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Emmylou Harris — Where Will I Be
Album: Wrecking Ball
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1646








Released: 1995
Length: 4:12
Plays (last 30 days): 3
The streets are cracked
And there's glass everywhere
And a baby stares out
With motherless eyes
Under long gone beauty
On fields of war
Trapped in lament
To the poet's core.

Oh where, oh where will I be
Oh where, oh when that trumpets sounds.

Met an Indian boy in Ottawa
He laid me down on a bed of straw
Said don't waste your breath
Don't waste your heart
Don't blister your heels
Running in the dark.

Oh where, oh where will I be
Oh where, oh when that trumpets sounds.

Yeah I like the heat
Of your body laying under me
May your wild lip get you where your going
With your inventions your intentions, your laughter
Your forever yearning.

Oh where, oh where will I be
Oh where, oh when that trumpets sounds.

I walked to the river
And I walked to the rim
I walked through the teeth of the reaper's grin
I walked to you rolled up in wire
To the other side of desire.

Oh where, oh where will I be
Oh where, oh when that trumpets sounds.

Oh where, oh where oh where when that trumpet sounds
Oh where, oh where oh when that trumpet sounds.

Well the heart opens wide like it's never seen love
And addiction stays on tight like a glove
Oh where, oh where will I be.
Comments (139)add comment
 jazzdevil wrote:

For me in this album the difference is Daniel Lanois one of the brilliant producers in the world


He also wrote this particular song. RP plays his version once in a while.
https://radioparadise.com/musi...
 ScottN wrote:

And she keeps doing it, singing and now writing marvelously. A highly distinguished 40+ year career that doesn't seem to have peaked..  Our national treasure.



Make that 50+.
 jkforde wrote:

...RP gently guides you into different musical pastures. LLRP


Well said.
One of her best, one of Daniel's best, was super lucky to see them perform it live in SF for the 20th anniversary. 
 Alastair wrote:

I know a lot of people idolise her but her voice really annoys me, in a chalk on a blackboard kind of way 

blackfox1 wrote:

had to check my headphones/speakers.... where did the bass sound go?? not the same impact for me compared to the original...

To me its sounds like the treble is wound up and the midrange is missing. An unbalanced sound from a top notch producer? 

My ears are getting older along with the rest of me but generally  it seems the bass end is being lost and treble accentuated for me, which is the opposite of what is expected with normal hearing attenuation with age. 
I often comment on the breathiness of singers for this reason. Earlier recordings seem to be much more balanced. I guess it is a production trend that has left me behind, alas. Maybe the current generation has damaged its hearing more than I have mine (I was never a great loud headphone/plug listener, unlike those I could hear across the train carriage).
 schmibo wrote:

Before Radio Paradise, I never thought that I'd absolutely love an Emmylou Harris song. It serves as a reminder not to be so quick to dismiss whole genres of music, although E. Harris certainly has expanded. Great song. I'll definitely have to get the album. Keep up the good work, Bill!


so true, RP gently guides you into different musical pastures. LLRP

I know a lot of people idolise her but her voice really annoys me, in a chalk on a blackboard kind of way 
 blackfox1 wrote:

had to check my headphones/speakers.... where did the bass sound go??? not the same impact for me compared to the original...


I am hearing it...
 ace-marc wrote:


Totally! And he wrote this tune.

singing backup too as I recall...have to dig this CD out! 
 stevesaw wrote:


Yeah - the drums have this sutble 'goodness' about them. just different enough to be noticeable, but not overwhelming.

He's emphasizing the 2nd beat looking at this in 4/4 time. Gives it that (literally) offbeat feeling. The vocals emphasize the first beat so it's almost two time signatures. That is a bit of challenge to sing. Try listening to the drums and counting time then switch to listening to the vocals and you can see... it makes it a lot more interesting.
 blackfox1 wrote:

had to check my headphones/speakers.... where did the bass sound go??? not the same impact for me compared to the original...




But great drumming indeed
had to check my headphones/speakers.... where did the bass sound go??? not the same impact for me compared to the original...
I had to look it up but I knew that I heard the guitarist from U2 in there! Most excellent.
 RabbitEars wrote:
Unmistakeable outstanding drumming by Brian Blade. 



Yeah - the drums have this sutble 'goodness' about them. just different enough to be noticeable, but not overwhelming.
The drumming on this track is nothing short of phenomenal!
This entire album is memorable and gorgeous. Her voice is like buttuh.
I'll take those ghost notes. Any day of the week.
Came here specifically to find out who the drummer was.  Happily not surprised to find is is Brian Blade!
 sfyi2001 wrote:
GREAT voice.
Lousy tune.
 
I don’t think so 
GREAT voice.
Lousy tune.
Unmistakeable outstanding drumming by Brian Blade. 

More, Please.
Beautiful Beautiful Thanks RP!
 jazzdevil wrote:
For me in this album the difference is Daniel Lanois one of the brilliant producers in the world
 

Totally! And he wrote this tune.

 

What a song!  What an album!  Again, proof positive that anything that Daniel Lanois produces turns into something beautiful and unique.

 groedi wrote:
Does anybody know this...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz3eaTihDQg  ... from Cologne.

 
hadn't heard it before. sounds pretty faithful to both Harris' and Lanois' versions.
by the song's author
Superb album.
Does anybody know this...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz3eaTihDQg  ... from Cologne.

Yep, still like it, even better at FTN volume.
(Fie on the neighbors)


                                 Didn't feel it, Emmylou. 

 
 JayCee wrote:
Wow, rare to see a song with no comments. 

Wrecking Ball is when Emmylou Harris went from being my mom's music to being my music. {#Yes} 

Love every song on this album.

 

Oh and let me just say I see now there are 108 comments. Lolololol. I swear, when I pulled it up, it said no comments. I did think it was weird. Oh well ... 
Wow, rare to see a song with no comments. 

Wrecking Ball is when Emmylou Harris went from being my mom's music to being my music. {#Yes} 

Love every song on this album.
and speaking of brian blade, i love these one take black dub videos... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_0zrd2u3uk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKpV140x7HM
 
 schmibo wrote:
I love the drums in this song...She sings pretty well too...

 
brian blade, such a master. my favorite drummer, great to watch live. 

 
Twice I had the opportunity to see Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris do this album (and more) live.  Outstanding!   If you ever get the chance, don't pass it up!   
i liked her older stuff, but now this breathlessness sounds so affected
 jazzdevil wrote:
For me in this album the difference is Daniel Lanois one of the brilliant producers in the world

 
May be so.  But this song makes me cringe
For me in this album the difference is Daniel Lanois one of the brilliant producers in the world
The best
 Cynaera wrote:

{#Lol} Oh, you're just incorrigible.  Accurate, but incorrigible.  And anyway, Emmylou Harris is an icon, as is Daniel Lanois. The two of them working together make some pretty breathtaking magic...
 
Yes, honey, you sure were right. The more songs I hear from this album, the more I don't understand why I haven't bought it. 
And she keeps doing it, singing and now writing marvelously. A highly distinguished 40+ year career that doesn't seem to have peaked..  Our national treasure.
 ndad47 wrote:
emmylou like a fine wine. she gets better with age. one of the few artists that do.
 
...... yes she most definitely does :)) 

Outstanding album.  One of Emmylou's best.  Huge props for the contributions of Daniel Lanois.

 
this whole album rocks!! Go Emmylou!
 TerryS wrote:

Have to disagree, this album is 16 years old and, although it is my favorite ELH album, I prefer her later 'voice' as she has aged more.
 
Saw her on Letterman last week.  Her voice is still very very good and I have to agree it has aged well.
 Randomax wrote:
I have always loved ELH but her voice has really aged....which makes sense....but this is the 1st recording where I noticed it....I do not like this song...it grates on me. 
 
Have to disagree, this album is 16 years old and, although it is my favorite ELH album, I prefer her later 'voice' as she has aged more.
Definately one of my desert island records.  She is superb, with Dan Lanois even more superber ! 10

This whole album is a stunner. I wish I could live inside these songs. The warmth and sensuality of the arrangements combined with her vocals puts an ache in my heart every time.
 fredriley wrote:
"Laid me down on a bed of straw"? Ooh, ouch, that surely prickles. Bagsy you on the bottom, lover :o)
 
{#Lol} Oh, you're just incorrigible.  Accurate, but incorrigible.  And anyway, Emmylou Harris is an icon, as is Daniel Lanois. The two of them working together make some pretty breathtaking magic...

I have always loved ELH but her voice has really aged....which makes sense....but this is the 1st recording where I noticed it....I do not like this song...it grates on me. 
 keller1 wrote:
God, Emmylou's voice just melts me.
 

She has a good voice, but that over elongated warble just goes on a little too long for me when she does that!{#Stop}
I really like Lanois's version of this song on one of his solo records ("Here is what is").  Emmylou's is awesome too!
 mjaded wrote:
Emmylou and Lanois. EXCELLENT!!!!!!
  
{#High-five} Agreed! => 10!

I love the drums in this song...She sings pretty well too...
God, Emmylou's voice just melts me.
"Laid me down on a bed of straw"? Ooh, ouch, that surely prickles. Bagsy you on the bottom, lover :o)
The definitive version of this song, IMO
such a pretty song that makes me feel good to me soul
Emmylou and Lanois. EXCELLENT!!!!!!
I could listen to EmmyLou Harris sing a phone book... c.
emmylou like a fine wine. she gets better with age. one of the few artists that do.
Ultimately Emmylou good
BluEyes wrote:
Great cd and one that I bought because I heard it here!
Ditto.
Great cd and one that I bought because I heard it here!
ThePoose wrote:
You mean they complement each other.
Who typed anything other than "complement?"
I am starting to REALLY like Emmylou Harris. Thank you, Bill.
Nice drums!
... ...
You mean they complement each other.
I think Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris complement each other beautifully in this piece. "Where will I be when that trumpet sounds?" The combination of voice and guitar create the sound of a trumpet's song heralding the morning or perhaps, more fittingly, the evening.
sipsey wrote:
Daniel Lanois make it so pretty
I agree! I love Daniel's song "I Love You". Bill has played it a few times. One of my fav songs!
Daniel Lanois make it so pretty
kazuma wrote:
Once upon a time, she had a spectacular, immaculate singing voice, as pure and beautiful as any I'd ever heard. Time and the road have taken their toll, I guess.
She still has one of the greatest back-up / duet voices in folk.
I have heard her, since this release of the mid '90's, in much better voice. I posted in another song of hers that I think she is an "American Treasure". A great artist. kazuma wrote:
Once upon a time, she had a spectacular, immaculate singing voice, as pure and beautiful as any I'd ever heard. Time and the road have taken their toll, I guess.
RP's been pretty Emmylou-heavy lately, and for the most part that's just fine by me. This particular song, though, I don't much care for.
catmaven wrote:
Her singing . . . is she suffering from a hernia?
Once upon a time, she had a spectacular, immaculate singing voice, as pure and beautiful as any I'd ever heard. Time and the road have taken their toll, I guess.
Just have to add-- What a neat set of 8's, 9's and 10's these last 5 or 6 tunes... KUTGW!
Great song from a great album!
Her singing . . . is she suffering from a hernia?
Daveinbawlmer wrote:
Lanois just has that sound - more than trick drumming, he has an atmosphere and in the way he records guitar and the way songs move. It's pretty instantly recognizable. Very distinctive. Though I don't know if thats good, an artist should sound like they sound, not like they've been pressed thru the Lanois Sound Factory. *shrug* :-k
Interesting. How do you know when an artist sound like they ..sound? Is that the case when an artist does the recording and production on their own? As regards Lanois and other producers with a distinctive musical signature - why hire such a talent if you want something documented first and foremost, if you're not interested in what they can offer?
great great wonderful production brilliant. i bought this cd when it came out .. it still finds its way into my currently playing all the time
I'm not a big fan of music that I think of as "country," but I love Emmylou. She has such a sweet, soulful voice.
Goddess.
trempel wrote:
My dad used to listen to Emmylou Harris. I remember I hated it.... But this song is actually quite good
My dad used to listen to early-era Frank Sinatra, and I used to hate that. Boy, I was wrong on that, too!
trekhead wrote:
No kidding? Which number? I have that disc, I didn't know which track... *I'm usually pretty perceptive of these things, nice catch*
Not a single track, but Robbie's entire debut. Every one of those people, except Emmylou, appear on it. Now, if we could just get them all together... :-) Excellent tune.
Roverfish wrote:
Well, pick up Robbie's self-titled disc and you get 4 out of 5. Funny Bill should play a track off that next... Nice tune from Emmylou, the only one missing from Robbie's album. Ah, I miss the old Geffen days.
No kidding? Which number? I have that disc, I didn't know which track... *I'm usually pretty perceptive of these things, nice catch*
Daveinbawlmer wrote:
Lanois just has that sound - more than trick drumming, he has an atmosphere and in the way he records guitar and the way songs move. It's pretty instantly recognizable. Very distinctive. Though I don't know if thats good, an artist should sound like they sound, not like they've been pressed thru the Lanois Sound Factory.
Yes, sounds very much like early U2 with Emmy on vocals. Even her singing sounds a bit like Bono's style. So........ is this original Emmy or processed Emmy? Well, maybe she likes how she sounds here? To me, this makes her song more likable - I'm really not into her, but this somehow clicks with me. Quite possibly because I love U2 from their Lanois years.
Lanois just has that sound - more than trick drumming, he has an atmosphere and in the way he records guitar and the way songs move. It's pretty instantly recognizable. Very distinctive. Though I don't know if thats good, an artist should sound like they sound, not like they've been pressed thru the Lanois Sound Factory. *shrug* :-k
My dad used to listen to Emmylou Harris. I remember I hated it.... But this song is actually quite good
trekhead wrote:
Now (drum roll) Imagine the disc where all FIVE of these get together: EH/U2/PG/DL/RR. Ouch! Contact their PR guys...
Well, pick up Robbie's self-titled disc and you get 4 out of 5. Funny Bill should play a track off that next... Nice tune from Emmylou, the only one missing from Robbie's album. Ah, I miss the old Geffen days.
Quite enjoyed it, even if it did sound too much like U2.
Trustocity wrote:
I'd be a big fan, if Gillian Welch didn't exist. Please play much less Harris, much more Welch.
Isn't there room on RP for both?
This was my first Emmylou CD. The next week I got invited to a show with her and Lucinda Williams. I don't think I ever recovered :)
now Wrecking Ball reminds me of the pangs of trying to get over a broken heart and spirit---hopefully it will turn a corner...
I'd be a big fan, if Gillian Welch didn't exist. Please play much less Harris, much more Welch.
One of her immortal recordings.
japanmoran wrote:
Amazing.
The motion is seconded...
llazare wrote:
Wonderful song. Love the Daniel Lanois delayed drum a la U2/Robbie Robertson/Peter Gabriel/
Now (drum roll) Imagine the disc where all FIVE of these get together: EH/U2/PG/DL/RR. Ouch! Contact their PR guys...
Amazing.
While it's possible that Maria McKee was cloned from Emmylou... Emmylou has been around long before Maria McKee. s AlanCE wrote:
Does she have a clone named "Maria McKee"?
Pipes wrote:
How many songs are going right now? Is it just me or does it sound like there are 2 songs being played at once?
Layered for sure. Like Robert Altman was at the mixing board? Multichannelled. This is a 6 for me; not her finest but worthwhile.
Great song...Great disc...What a woman...
I LOVE THIS WOMAN
.................AAAAAAAAAAAAAND the segue into Mr. Robertson.......Brilliant! (from EH) Excellent!!! :nodhead: :sunny.gif:
llazare wrote:
Wonderful song. Love the Daniel Lanois delayed drum a la U2/Robbie Robertson/Peter Gabriel/
Nice catch! Nice tune!
A desert island album.
Grantus wrote:
That's 'cause it's U2's Larry Mullen Jr. on them. Lanois has his thumbprint on all these artist's albums.
Right, it's a certain Lanois product technique that uses a slight delay to the drumming which makes it sound as if there are two drummers just a tad bit out of synch. It fleshes out the sound and adds a bit of mystery to the sound of the drums.
From the first notes on, I heard the hand of the master. I bet he (Daniel Lanois) plays guitar on this track... GREAT song, RP ;-)
Chunk wrote:
Yeah, the music seems a bit off-time with her. Whoever was practicing the drum part for Sunday Bloody Sunday when this was being recorded needs to lay down his sticks.
Hmm. Funny you should say that. . .
llazare wrote:
Wonderful song. Love the Daniel Lanois delayed drum a la U2/Robbie Robertson/Peter Gabriel/
That's 'cause it's U2's Larry Mullen Jr. on them. Lanois has his thumbprint on all these artist's albums.
LOVE this song!! Emmylou is amazing. This song/album, produced by the magical Daniel Lanois, is one of the best of her recent career.
not that i dislike it, but this always sounds like some kind of a christmas song to me - sounds like she's singing "say noel, say noe-e-e-el"... or something thereabouts.
Wonderful song. Love the Daniel Lanois delayed drum a la U2/Robbie Robertson/Peter Gabriel/
I thought this woman was just a country singer. Then I heard "goodbye" and "going back to harlan" She is one of the immortals...
Emmylou is a goddess in my pantheon, but this isn't one of her best imo.
I actually love that ugly guitar solo, reminded me of Robert Quine when he played on some of Lou Reed's 80s records (the Blue Mask notably). It is probably, when combined with the Voice the most redeeming thing about this song.
Pipes wrote:
How many songs are going right now? Is it just me or does it sound like there are 2 songs being played at once?
I've always kind of liked tunes that manage to weave different "threads" into one song.