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.
Red Dirt Girl
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And her blue tick hound dog Gideon
Sittin' on the front porch coolin' in the shade
Singin' every song the radio played
Waitin' for the Alabama sun to go down
Two red dirt girls in a red dirt town
Me and Lillian
Just across the line
And a little southeast of Meridian
She loved her brother I remember back when
He was fixin' up a '49 Indian
He told her, ?Little sister, gonna ride the wind
Up around the moon and back again"
He never got farther than Vietnam
I was standin' there with her
When the telegram come for Lillian
Now he's lyin' somewhere
About a million miles from Meridian
She said, ?There's not much hope for a red dirt girl
Somewhere out there is a great big world
That's where I'm bound"
"And the stars might fall on Alabama
But one of these days I'm gonna swing
My hammer down"
Away from this red dirt town
I'm gonna make a joyful sound
She grew up tall and she grew up thin
Buried that old dog Gideon
By a crepe myrtle bush in the back of the yard
Her daddy turned mean and her mama leaned hard
Got in trouble with a boy from town
Figured that she might as well settle down
So she dug right in
Across a red dirt line
Just a little south east of Meridian
Yes, she tried hard to love him
But it never did take
Just another way for the heart to break
So she learned [Incomprehensible]
One thing they don't tell you about the blues
When you got 'em
You keep on fallin' 'cause there ain't no bottom
There ain't no end at least not for Lillian
Nobody knows when she started her skid
She was only 27 and she had five kids
Could-a been the whiskey, could-a been the pills
Could-a been the dream she was tryin' to kill
But there won't be a mention in the new little world
About the life and the death of a red dirt girl
Named Lillian
Who never got any farther
Across the line than Meridian
Now the stars still fall on Alabama
Tonight she finally laid
That hammer down without a sound
In the red dirt ground
"Red Dirt Girl" by Emmylou Harris tells the story of two young girls, friends from a small town in Alabama, who sit on the front porch, singing the songs they hear on the radio and waiting for the Alabama sun to go down. The lyrics are poignant and bring to life a vivid picture of two young women in Alabama struggling to make it in a world that doesn't seem to offer much for them.
The song goes on to narrate the story of Lillian, the best friend of the singer, who lost her brother in Vietnam and was left with a life that didn't offer much hope. She dreamed of leaving her Red Dirt town and exploring the vast world beyond, but eventually settled with a man from town and had five children. The song describes the struggles Lillian went through in her life and ends with her passing away and finally laying her hammer down, without a sound, in the red dirt ground.
The song is a beautiful reflection of the struggles of small-town life in America and the dreams and aspirations of the young people growing up there. It is a sad and reflective piece that highlights the harsh realities of life whilst also sprinkling in hope that one day, young people will make it out of their small towns and explore the vast world beyond.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and my best friend Lillian
The singer and her close friend Lillian are the subjects of the song
And her blue tick hound dog Gideon,
Lillian owns a blue tick hound dog named Gideon
Sittin on the front porch cooling in the shade
The singer and Lillian are sitting on the front porch where it is cooler
Singin every song the radio played
The two friends are singing along to every song playing on the radio
Waitin for the Alabama sun to go down
They are waiting for the sun to set in Alabama
Two red dirt girls in a red dirt town
Both are young women in a small town in Alabama with red dirt
Me and Lillian
The singer repeats the names of the two main characters
Just across the line and a little southeast of Meridian.
They are located just southeast of Meridian, Mississippi
She loved her brother I remember back when
The artist remembers when Lillian loved her brother
He was fixin up a '49 Indian
Lillian's brother was repairing a 1949 Indian motorcycle
He told her 'Little sister, gonna ride the wind
Lillian's brother promised her he would ride the motorcycle like the wind
Up around the moon and back again"
Her brother would ride the motorcycle all around the moon and return safely
He never got farther than Vietnam,
Lillian's brother passed away in the Vietnam War
I was standin there with her when the telegram come
The singer was there with Lillian when she received the telegram informing her of her brother's death
For Lillian.
The following events happen to Lillian
Now he's lyin somewhere about a million miles from Meridian.
Her brother is buried far from Meridian
She said there's not much hope for a red dirt girl
Lillian believes there is little hope for girls from small towns in Alabama with red dirt
Somewhere out there is a great big world
Lillian believes there is a vast world beyond her small town
That's where I'm bound
Lillian wants to leave and explore the world outside of her town
And the stars might fall on Alabama
Lillian acknowledges that anything is possible, even unlikely events such as stars falling onto Alabama
But one of these days I'm gonna swing
Lillian waits for the day when she can leave and explore more
My hammer down
Lillian is ready to work hard towards her goals
Away from this red dirt town
Lillian wants to leave her small Alabama town with red dirt
I'm gonna make a joyful sound
Lillian wants to make a good and happy life for herself
She grew up tall and she grew up thin
Lillian grew up to be tall and slender
Buried that old dog Gideon
Lillian buried Gideon, her blue tick hound
By a crepe myrtle bush in the back of the yard,
Gideon's grave is at the back of the yard by a crepe myrtle bush
Her daddy turned mean and her mama leaned hard
Lillian's father became cruel while her mother struggled to raise her family
Got in trouble with a boy from town
Lillian had issues with a boy from her town
Figured that she might as well settle down
Lillian thought it best to settle down and marry
So she dug right in
Lillian fully committed to her new life
Across a red dirt line just a little south east from Meridian
Her new life is in a small town just southeast of Meridian, Alabama
She tried hard to love him but it never did take
Lillian tried to love her husband but did not succeed
It was just another way for the heart to break
Trying to love her husband caused more heartbreak for Lillian
So she dug right in.
Lillian hardened her heart and fully committed to her life
But one thing they don't tell you about the blues
The blues are a type of sadness not easily explained
When you got em
When you feel those blues
You keep on falling cause there ain't no bottom
There seems to be no end to the sadness you feel
There ain't know end.
There seems to be no way out of the blues
At least not for Lillian
Lillian did not escape the blues
Nobody knows when she started her skid,
It is not known when Lillian began to struggle
She was only twenty seven and she had five kids.
Lillian was only 27 years old and had five children
Coulda' been the whiskey,
Lillian's struggles could have been related to alcohol
Coulda been the pills,
Lillian's struggles could have been related to drug use
Coulda been the dream she was trying to kill.
Lillian could have been struggling to escape a dream or make a dream come true
But there won't be a mention in the news of the world
Lillian's struggles will not be mentioned by any news outlet
About the life and the death of a red dirt girl
Lillian's life and death should be remembered
Names Lillian
The artist reminds the listener of Lillian's name
Who never got any farther across the line than Meridian.
Lillian never got to experience anything beyond the small town just southeast of Meridian
Now the stars still fall on Alabama
The stars still shine and fall in Alabama
Tonight she finally laid
Lillian did something tonight
That hammer down
Lillian released her burdens or cares
Without a sound
Lillian's release was quiet
In the red dirt ground
Lillian was buried in Alabama's red dirt
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EMMYLOU HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chadlefeber347
Me and my best friend Lillian
And her blue tick hound dog Gideon
Sittin' on the front porch coolin' in the shade
Singin' every song the radio played
Waitin' for the Alabama sun to go down
Two red dirt girls in a red dirt town
Me and Lillian
Just across the line
And a little southeast of Meridian
She loved her brother I remember back when
He was fixin' up a '49 Indian
He told her, ? Little sister, gonna ride the wind
Up around the moon and back again"
He never got farther than Vietnam
I was standin' there with her
When the telegram come for Lillian
Now he's lyin' somewhere
About a million miles from Meridian
She said, ? There's not much hope for a red dirt girl
Somewhere out there is a great big world
That's where I'm bound"
"And the stars might fall on Alabama
But one of these days I'm gonna swing
My hammer down"
Away from this red dirt town
I'm gonna make a joyful sound
She grew up tall and she grew up thin
Buried that old dog Gideon
By a crepe myrtle bush in the back of the yard
Her daddy turned mean and her mama leaned hard
Got in trouble with a boy from town
Figured that she might as well settle down
So she dug right in
Across a red dirt line
Just a little south east of Meridian
Yes, she tried hard to love him
But it never did take
Just another way for the heart to break
So she learned to bend
One thing they don't tell you about the blues
When you got 'em
You keep on fallin' 'cause there ain't no bottom
There ain't no end at least not for Lillian
Nobody knows when she started her skid
She was only 27 and she had five kids
Could-a been the whiskey, could-a been the pills
Could-a been the dream she was tryin' to kill
But there won't be a mention in the News of the World
About the life and the death of a red dirt girl
Named Lillian
Who never got any farther
Across the line than Meridian
Now the stars still fall on Alabama
Tonight she finally laid
That hammer down without a sound
In the red dirt ground
@brewster84067
This is a song that crushes you to the soul, yet you can't stop listening to it. Over and over.
@vic5015
Kind of wonder if this is really about someone she knew. Probably not, but you never know.
@guzzijack9714
This particular arrangement is my favorite of all the versions I've listened to.
@EnviroAg96
I thought I was the only one. I played this at an Open Mic Night at McGonigels Mucky Duck in Houston 20 years ago. A friend from church who has some absolute PIPES sang it whiIe I harmonized with her. I came to tears trying to harmonize and almost lost the guitar support. Recovered, but still haunted by this song.
@Charles-db3kr
Exactly my thoughts. I’ve listened to this version over and over. Crushes you to the soul.
@brewster84067
@@guzzijack9714 same. First Aid Kit did this song a solid too, but this arrangement, just wow.
@donjensen785
Emmylou has to be one of the most beautiful women ever. Not just her looks.
@julianlewis1792
She's a beautiful soul -- a true artist.
@fancifulfilly
She is! The beauty of her soul exceeds even her physical beauty, which is no small feat.
@ianparkes2538
Was just thinking the same thing, what a lady