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Emmylou Harris — Deeper Well (live)
Album: Spyboy
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2072









Released: 1998
Length: 7:03
Plays (last 30 days): 0
The sun burned hot, it burned my eyes
Burned so hot I thought I'd died
Thought I'd died and gone to hell
Lookin' for the water from a deeper well.

I went to the river but the river was dry
I fell to my knees an I looked to the sky
I looked to the sky and the spring rain fell
I saw the water from a deeper well.

Well, lookin for the water
From a deeper well
Well, lookin for the water
From a deeper well.

I was ready for love I was ready for the money
Ready for the blood and ready for the honey
Ready for the winnin', ready for the bell
Lookin' for the water from a deeper well.

I found some love and I found some money
Found that blood would drip from the honey
Found I had a thirst that I could not quell
Lookin' for the water from a deeper well.

Well, lookin for the water
From a deeper well
Well, lookin for the water
From a deeper well.

Well, I did it for kicks and I did it for faith
I did it for lust and I did it for hate
I did it for need and I did it for love
Addiction stayed on tight like a glove.

So I ran with the moon and I ran with the night
And the three of us were a terrible sight
Nipple to the bottle, to the gun, to the cell
To the bottom of a hole of a deeper well.

Well, lookin for the water
From a deeper well
Well, lookin for the water
From a deeper well.

I rocked with the cradle and I rolled with the rage
I shook those walls and I rattled that gage
I took my trouble down a deadend trail
Reachin' out a hand for a holier grail.

Hey, there mama did you carry that load
Did you tell your baby 'bout the bend in the road
'Bout the rebel yell 'bout the one that fell
Lookin' for the water from a deeper well.

Well, lookin for the water
From a deeper well
Well, lookin for the water
From a deeper well...
Comments (112)add comment
Liking this rocked-up version!
 Jelani wrote:

That drummer is mental!



That'd be Brady Blade...his brother Brian is also a kick ass drummer.
She is a total angel and a genius.
It’s the bass line for me!
The Wrecking Ball studio version has that cavernous Daniel Lanois production sound - lots of space and echo. This live version has a more raw sound and that blazing guitar. I like 'em both.
This song NEVER Fails to get me in a deep Rocking mood. That guitar those drums those lyrics the bass!!! Deep Deep fresh water from a deeper well. 
I like this version better than the album version that also gets played here but only because there are longer musical parts without Emmylou's singing.
Daniel Lanois rocks
Loving this!    
When will this end?
Emmylou, a frightful talent.
Well well, well... hell
Lookin' for the water from a deeper well
 
I mean it kinda sounds like she's going for that.
 traveyes wrote:

love the guitar(s) in this song !



I just bumped it to an 8 after hearing the guitar solo and then saw your comment.
 traveyes wrote:

love the guitar(s) in this song !



Buddy Miller   
Kickass guitar infused Emmylou! 
 traveyes wrote:

love the guitar(s) in this song !



Buddy Miller, good work indeed
That drummer is mental!
This isn't the Wrecking Ball version produced by Landis. Anyone know who produced this version?
Emmylou. Jam band. Who knew? 🤌🏼
I wish Emmylou would drop by my living room. Would enjoy playing with her.
This whole CD is one of my if-I-was-stuck-on-a-deserted-island-I'd-want-these-100-albums favorites. I think Daniel Lanois produced this (he also co-wrote this song). The live energy and the quality of the recording capture so much energy and beauty.  The guitar and drumming are extraordinary and the vocals match perfectly. It could not be improved IMO.
Shouldn't "well-well-well-well" should be sung lower and lower in pitch, so she gets a deeper "well"?
Love Emmylou Harris. Just saw her last night in San Francisco, in a benefit for Wavy Gravy's Camp Winnarainbow. Then she's playing in Golden Gate Park this weekend as part of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Strongly recommend visiting San Francisco for this amazing festival. 
The journey related by the words of this song raise it to a 9 in my book.  The search, the pain, the discovery - moving.
Some songs swing, some songs "cook". 
 Bat wrote:

You know when you're listening on your computer you sometime accidentally have 2 things playing at the same time?

When this started I began looking at all the apps running to see which one had started playing over this beautiful song.

Just too busy.  Give me the Wrecking Ball version.



too much funky bass.  need to dial it back.
And here I didn't really think that the studio version could be improved upon.

But then, I always was a sucker for borderline out-of-control bass.
GREAT TUNE!!
Buddy Miller killing it on the cat gut.
 RabbitEars wrote:
If she ain't the picture of pure, natural beauty, I dunno what is! Great pic!

 Bat wrote:

You know when you're listening on your computer you sometime accidentally have 2 things playing at the same time?

When this started I began looking at all the apps running to see which one had started playing over this beautiful song.

Just too busy.  Give me the Wrecking Ball version.

Although the wrecking ball version is also very good, Ms. Harris could sing the phone book, and it would sound just as beautiful! Pure, raw talent! Well, raw is perhaps a crude word as, she is QUITE refined! IMHO. 74y.o and can still belt 'em out! GOTTA be the "southern living"!! Been there, done that! Waaay laid back!

This is the first time I've heard this on better electronics and vintage JBL bookshelf speakers. There's a lot of ambiance that gets lost with the work setup. I like the guitar solos, too,  the decay is wonderful. Borderline 10.
The album version is as good, different feel, but this is great in it's own way, and live!
 bruceandjenna wrote:

inferior to her original version.


it pains me to agree with you.

inferior to her original version.
 MilesW wrote:

Pretty cool guitar...




Buddy Miller I'd guess. I'm fairly sure that's the guy in the back on the album cover. 
"Nipple to the bottle, to the gun, to the cell
To the bottom of a hole of a deeper well."

Well, that just sums things up a little too well.  Amazing lyrics, singing, and music.
Look How They Massacred My Boy! :)
The guitar is great anyway.
Pretty cool guitar...
 physicsgenius wrote:
Sounds like she smoked enough cigarettes to get a sexy voice but then overdid it and killed her range. She's missing about half her notes here. (Not that hitting them would be better--this is a musical mess.)
Stick to physics....music just ain't your forte, clearly. 


Daryl Johnson's bass playing is amazing...
That was an incredible tour. And so amazing in Telluride at the bluegrass fest!
Buddy! 
 Bat wrote:
You know when you're listening on your computer you sometime accidentally have 2 things playing at the same time?

When this started I began looking at all the apps running to see which one had started playing over this beautiful song.

Just too busy.  Give me the Wrecking Ball version.
 

I know what you mean!
You know when you're listening on your computer you sometime accidentally have 2 things playing at the same time?

When this started I began looking at all the apps running to see which one had started playing over this beautiful song.

Just too busy.  Give me the Wrecking Ball version.
 Chunnamark wrote:
Roverfish wrote:
Great follow for Euphoria (in which I thought I heard Daniel Lanois) to one where he actually does play a role. (Doesn't he play on the studio version?) Thanks, Bill. Excellent tune.
Lanois does indeed play on the studio version. Spyboy, the live incarnation, is/was made up of Daryl Johnson, Lanois' usual studio bassist and Brady Blade (brother of Brian Blade and a member of Lanois' army of musicians); and Buddy Miller provides the SWEET guitar licks. I know this was the line-up (minus Daryl Johnson) up until a few summers ago, but, alas, Emmylou cancelled on us at Newport this year; I know Buddy Miller still tours with her. Anyone know other details of this year's lineup?
 

I remember when this show was on many years ago - it was great. Regularly had fantastic guests... same line up, but with Lanois playing lead. 


Similar line up...
 I've tried submitting Black Dub tracks to RP - could never understand why we don't hear them here considering all Lanois' projects are well represented. 
mmm...  The Bass is a bit too "Hartke" for this tune...  and...  it sounds a bit off somehow...  Call Tony Levine or Freebo, they'll know what to do :)
 Chunnamark wrote:
Roverfish wrote:
Great follow for Euphoria (in which I thought I heard Daniel Lanois) to one where he actually does play a role. (Doesn't he play on the studio version?) Thanks, Bill. Excellent tune.
Lanois does indeed play on the studio version. Spyboy, the live incarnation, is/was made up of Daryl Johnson, Lanois' usual studio bassist and Brady Blade (brother of Brian Blade and a member of Lanois' army of musicians); and Buddy Miller provides the SWEET guitar licks. I know this was the line-up (minus Daryl Johnson) up until a few summers ago, but, alas, Emmylou cancelled on us at Newport this year; I know Buddy Miller still tours with her. Anyone know other details of this year's lineup?
 
Very active bass work. Was thinking Jaco P.
The accompanyment on this version is a lot deeper than the version on Wrecking Ball, but the vocals on Wrecking Ball are so much better (I'd use the term "soul gripping") that it made me go out and buy that album when I heard it on RP. This version wouldn't have made me do that. But, you know, it's live.
It's amazing what a little volumne can do for a song. I'm the only person in this part of my office today so I've turned the volumne up on my speakers. This songs goes from a 2 to at least a 6.
jiggle the handle when your done
Wailin' Jennys have done this one, but it's not on "40 Days"....golly, when's their new album coming out?
ScottN wrote:
I tried to appreciate this song as if I didn't know who was singing it...still didn't work. I love Emmylou, but she missed on this one. IMO.
I agree completely.
Sounds like she smoked enough cigarettes to get a sexy voice but then overdid it and killed her range. She's missing about half her notes here. (Not that hitting them would be better--this is a musical mess.)
Holy ass, this could be the most irritating thing ever conceived.
Not the best version of this song that I've heard.
This song kinda sux. Its a bit too strung out..
Roverfish wrote:
Great follow for Euphoria (in which I thought I heard Daniel Lanois) to one where he actually does play a role. (Doesn't he play on the studio version?) Thanks, Bill. Excellent tune.
Lanois does indeed play on the studio version. Spyboy, the live incarnation, is/was made up of Daryl Johnson, Lanois' usual studio bassist and Brady Blade (brother of Brian Blade and a member of Lanois' army of musicians); and Buddy Miller provides the SWEET guitar licks. I know this was the line-up (minus Daryl Johnson) up until a few summers ago, but, alas, Emmylou cancelled on us at Newport this year; I know Buddy Miller still tours with her. Anyone know other details of this year's lineup?
I tried to appreciate this song as if I didn't know who was singing it...still didn't work. I love Emmylou, but she missed on this one. IMO.
such an awesome song about addiction.....addiction to love? addiction to heroin? who knows which, and does it even matter?
Great follow for Euphoria (in which I thought I heard Daniel Lanois) to one where he actually does play a role. (Doesn't he play on the studio version?) Thanks, Bill. Excellent tune.
Wow ... this tune is just horrible for me. Sounds like she's trying to sing in someone else's band and in someone else's genre. Had to give it a 1 because I actually had to take the headphones to avoid it. Rarely does anything spark that kind of reaction from me. The band is pretty solid though. Too bad really.
Great take on her studio version. Wrecking Ball is an exceptional album, due in no small part to Daniel Lanois' production work with her.
masterhead wrote:
Wow, Emmulou...this is a rocking agressive tune....Daddy likes....
Wow, I agree with masterhead :) Outstanding and catchy.
Well, that explains it...just looked up this album and discovered why this song sounds different from the other I've heard: Spyboy is a LIVE album... #-o
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Oh my god, this is great! Haunting vocals and guitar & bass tones, cool solo. Is this what all Emmylou is like?
No. Wrecking Ball is a good CD, has a version of this which isn't as good, a cover of Hendrix's Waterfall, which is pretty cool, but if I listen to the whole CD in it's entirity, I fall asleep.
Wow, this sounds alot better than the other version I've heard. The local library had "Wrecking Ball", so I borrowed it. It has a version of this, but doesn't come close to kicking the kind of ass this version does.
Oh my god, this is great! Haunting vocals and guitar & bass tones, cool solo. Is this what all Emmylou is like?
geez, I like Emmylou, but for some reason this song is just too...hmmm...something seems off. Probably just me. Sorry for the poor rating.
I like this better than the album version, which I already liked a lot. Her collaborations with Lanois have been very fruitful. If you like this song, check out Lanois' "Orange Kay" on the Sling Blade soundtrack and elsewhere. Very similar guitar work.
great guitar tone !, this song has a wild vibe........ weird !
Norge1 wrote:
Crankin' kick ASS tune. Esp. the original with Daniel Lanois
Indeed! Love her, love Lanois!
Kickin'! Must be a barn burner to hear live.
Crankin' kick ASS tune. Esp. the original with Daniel Lanois
riverpilot wrote:
Buddy Miller can fill up a room like no one else. Emmylou's pretty good too.
But can he fill up a toilet?
Wow, Emmulou...this is a rocking agressive tune....Daddy likes....
Nice! I usually don't like Emmylou but this one's got me searching!!
Great! What a voice and guitars, too.
This is more raucous and atmospheric than the studio version on "Wrecking Ball." I like!
This song would be so much better without the vocals.
love the guitar(s) in this song !
yawn...
the great thing about a song that repeats the same three lines over and over is that you can walk out of the room and come back a few seconds later and not have missed anything!
Emmylou is about as good as it gets. "The Pearl" from REd Dirt Girl is also a masterpiece of double meaning and shows off her still awesome voice.
What a way to cleanse the palate after a horrible Santana song! I don't know if there is a more alluring female voice out there.
Buddy Miller can fill up a room like no one else. Emmylou's pretty good too.
Killer voice... smoky excellence.
Emmylou is a goddess
Killer guitar work!
Country girl eats acid. Cool!
Originally Posted by spoontazz1: Is this produced by Daniel Lanois?
I would have thought so as well but according to AMG Emmylou herself is the producer. Click on the AMG Entry link above to see the details.
Is this produced by Daniel Lanois?
so cool
To paraphrase Julie Miller, Emmylou is a song\'s best friend. Hey, how about a little Buddy & Julie Miller on the playlist, or is that just too much Nashville for y\'all?
Emmylou Harris does acid rock? Who\'d a\'thought? Only on Radio Paradise would I have found out...
Yeah, Im sort of liking this better than the one on Wrecking Ball. It\'s got a it more rawness to t I think.
Cast this song into a deeper well.
Nada Surf has a song with the same name. The first one from \"High and Low\" Just a curiosity
Never was much of a EH fan, but this is awesome!
This is freeking awsome. What the hell is this garbage about tuning up?
oh so over rated
Hey! Don\'t they teach you to tune up before you hit \"record\"??
This song is freeking awesome.
Originally Posted by lily33: another artist i've only recently begun to appreciate, later in life. boy, what i must have missed out on. i think she's fabulously talented.
You really should get the albums she recorded with Gram Parsons, after she was 'discovered' by him. After Gram died, she never did duets that beautiful and heartfelt again, IMO. A Song For You is one of my all time favourite songs by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris.
Geez! And I thought the Wrecking Ball version was great! I never heard of Spyboy. Is it live?
WOW, this song is awesome. IS the rest of the album this good? Is it more country or blues/rock oriented like this track?