Darlin' Kate

Album: Hard Bargain (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Two of the songs on American country-folk singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris' 22nd major-label studio album, Hard Bargain, look back at her time with friends. Whilst "The Road" remembers her relationship with country rock legend Gram Parsons, "Darlin' Kate" is a tribute to Emmylou's friend, the late singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle who died of a rare form of cancer in 2010. "Kate was such a force of nature, so bright, so funny," Harris recalled to UK newspaper The Independent. "I never had a sister and really that's how I thought of her. When she died, everyone was gathered around her at her bedside, and my song is just a farewell letter. I did hold her hand and I did kiss her brow..."
  • Kate McGarrigle's singer-songwriter son, Rufus Wainwright, has written several songs about his mother's tragic death including "Martha" and "Zebulon."
  • Harris penned the song in the aftermath of losing her friend. She told Spinner UK: "I didn't set out to write it. I was fresh off experiencing Kate's passing and her funeral, and I was just dealing with her absence. I was in a writing mode, when I picked up the guitar, the opening line just fell out. It's really just a farewell letter. We all miss her and we grieve in our own way."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.