About the song
“Tulsa Queen,” performed by the legendary Emmylou Harris, is a poignant track that showcases her remarkable ability to blend storytelling with musical elegance. The song is featured on her critically acclaimed 1977 album “Luxury Liner,” which marked a significant period in Harris’s illustrious career. Known for her pure, emotive voice and innovative fusion of country, folk, and rock, Emmylou Harris has long been celebrated as one of the most influential artists in the Americana genre.
“Tulsa Queen” was co-written by Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, a frequent collaborator and member of her Hot Band. The song is a testament to their seamless creative partnership, highlighting Harris’s talent for evocative lyrics and Crowell’s prowess in crafting memorable melodies. The track is imbued with a sense of melancholy and longing, capturing the essence of a train journey that symbolizes both escape and introspection.
The album “Luxury Liner” itself was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It featured a mix of original songs and covers, further establishing Harris’s reputation for impeccable taste and her ability to reinterpret the works of other artists. The title track, “Luxury Liner,” originally penned by Gram Parsons, along with other standout tracks like “Pancho and Lefty” by Townes Van Zandt, helped cement the album’s status as a classic in the country-rock canon.
“Tulsa Queen” did not chart as a single but remains a cherished song in Harris’s extensive catalog. Its narrative is rich with imagery, portraying a woman’s journey on the Tulsa Queen train as she reflects on lost love and the passage of time. The song’s arrangement, featuring Harris’s plaintive vocals accompanied by a haunting pedal steel guitar, captures the lonely, wistful mood perfectly.
Emmylou Harris’s contributions to music have earned her numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her ability to convey deep emotion through her music has resonated with audiences for decades, and “Tulsa Queen” is a prime example of her artistry. The song continues to be a favorite among fans and a highlight of her live performances, demonstrating the timeless quality of her work and her enduring influence on the genre.
In sum, “Tulsa Queen” is a beautiful, introspective song that showcases Emmylou Harris’s extraordinary talent as a singer-songwriter. It stands as a testament to her skill in blending narrative depth with musical sophistication, making it a beloved piece in the tapestry of American music.
Video
Lyrics
I heard the train
In the Tulsa night
Calling out my name
Looking for a fight
She’s come a long, long way
Got a longer way to go
So tell me how a train from Tulsa
Has got a right to know
She sings a song
So sad and high
And the Tulsa queen
Don’t ever lie
And she don’t care where she goes
Don’t care where she’s been
And the Tulsa queen ain’t crying
‘Cause I won’t see you again
And I want to ride
Like a Tulsa queen
Calling out to you
As she calls to me
As far away from Tulsa
As these ten wheels can be
Lately I speak
Your name too loud
Each time it comes up
In a crowd
And I know it when I do
The Tulsa queen and you
Are gone…