Emmylou Harris recently appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert with her band The Red Dirt Boys and gave a moving performance of Steve Earle’s “The Pilgrim.” The song is my favorite from Earle’s bluegrass album The Mountain (1999), so it was great to hear Harris’s wonderful voice giving it a new interpretation and a new meaning.
In introducing the song, Harris touched upon today’s political culture and the plight of refugees. She noted, “This song is for the over 65 million displaced persons around the world.”
And then she began the song.
I am just a pilgrim on this road, boys;
This ain’t never been my home.
Sometimes the road was rocky long the way, boys;
But I was never travelin’ alone.
Check it out.
Harris and The Red Dirt Boys are touring to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her classic album Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers At The Ryman
What is your favorite cover of a Steve Earle song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
Just got to see her Tuesday when she opened for John Mellencamp. An otherworldly voice.