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Emmylou Harris — Wrecking Ball
Album: Wrecking Ball
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2846









Released: 1995
Length: 4:45
Plays (last 30 days): 4
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My life's an open book, you read it on the radio
We've got no where to hide, we got no where to go
But' if you still decide you want to take a ride.

Meet me at the Wrecking ball
Wrecking Ball, I'll wear something pretty and white
And we'll go dancing tonight
Meet me at the Wrecking Ball
Wrecking Ball, I'll wear something pretty and white
And we'll go dancing tonight.

I see smokey eyes right across the bar
I've seen that look before shining from star to star
Though I can't take that change
If you've got time for one dance.

The restless line of cars goes stretching down the road
But I won't telephone cause you might say hello
What is it makes me feel this way
What is it makes me want to say...
Comments (151)add comment
Love the guitar she is holding.
Posted 2 months ago by coyote620    [ Reply ]
 Roguewarer wrote:

Don’t get me wrong—I usually love ELH….but this one’s a stinker. It’s also played too much, imho. (Thank you for checking with me.) I have other opinions, too! 



Amazing cover of an amazing song by an amazing artist from an amazing album by an amazing producer! Straight up 10!
Posted 5 months ago by surfool    [ Reply ]
Emmylou does better singing harmony.
Posted 5 months ago by Clark_Novato    [ Reply ]
Don’t get me wrong—I usually love ELH….but this one’s a stinker. It’s also played too much, imho. (Thank you for checking with me.) I have other opinions, too! 
Posted 5 months ago by Roguewarer    [ Reply ]
Everyday? What is up with the programming?
Posted 5 months ago by coyote620    [ Reply ]
 pcolajoe wrote:

I’m sure Neil is proud. Emmylou is a treasure!



I'm sure he's proud too.  In fact, that's him singing backup!
Posted 5 months ago by damonlazer    [ Reply ]
I hope she gets back to playing the bluegrass-country she started playing with GP and then Ricky Skaggs.

She's got a great voice for and can still play guitar.
Posted 7 months ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
I’m sure Neil is proud. Emmylou is a treasure!
Posted 8 months ago by pcolajoe    [ Reply ]
neil youngs freedom album was greatly underrated. 
Posted 9 months ago by paultom84    [ Reply ]
is she drunk?
Posted 9 months ago by cuatro.thomas    [ Reply ]
Her voice is a bit whiny and pathetic on this on, but thats the point.
Posted 11 months ago by Devaplan    [ Reply ]
She's The One.
Posted 11 months ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Shesdifferent wrote: Excuse my ignorance, but if this is Neil's song, did he originally sing "I'll wear something pretty?" The mind boggles.

He simply sang, "Wear something pretty and white" with the "you" being implied to the girl he was singing to.
Posted 1 year ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
If you've never heard it, give "Elite Hotel" a listen. "If I Could Only Win Your Love." 
Posted 1 year ago by virwill7    [ Reply ]
 kkoouu wrote:

a new feature suggestion: skip songs with personal rating below <number>



You obviously want to live in an echo chamber....

What I love about my life, now having been on this earth for more than half a century, is that some things I once disliked now have new meanings to me. And some of the things that I liked when I was younger have lost their meaningfulness.  You're either constantly evolving or you're already dead, you just don't know it.
Posted 1 year ago by TC1    [ Reply ]
She touches my heart when she sings, "I'll wear something pretty...."
Posted 1 year ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
I love that Neil Young does the backing vocals . Emmylou's beautiful, haunting version here echoes his, just as good.
Posted 2 years ago by linurbug    [ Reply ]
She is just........fabulous. I particulary like this song....not that I don't like Miley too!
Posted 2 years ago by BlackBetty    [ Reply ]
I really wanted to hear that male backing vocal sing the part about wearing something pretty.
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
 RabbitEars wrote:

Lanois also wrote Where Will I Be? and co-wrote Deeper Well. 
Bob Dylan - Every Grain of Sand
Lucinda Williams - Sweet Old World

Daniel Lanois definitely breathed new life into her career with this album. 



also Going Back to Harlan by the Kate and Anna McGarrigle
Posted 2 years ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
Fabulous album, produced by Daniel Lanois - who by the by should be played on RP if not already
Posted 2 years ago by chriscavas    [ Reply ]
 deniseperry wrote:

Love the doomed lyrics.


especially with neil singing backup - the lyrics could have been written together (but weren't)
Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
 2Hawks wrote:

oh.. that voice... just can't stand the whine....




That's the voice of a life lived.  Unlike some young thing with plenty of power or breathiness, but only a fraction of the soul.
Posted 3 years ago by RParadise    [ Reply ]
Love the doomed lyrics.
Posted 3 years ago by deniseperry    [ Reply ]
a new feature suggestion: skip songs with personal rating below <number>
Posted 3 years ago by kkoouu    [ Reply ]
 2Hawks wrote:

oh.. that voice... just can't stand the whine....



Yeah, I had the same problem with your mom.
Posted 3 years ago by bahalana    [ Reply ]
An all time favorite song from an all time favorite artist!
Posted 3 years ago by hdavid7    [ Reply ]
 iloveradio wrote:

Emmylou Harris is an American treasure


And Lanois is a Canadian genius
Posted 3 years ago by jukes1    [ Reply ]
Bad timing, Bill. I desperately want to turn this up loud but the wife is recording a podcast. Can you play this again in 18 minutes? 
Posted 3 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
A life changer in the way I listened to music when this record came out. 
Posted 3 years ago by Sevenson    [ Reply ]
 brianlj wrote:
What's this called ?

I didn't quite catch the title. What with me being busy slitting my wrists and all.
 
I wish you success in everything you do


Posted 3 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
 mikegrinker wrote:
not usually a fan of covers, but she nailed it IMHO
 
Yep this kills the Miley Cyrus version.
Posted 3 years ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
not usually a fan of covers, but she nailed it IMHO
Posted 3 years ago by mikegrinker    [ Reply ]
 fedtho wrote:
This song is really making me gloomy, clinging to happiness that never happened (I don't get all the lyrics, just my feeling ). 
At the very same time, Harris breathes beauty crushing sadness, grace that rises above all into the despair. I'm both depressed and revived listening to this. 
 

You're not alone.  Believe me.
Posted 3 years ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
Daniel Lanois brought a whole new sensibility to EmmyLou on this album - what a fantastic sound
Posted 4 years ago by RoundT    [ Reply ]
oh.. that voice... just can't stand the whine....
Posted 4 years ago by 2Hawks    [ Reply ]
This song is really making me gloomy, clinging to happiness that never happened (I don't get all the lyrics, just my feeling ). 
At the very same time, Harris breathes beauty crushing sadness, grace that rises above all into the despair. I'm both depressed and revived listening to this. 
Posted 4 years ago by fedtho    [ Reply ]
 CyrusPaul wrote:
I really love this era of Emmylou with Daniel Lanois at the producing helm....
 
Desert Island Disc - No Brainer.
Along with Teatro by Willie Nelson - another Lanois masterpiece.
Along with Joshua Tree - you guessed it.
Posted 4 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
I fall a little more in love with Emmylou every time I hear her voice.
...and I've been listening since the early 70's, thanks to Mom :)
Posted 4 years ago by DigitalJer    [ Reply ]
What's this called ?

I didn't quite catch the title. What with me being busy slitting my wrists and all.
Posted 4 years ago by brianlj    [ Reply ]
+5 to a 6. First time hearing this one at home, nice mellow fall Saturday afternoon, yeah this isn't a 1, silly me...LLRP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
That pick was a great way to attempt launching the weekend the way it should be. Could have sworn I heard an LP's fizz & pop at some point too. Likely just the speaker & imagination running away with me. But goddammit, gonna get me THIS kinda weekend. Even if I gotta imagine it. 
Posted 5 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
 xray38 wrote:

FYI: Sacha Skarbek wrote this song.
 
Wrong. He wrote the Miley Cyrus song. Neil Young wrote this one.
Posted 5 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
 Laptopdog wrote:
Hearing this beautiful, haunting melody makes me realize how much I'd prefer
to hear the original Neil Young version instead.
 
FYI: Sacha Skarbek wrote this song.
Posted 5 years ago by xray38    [ Reply ]
 MachinistNL wrote:
Can’t stand this song. Just wanted to share that.
 

I've heard so much worse and can't really see what could be SO wrong with this song.
Posted 5 years ago by 123heyaho!    [ Reply ]
 MachinistNL wrote:
Can’t stand this song. Just wanted to share that.
 

Not a big fan of Emmylou in general. I find her vocal style pretty obnoxious... definite PSD over here.
Posted 5 years ago by rhlrstn    [ Reply ]
 MachinistNL wrote:
Can’t stand this song. Just wanted to share that.
 
I agree, and it's the 2nd time it's been played today! Dreary and plodding
Posted 5 years ago by be4con    [ Reply ]
 MachinistNL wrote:
Can’t stand this song. Just wanted to share that.
 
I'm with you.  It's horrible, and played very regularly!
Posted 5 years ago by adib    [ Reply ]
Can’t stand this song. Just wanted to share that.
Posted 5 years ago by MachinistNL    [ Reply ]
 DocStrangelove wrote:
the voice of an angel
{#Heartkiss}

 
ahh NO
Posted 5 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
 hallogallo wrote:

I do love Emmylou and she gives a very good accounting of herself on the Neil Young title track here.

Wrecking Ball is a great - perhaps underappreciated - album of great cover tunes;

 - Blackhawk (Daniel Lanois)
 - May This Be Love (Hendrix)
 - Orphan Girl (Gillian Welsh)
 - Goodbye (Steve Earle) 
 


 
Lanois also wrote Where Will I Be? and co-wrote Deeper Well. 
Bob Dylan - Every Grain of Sand
Lucinda Williams - Sweet Old World

Daniel Lanois definitely breathed new life into her career with this album. 
Posted 5 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
Posted 6 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
Hearing this beautiful, haunting melody makes me realize how much I'd prefer
to hear the original Neil Young version instead.
Posted 6 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
I really love this era of Emmylou with Daniel Lanois at the producing helm....
Posted 6 years ago by CyrusPaul    [ Reply ]
the voice of an angel
{#Heartkiss}
Posted 6 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]
 Jota wrote:

She has a voice in the way a seagull has one.

 
And Bob Dylan is the greatest tenor of all times, too.
Posted 6 years ago by fedtho    [ Reply ]
 Jota wrote:

She has a voice in the way a seagull has one.

 
And this from someone who gives the Smashing Pumpkins 9's.  {#Beat}
Posted 6 years ago by ecomaniac    [ Reply ]
Seriously? This is one of my favorite songs ever, so haunting and beautifull! I love Neil's version of his song, But Emmylou nails it as well, especially with Neil in the background!
Posted 7 years ago by peggy_cross    [ Reply ]
 BKardon wrote:
Emmylou doesn't have a voice? 


Jota wrote:
Sounds like someone who is trying to sound like they have a voice but doesn't.

 

 
She has a voice in the way a seagull has one.
Posted 7 years ago by Jota    [ Reply ]
 boxofrain wrote:
Neil wrote this and he's the only one who can deliver this song correctly.  Sorry Emmylou.

 
I concur.
Posted 7 years ago by Ghiaap    [ Reply ]
Yes, yes you will.
 
Narocircus wrote:


 


Posted 7 years ago by bstevens1951    [ Reply ]
Neil wrote this and he's the only one who can deliver this song correctly.  Sorry Emmylou.
Posted 7 years ago by boxofrain    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:
https://s2.glbimg.com/j6zecaaXjmTRcKQxfzf5Hy4b94k=/top/s.glbimg.com/jo/eg/f/original/2014/11/21/zmiley_cyrus_wrecking_ball_2013__18_.gif
Forgive me, RP community.
I'm sure I will burn in hell for this crime against good taste.  ; )

 


Posted 7 years ago by Narocircus    [ Reply ]
 Gerry941 wrote:
Agreed, she doesn't here

 


Posted 8 years ago by Gerry941    [ Reply ]
 BKardon wrote:
Emmylou doesn't have a voice? 


Jota wrote:
Sounds like someone who is trying to sound like they have a voice but doesn't.

 

 


Posted 8 years ago by Gerry941    [ Reply ]
Emmylou doesn't have a voice? 


Jota wrote:
Sounds like someone who is trying to sound like they have a voice but doesn't.

 


Posted 8 years ago by BKardon    [ Reply ]
Sounds like someone who is trying to sound like they have a voice but doesn't.
Posted 8 years ago by Jota    [ Reply ]
Doesn't do much for me. Sounds whiney  monotonous and very repetitive
Posted 8 years ago by Devaplan    [ Reply ]
Love your graphic and the song. on the beach! 
Posted 8 years ago by tununiq    [ Reply ]


I do love Emmylou and she gives a very good accounting of herself on the Neil Young title track here.

Wrecking Ball is a great - perhaps underappreciated - album of great cover tunes;

 - Blackhawk (Daniel Lanois)
 - May This Be Love (Hendrix)
 - Orphan Girl (Gillian Welsh)
 - Goodbye (Steve Earle) 
 


Posted 9 years ago by hallogallo    [ Reply ]
An unsubtle video, in the vein of you-know-who, might help this song quite a bit...
Posted 9 years ago by testpilot    [ Reply ]
"eat me like a rack of bones"
Posted 9 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
If only Bill would follow this with Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball".....
Posted 9 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
Great segue Bill.... from AfroCelts... ran into the intro on this seamlessly.. 
 
Posted 9 years ago by MM_Oz    [ Reply ]
Emmylou Harris is an American treasure
Posted 9 years ago by iloveradio    [ Reply ]
 MrsTom wrote:
A bit whiny. Is she talking to Miley Cyrus I wonder?
 
Well, Ms. Cyrus was 3 when this was released — so I'd guess 'no' :-)
Posted 9 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
Not her best.
Posted 9 years ago by lshinkawa    [ Reply ]
A bit whiny. Is she talking to Miley Cyrus I wonder?
Posted 9 years ago by MrsTom    [ Reply ]
Drony, dreamy, and not that great. Neil did it much better.
Posted 18 years ago by kame    [ Reply ]
make it end...
Posted 18 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
Wow, this is really... uh... bad.
Posted 18 years ago by -relayer-    [ Reply ]
frednic wrote:
Oh man! You made me laugh. I'm a big Emmy fan. I can see how this might grate on some ears. I've been listening to Emmy and Neil for over 30 years so maybe it's an acquired taste.
I never heard her before, but clicked on her name cuz I liked it so much...
Posted 18 years ago by spacemoose    [ Reply ]
Oh man! You made me laugh. I'm a big Emmy fan. I can see how this might grate on some ears. I've been listening to Emmy and Neil for over 30 years so maybe it's an acquired taste. grassfolk420 wrote:
Oh Supreme Being that may or may not exist...save me from this hell!
Posted 18 years ago by frednic    [ Reply ]
Just plain awful
Posted 18 years ago by 10th_rock    [ Reply ]
radiojunkie wrote:
Ethereal is the word for it.
i agree - love her voice - song is great -
Posted 18 years ago by pope183    [ Reply ]
Yucky.
Posted 18 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
Oh Supreme Being that may or may not exist...save me from this hell!
Posted 18 years ago by grassfolk420    [ Reply ]
you've REALLY gotta get the Neil Young version of this a little airtime.....
Posted 18 years ago by killahfunkadelic    [ Reply ]
Not my fave of hers...
Posted 18 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
querulousness
Posted 18 years ago by iMacomania    [ Reply ]
Least accessible song on a great album.
Posted 18 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
Cannot.Stand.This.Song. Hate her voice on it. Hate it.
Posted 19 years ago by AliGator    [ Reply ]
Like Emmylou - don't like this song. :-(
Posted 19 years ago by froderik    [ Reply ]
Beautiful song. Emmylou's voice gives, in my opinion, a haunting desperation to the song.
Posted 19 years ago by jenseda    [ Reply ]
Emmylou Harris is a goddess. Superb Daniel Lanois production on this album, and nice Neil Young song here.
Posted 19 years ago by GoldenBoy    [ Reply ]
Tis true... Neil gets all lyrical credit for this song (at least with all the info I could obtain online) As a late-blooming, yet well-versed and dedicated "Rustie", I recognized the connection almost immediately. Good call, Pope!!! pope183 wrote:
mm hmm Neil simply says " Meet me at the wrecking ball Wrecking ball Wear something pretty and white And we'll go dancin' tonight " yup
Posted 19 years ago by StPauli76    [ Reply ]
boileymon wrote:
It was a Neil Young composition on "Freedom" which came out in 1989. I think originally the pronoun in question was 2nd person. This is one of Neil's strongest CD's.
mm hmm Neil simply says " Meet me at the wrecking ball Wrecking ball Wear something pretty and white And we'll go dancin' tonight " yup
Posted 19 years ago by pope183    [ Reply ]
trempel wrote:
I'm not so sure it was a Niel original either.
It was a Neil Young composition on "Freedom" which came out in 1989. I think originally the pronoun in question was 2nd person. This is one of Neil's strongest CD's.
Posted 19 years ago by boileymon    [ Reply ]
NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Excuse my ignorance, but if this is Neil's song, did he originally sing "I'll wear something pretty?" The mind boggles.
I'm not so sure it was a Niel original either.
Posted 19 years ago by trempel    [ Reply ]
Shesdifferent wrote:
Love the Neil original much better...not a fan of this lady...but it's a beautiful song, but she just doesn't lend the smoothness to it that's needed for such a song.
Excuse my ignorance, but if this is Neil's song, did he originally sing "I'll wear something pretty?" The mind boggles.
Posted 19 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Friend wrote:
Meet me at the wrecking ball...I'll wear something pretty? Is this a trailer trash date? Am I missing some crucial context here?
what? who doesn't bring dates to the junkyard? you're totally missing out.
Posted 19 years ago by killahfunkadelic    [ Reply ]
This is the very definition of eclectic! Just love it, her vocals would break your heart... For the record, I'm a Neil Young fan, but credit where credit is due. I like this better. There's a fragility to the vocals Neil can't even reach.
Posted 19 years ago by dapower    [ Reply ]
this is NOT music to my ears
Posted 19 years ago by emleamy    [ Reply ]
Love the Neil original much better...not a fan of this lady...but it's a beautiful song, but she just doesn't lend the smoothness to it that's needed for such a song.
Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
From an incredible album.
Posted 19 years ago by Old_Pool_Skunk    [ Reply ]
Ethereal is the word for it.
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
haunting, I like it..
Posted 19 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
stripes wrote:
This makes me feel suicidal..
Ah! So it makes you feel. Isn't that what art is supposed to do?
Posted 19 years ago by softjeans    [ Reply ]
Meet me at the wrecking ball...I'll wear something pretty? Is this a trailer trash date? Am I missing some crucial context here?
Posted 19 years ago by Friend    [ Reply ]
pilgrim wrote:
yep, jus got a taste of the meself It's tough beat many/most of Mr. Goldsmith's segues
He's got a gift, ain't he?
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
LaChinchon wrote:
Holy, bat guano! I love Neil's original, but this cover is the very definition of sacrilege. There must be some FCC regulation prohibiting this. Fines double with every repeated assault.
Neil is singing back-up harmony, so he must like this version, wouldn't ya think?
Posted 20 years ago by Sonus    [ Reply ]
Sweet and haunting.
Posted 20 years ago by willyworx    [ Reply ]
CruzanBits wrote:
All right, whoever noticed that this is the same song as "Riviera" by Big Head Todd and programmed 'em together is a genius! Bill?
yep, jus got a taste of the meself It's tough beat many/most of Mr. Goldsmith's segues
Posted 20 years ago by pilgrim    [ Reply ]
llazare wrote:
Love this album. Love the Daniel Lanois Emmylou combination. This is an amazing album start to finish.
Amen to that. This is one of my least favorite tracks off the CD, which makes it merely outstanding. It's impossible to say what my favorite is because there's so much great music on Wrecking Ball, but let's just say I wouldn't be upset to hear her version of Jimi Hendrix' "May This Be Love" on RP. 8)
Posted 20 years ago by ladybinnath    [ Reply ]
Love this album. Love the Daniel Lanois Emmylou combination. This is an amazing album start to finish. I finally got to see Emmylou live last winter at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival and I got the chills.
Posted 20 years ago by llazare    [ Reply ]
All right, whoever noticed that this is the same song as "Riviera" by Big Head Todd and programmed 'em together is a genius! Bill?
Posted 20 years ago by CruzanBits    [ Reply ]
Duncan54 wrote:
Liner notes from the Wrecking Ball CD, Neil Young: Harmony Vocals. Love the song, Love the whole CD, Love Emmylou Harris.
Ditto. Don't forget LOVE Daniel Lanois!
Posted 20 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Liner notes from the Wrecking Ball CD, Neil Young: Harmony Vocals. Love the song, Love the whole CD, Love Emmylou Harris.
Posted 20 years ago by Duncan54    [ Reply ]
Wow...a version of this song that makes Neil's version almost palatable. (Not all that fond of Neil's version, either.) I know Emmylou is capable of much better. (And the Neil-bashing is just me--I know lots of other folks like him very much.) #-o
Posted 20 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
Too much negativity, man. This is a great cover of a great song off a great album by a great artist.
Posted 20 years ago by mnuisance    [ Reply ]