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.
She
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She came from the land of the cotton
A land that was nearly forgotten
By everyone
And she ...
She worked and she slaved so hard
A big ol' field was her backyard
In the delta sun
Yes, yes
She sure could sing
Then he ...
Looked down and he took a little pity
The whole town swore he decided
He help her some
And he
Didn't mind if she wasn't very pretty
For deep inside his heart he knew
She was the only one
Oh, but she sure could sing
My, my she sure could sing
She had faith and she had believin'
She led all the people together in singin'
And she prayed very night
To the Lord up above
Singin' hallelujah
Oh, hallelujah
They ...
Would walk singin' songs by the river
Even when she knew for sure
She had to go away
And she
Never knew what her life had to give her
And never had to worry about it
For one single day
Oh, but she sure could sing
Yes, yes she sure could sing
The song "She" by Emmylou Harris is a touching tribute to the strength and resilience of a young woman who hails from the deep south. She is a hardworking girl, coming from a land that is forgotten and overlooked by everyone. Despite the tough life she endures, having to work and slave away in the cotton fields from the crack of dawn till dusk, she has a remarkable talent that allows her to transcend her circumstances: she is blessed with a beautiful voice.
Despite her voice being her ticket to a better life, she never forgets the source of her strength: she sings of her faith, leading people together in song and prayer to the Lord up above. The song celebrates the resilience and grit of this woman, who finds solace in her singing and the love of a man who helps her without any thought of getting something in return.
The song touches upon themes of love, hope, faith, and the transformative power of music. Through her talent, this young woman has the ability to unite people and transcend her circumstances. It is truly a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome even the toughest odds.
Line by Line Meaning
She came from the land of the cotton
She was born in the cotton-growing region
A land that was nearly forgotten
And grew up in an area that was often overlooked
By everyone
By everyone, except those living there
And she worked and she slaved so hard
She worked hard and diligently
A big ol' field was her backyard
Her backyard was a vast field
In the delta sun
Beneath the hot sun of the Mississippi delta
Oh, but she sure could sing
Despite the hard work and heat, she was gifted with a beautiful singing voice
Yes, yes
Without a doubt
Then he looked down and he took a little pity
One day, a man noticed her plight and took pity on her
The whole town swore he decided
Everyone in town believed he had made the decision to help her
He helped her some
He offered to help her in some small way
And he didn't mind if she wasn't very pretty
He was not concerned with her looks and did not judge her based on them
For deep inside his heart he knew she was the only one
He knew she was special and the only one who could sing like she did
She had faith and she had believin'
Despite her tough life, she held onto her faith and remained hopeful
She led all the people together in singin'
She used her talent to bring people together through singing
And she prayed every night to the Lord up above
She prayed to the Lord every night, expressing gratitude and asking for guidance
Singin' hallelujah
Singing praises to the Lord
Oh, hallelujah
Oh, praise the Lord!
They would walk singin' songs by the river
She and the man who helped her would sing together while walking by the river
Even when she knew for sure she had to go away
Despite knowing she would eventually have to leave the town
And she never knew what her life had to give her
She was unsure of what her future held
And never had to worry about it for one single day
But she didn't worry because she had her faith and her music
Oh, but she sure could sing
Her beautiful voice remained her most remarkable talent, despite anything else life may throw her way
Yes, yes she sure could sing
Without a doubt, her voice was a gift that she treasured and shared with those around her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE SHEARING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind