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.
the light
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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I see the light at the end of the tunnel
I see the light and it's burnin' bright
I see the light it's the light at the end that I run to
And the light, darlin' is you
In the lonely heart of darkness
I have stumbled and I have strayed
A ray of sunlight to guide my way
I see the light
I see the light at the end of the tunnel
I see the light and it's burnin' bright
I see the light it's the light at the end that I run to
And the light, darlin' is you
I have travelled down this highway
Of hope abandoned and broken dreams
An unbeliever my faith was shaken
By all the sorrow I had seen
I see the light
I see the light at the end of the tunnel
I see the light and it's burnin' bright
I see the light it's the light at the end that I run to
And the light, darlin' is you
And the light, darlin' is you
The opening line of Emmylou Harris's song "The Light" sees the light shining bright at the end of a tunnel. The light is burning bright and is what the singer runs to. In the darkness of the singer's heart, she has stumbled and strayed, searching constantly but never finding a ray of sunlight to guide her way. But now she sees the light at the end, which is the light she runs to, and that light is the love she has for her other half.
The lyrics portray the singer's journey of heartbreak and loss as she tries to find meaning and purpose in her life. She has traveled on a highway of abandoned hope and broken dreams and lost her faith in humanity along the way. Her search for love and happiness leads her to the realization that the light she sees is the love she has found with her partner. Through the lyrics, Emmylou Harris celebrates the restorative power of love, the light that shines in our darkest moments, helping us to find our way.
In conclusion, Emmylou Harris's "The Light" is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is often the love we have in our lives. It is a song about hope, redemption, and love, inspiring us to keep fighting, even when the journey seems impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the light
I have finally found hope
I see the light at the end of the tunnel
I see the end of my dark times
I see the light and it's burnin' bright
My hope is strong and vibrant
I see the light it's the light at the end that I run to
I am running towards the end of my troubles and towards hope
And the light, darlin' is you
You are the source of my hope and happiness
In the lonely heart of darkness
I have felt alone and lost in my despair
I have stumbled and I have strayed
I have made mistakes and wandered off the right path
Always searchin' but never finding
Even though I have looked for hope, I couldn't find it alone
A ray of sunlight to guide my way
I needed some kind of direction to guide me towards hope
I have travelled down this highway
I have endured a long journey
Of hope abandoned and broken dreams
I have experienced hopelessness and disappointment
An unbeliever my faith was shaken
I lost my faith and trust
By all the sorrow I had seen
I have witnessed a lot of pain and suffering
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EMMYLOU HARRIS, KIERAN FRANCIS KANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind