Emmylou Harris

[fox69]

"My Father's House"

"My Father's House"



Last night I dreamed that I was a child
Out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home through the forest
Before the darkness falls

I heard the wind rustling through the trees
And ghostly voices rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin' at my heels

I broke through the trees, and there in the night
My father's house stood shining hard and bright
The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell, shaking in his arms

I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again, sir, tear us from each other's hearts
I got dressed, and to that house I did ride
From out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light

I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
A woman I didn't recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story, and who I'd come for
She said "I'm sorry, son, but no one by that name lives here anymore"

My father's house shines hard and bright
It stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling, so cold and alone
Shining 'cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned

 

[fox69]

"My Name Is Emmett Till"

"My Name Is Emmett Till"



I was born a black boy
My name is Emmett Till
Walked this earth for 14 years
One night I was killed
For speaking to a woman
Whose skin was white as dough
That's a sin in Mississippi
But how was I to know?

I'd come down from Chicago
To visit with my kin
Up there I was a cheeky kid
I guess I'd always been
But the harm they put upon me
Was too hard for what I'd done
For I was just a black boy
And never hurt no one

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh

They took me from my uncle's house
Mose Wright was his name.
He'd later stand and, without hesitation
Point the blame
At the ones who beat and cut me
And shot me with a gun
And threw me in the river
Like I was trash when they were done

I was sent back to my mother
At least what was left of me
She kept my casket open
For the whole wide world to see
The awful desecration
And the evidence of hate
You could not recognize me
The mutilation was so great

There came a cry for justice
To be finally fulfilled
All because of me, a black boy
My name was Emmett Till

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh, but I'd have rather lived
Till I was too old to die young
Not miss all I left behind
And all that might have come
Summer clouds above my head
The grass beneath my feet
The warmth of a good woman
Her kisses soft and sweet

Perhaps to be a father
With a black boy of my own
Watch him grow into a kinder world
Than I had known
Where no child would be murdered
For the color of his skin
And love would be the only thing
Inside the hearts of men

They say the horror of that night
Is haunting Heaven still
Where I am one more black boy
My name is Emmett Till

 

[fox69]

"My Songbird"

"My Songbird"



Songbird in a golden cage
She'd prefer the blue
How I crave the liquor of her song
Poor bird who has done no harm
What harm could she do
She shall be my prisoner her life long
My songbird wants her freedom
Now don't you think I know
But I can't find it in myself
To let my songbird go
I just can't let her go

O lord, when your jeweler's eye
Peers into my soul
O lord, I am overcome with shame
Take me lord and purify
Heal me with a word
Lord, I beg a gift I dare not claim

 

[fox69]

"Mystery Train"

"Mystery Train"



Train arrive 16 coaches long
Train arrive 16 coaches long
Well that long black train
Took my baby back home

Train train rolling round the bend
Train train rolling round the bend
Well it took my baby
Away from me again

Went down to the station
To meet my baby at the gate
Ask the station master
If her train is running late
He said no if your wait
on that old 44
I hate to tell you son
But that train don't stop her anymore

Train train rolling round the bend
Train train rolling round the bend
Well it took my baby
Away from me again

Heard that whistle blowing
It was the middle of the night
When I got down to the station
The train was rolling out of site

Mystery train rolling round the bend
Mystery train rolling round the bend
Well it took my baby
Away from me again

 

[fox69]

"Never Be Anyone Else But You"

"Never Be Anyone Else But You"



There'll never be anyone else
But you for me
Never ever be
Just couldn't be
Anyone else but you

If I could take my pick of all
The boys I've ever known
Then I'd come and pick you out
To be my very own

There'll never be anyone else
But you for me
Never ever be
Just couldn't be
Anyone else but you

A heart that's true and longs for you
Is all I have to give
All my love belongs to you
As long as I may live

There'll never be anyone else
But you for me
Never ever be
Just couldn't be
Anyone else but you

I never will forget the way you kissed me
And when we're not together
I wonder if you miss me

For I hope and pray the day will come
When you belong to me
Then I'm gonna prove to you
How true my love can be

There'll never be anyone else
But you for me
Never ever be
Just couldn't be
Anyone else but you

Never ever be
Just couldn't be
Anyone else but you

 

[fox69]

"New Orleans"

"New Orleans"



My Lord how the rains came down
The waters made a mighty sound
When the levees broke that day
Washin' all those souls away
The whole world stood to watch us drown
But we took it to a higher ground

It takes more than a hurricane
To empty out the Pontchartrain
Long ago we broke the chains
In New Orleans New Orleans
When Brother Bill and Sister Nell
Are singing like a ringing bell
Then you'll know all is well
In New Orleans New Orleans

Bring it all, fire and flood
Fill the rivers up with mud
To cut and run ain't in our blood
We are New Orleans

So baby let the life roll on
The blues were made to make us strong
We're walkin' in a brighter day
Nothin' can get in our way
The whole world stood to watch us drown
But we took it to a higher ground

 

[fox69]

"No Regrets"

"No Regrets"



I know your leaving is too long overdue
For far too long I've had nothing new to show to you
Thru dry eyes I watched your plane
Fade off west of the moon
And it felt so strange to walk away alone
No regrets no tears goodbye
Don't want you back we'd only cry again
Say goodbye a-gain

The hours that were yours echo like empty rooms
The thoughts we used to share I now keep alone
I woke last night and spoke your name
Not thinking you were gone
And it felt so strange to lie awake alone
No regrets no tears goodbye
Don't want you back we'd only cry again
Say goodbye a-gain

Our friends have tried to turn my nights to day
Strange faces in your place can't keep the ghosts away
Just behind the darkest hour just before dawn
It still feels so strange to lead my life alone
No regrets no tears goodbye
Don't want you back we'd only cry again
Say goodbye a-gain

 

[fox69]

"Nobody"

"Nobody"



Ridin' on her bicycle to school
A little girl out breakin' all the rules
She don't care about the birds and bees
She's too busy skinnin' both her knees
With the arms of a loving childhood wrapped around her
All the wonders of the world surround her
And with the angels up above her soul to keep
In her bed down here below she falls asleep

She don't need nobody
She don't need nobody
She don't need nobody now

All grown up and livin' on her own
She goes to work and then comes home alone
But she believes someday her prince will come
There's a lot of life to go at 21
With nothing but her faith in love to guide her
She follows the young heart that beats inside her
Walk right through that door and bet it all
Confident she can take the fall

She's ready for somebody
She's ready for somebody
She's ready for somebody now

As the years go by
The woman's not so sure
She feels an ache inside
That seems to have no cure
How did life get so long
Does no one ever stay
Was the dream of one true love
Just lost along the way
But she believes she has so much to give
Is there any other reason why we live

She still wants somebody
She still wants somebody
She still wants somebody

Now that little girl is growing old
All of her sad stories have been told
But there are no regrets, she'll place no blame
She knows for everyone it is the same
Even when the well runs dry and the bread's unleavened
And she wonders if there really is a heaven
She finds her way back to that little girl
And wraps her empty arms around the world

She don't need nobody
She don't need nobody
She don't need nobody now

 

[fox69]

"Not Enough"

"Not Enough"



Oh my darling, I miss you so.
How I loved you, you'll never know.
Though it's time for me to let you go.
Oh my darling, I'll miss you so.

Can't believe you're really gone for good.
I still hold on to places you once stood.
I should move on, but I never could,
Really believe you're gone for good.

Oh my friend, what could I do?
I just came home to bury you.
The road is long, the road is rough.
Your in my heart, that's not close enough.

All those years, disappear
All my tears, are not enough, not enough.
How can it be the ties that bind,
Cut down deep and are so unkind?
When we lose them we will never find,
Anything stronger than the ties that bind.

I still have your memory.
One or two pictures of you and me.
Life is long and life is tough,
But when you love someone,
Life is not long enough.

 

[fox69]

"O Evangeline"

"O Evangeline"



O Evangeline you been gone so long
And for a time it seemed
Every road you took turned wrong
But a second chance would come
With each new bridge you burned
I know you squandered some
But then from some you learned
And the point of rescue well
You passed that long ago
O but to hear you teil it was
Just another part of the show
O Evangeline your faith shone blind and true
We raise our glass and sing
Of you Evangeline

O Evangeline you with no kith or kin
The nights so hard and mean
You shed them like a skin
For you were always strong
When the bad slid down to worse
You still had that song
It was your blessing and your curse
But in your tongue
There is no word for home
There'll be no one
To roll away the stone
O Evangeline you have been a prisoner here
Bread and roses we shall bring
To you Evangeline

O Evangeline what are you fighting for
You stayed out in that ring
When nobody's even keepin' score
But round by round you earned
Your stumble into grace
Still with every turn the world
Becomes a sadder place
It swallows up the ones
You have loved the most
So you sleep with none
You wake with ghosts
O Evangeline
You have salted with your tears
Every lonely mile you've seen
Thru the years Evangeline

It's a fatal shore
You now wash upon
So weary of the war
And no longer young
O Evangeline your voice
Risin' sweet and clear
We close our eyes and dream
Of you Evangeline