Monroe had faith in a higher power that could perform miracles, including bringing the dead back to life.
Still it's a mighty dark night to travel he said
Even though he had faith, Bill Monroe recognized that sometimes life can be difficult and challenging to navigate.
I've seen a mighty dark night and I made that drive
I have also experienced difficult times and have made it through.
But I'll never get out of your love alive
Despite challenges, I will still be unable to escape your love for me.
Robert Johnson had a hellhound on his trail
Robert Johnson felt like he was being pursued by some kind of demonic presence.
Drove him to the coffin like a hammer and a nail
This demonic presence drove Robert Johnson to a place of darkness and despair, leading to his death.
It takes a powerful man to carry that load
It takes someone with great strength to bear this kind of intense burden or darkness in their life.
When your tryin' to beat the devil to the old crossroads
When you are attempting to overcome evil or negative influences in your life.
I wrestled the devil lived to testify but I'll never get out of your love alive
I have fought against the negative aspects of life and survived to share my story, but I will still never be able to escape your love.
I'll never get out of your love alive
No matter what happens in my life, I will always be loved and supported by you.
I'll never get out of your love alive
This line reiterates that the artist will always be loved unconditionally.
I'll never get out of your love alive
Again, the singer emphasizes that they will never be able to escape the love they receive from this other person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EMMYLOU HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind