Emmylou Harris: Collaborations #2

Emmylou with Johnny Cash

during the recording of his

Water from the Wells of Home

album in 1988. She partnered

with Johnny and Roy Acuff

on "As Long As I Live."

Emmylou Harris has, over her long career, performed or recorded with a list of musicians as long as my arm, including ...

• Dolly Parton
• Linda Ronstadt
• Johnny Cash
• Roy Acuff
• Vince Gill
• Kate & Anna McGarrigle
• Willie Nelson
• Roy Orbison
• Bruce Springsteen
• Steve Earle
• Mark Knopfler
• George Jones
• Sheryl Crow
... and many others

In a 1999 tribute concert to Johnny Cash, Emmylou sang harmony to Dave Matthews's lead vocal on one of Johnny's signature songs, "Long Black Veil":

Long Black Veil Ten years ago, on a cold, dark night Someone was killed beneath the town hall light There were few at the scene But they all agreed That the slayer who ran Looked a lot like me She walks these hills in a Long Black Veil She visits my grave when the night winds wail Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me The judge said, "Son, what is your alibi? If you were somewhere else, Then you won't have to die." Well, I said not a word Although it meant my life For I had been in the arms Of my best friend's wife Now she walks these hills in a Long Black Veil She visits my grave when the night winds wail Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me Oh now, the scaffold was high And eternity was near; She stood in the crowd And shed not a tear But sometimes at night when the cold winds blow in a long black veil she cries over my bones She walks these hills in a Long Black Veil She visits my grave when the night winds wail Nobody knows, nobody sees, nobody knows but me

Now, here's a 2003 clip with Emmylou singing lead on "My Antonia," which Emmylou wrote, with Dave singing both second lead and high harmony:

My Antonia He said, "Oh my love, oh my Antonia You with the dark eyes and palest of skin Tonight, I am going from Santa Maria Wait for me till I'm in your arms once again" She held me, she kissed me, begged me not to leave her To cross on the mountain, my fortune to win But her letter now tells me, she died of a fever And I'll never see her in this world again You are my sorrow, you are my splendor You are my shelter through storm and through strife You are the one I will always remember All of the days of my life I curse the ambition that took me far from her For treasure not ever so fine or so fair As the flash of her smile or the touch of her fingers The fire in her heart and the smell of her hair She left me a note that cried, "Do not weep for me Behold you are with me as sure as the stars That rise in the evening to shine down upon me Behold I am with you wherever you are" I can still hear him, he calls to me only What once was begotten shall come to no end But the road is so long and the nights are so lonely My soul just to hold him in this world again You are my sorrow, you are my splendor You are my shelter through storm and through strife You are the one I will always remember All of the days of my life Oh my love, oh my Antonia You with the dark eyes and palest of skin How could I know that night in Santa Maria I'd never see you in this world again

"My Antonia" appeared on Emmylou's Red Dirt Girl album in 2000, again with Dave as her singing partner.