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.
Too Far Gone
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You love more than me
Someone you love more than me
And I hate to say it
But you have a right to be free
I know that's the way it should be
But I'm too far gone
I've loved you so much for so long
And I'm too far gone
If ever your new love
Should hurt you or make you feel blue
Hurt you or make you feel blue
Just remember your old love
Will still be around loving you
I'll be around loving you
'Cause I'm too far gone
Too far gone
I've loved you so much for so long
And I'm too far gone
In Emmylou Harris's song Too Far Gone, she sings about the painful realization that she's reached a point of no return in a relationship. She acknowledges that there's likely someone else in the picture who her partner loves more than her, and she can't deny them their freedom. Despite this acceptance of the inevitable, Emmylou Harris still feels conflicted because she's loved this person deeply for a long time, and the idea of letting go is very difficult.
The lyrics are straightforward and poignant, providing a glimpse into the raw emotions one can feel when they know it's time to walk away from a relationship, even as their heart yearns for something different. The line "If ever your new love should hurt you or make you feel blue, just remember your old love will still be around loving you" is especially heart-wrenching, as it highlights the selflessness and long-lasting love Emmylou Harris continues to have for her partner, even as she realizes that it's time to let go.
Overall, Too Far Gone is a beautiful and haunting reflection of love, loss, and the pain of moving on. It reminds us that sometimes, holding on to something that's not meant to be can hurt us more than we realize, and that even though it might be hard, letting go can ultimately lead to healing and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that somewhere there's someone
I'm aware that there exists someone in this world whom you love more than me
You love more than me
Your love is directed towards someone else, stronger than it is towards me
Someone you love more than me
It's a fact that you have stronger romantic feelings towards another person than you do towards me
And I hate to say it
Admittedly, I find it difficult to tell you this
But you have a right to be free
You deserve the freedom to follow your heart and pursue whomever you want
I know that's the way it should be
I understand that this is the proper way things ought to be
But I'm too far gone
Unfortunately, my love for you is too strong to let you go
Too far gone
I've let my love for you consume me to the point where I can't let you leave
I've loved you so much for so long
Over a considerable period of time, I've cherished and adored you deeply
And I'm too far gone
My feelings for you are so pronounced and intense that I can't come to terms with letting you go
If ever your new love
Assuming you ever find someone new to love
Should hurt you or make you feel blue
If that person ever breaks your heart or makes you feel down
Hurt you or make you feel blue
If your new love is the cause of your sadness or grief
Just remember your old love
Recall in your heart and mind the fond memories you shared with me
Will still be around loving you
Even though I may have to keep my distance, my love for you will never fade
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY SHERRILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind