She is best-remembered for From a Distance, by Julie Gold, although the version that achieved greater commercial success was not Griffith's but Bette Midler's (From a Distance). Similarly, other artists have occasionally achieved greater success with Griffith's songs than did Griffith herself: for example, Kathy Mattea, who had a country music top five hit with a 1986 cover (Love at the Five and Dime) of Love at the Five and Dime.
ADDITIONALLY
In 1994, Griffith teamed up with Jimmy Webb to contribute the song "If These Old Walls Could Speak" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization. Griffith is a survivor of breast cancer which was diagnosed in 1996, and thyroid cancer in 1998.[2]
Singer-songwriter Christine Lavin remembers the first time she saw Griffith perform:
I was struck by how perfect everything was about her singing, her playing, her talking. I realized from the get-go that this was someone who was a complete professional. Obviously she had worked a long time to get to be that good.
During her career, Griffith toured with many artists, including Buddy Holly's band, The Crickets; John Prine; Iris DeMent; Suzy Bogguss; and Judy Collins. Griffith has recorded duets with many artists, among them Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, John Prine, Don McLean, Jimmy Buffett, Dolores Keane, Willie Nelson, Adam Duritz (singer of Counting Crows), The Chieftains, and Darius Rucker (lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish). She also contributed background vocals on many other recordings.
Griffith suffered from severe 'writers block' for a number of years after 2004, lasting until the 2009 release of her The Loving Kind album, which contained nine selections that she had written and composed either entirely by herself or as collaborations.
After several months of limited touring in 2011, Griffith's bandmates The Kennedys (Pete & Maura Kennedy) packed up their professional Manhattan recording studio and relocated it to Nashville, where they installed it in Griffith's home. There, Griffith and her backing team, including Pete & Maura Kennedy and Pat McInerney, co-produced her album, Intersections over the course of the summer. The album includes several new original songs and was released in April 2012.
In addition to her own songs, Griffith is well known for her versions of other people's material, usually by contemporary singer-songwriters.
Awards
Griffith won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album for Other Voices, Other Rooms. In 2008, the Americana Music Association awarded her its Americana Trailblazer Award; Lyle Lovett, who contributed backing vocals to some of "The Blue Moon Orchestra's" recordings,[which?] had won it before her.
Band (The Blue Moon Orchestra)
Griffith refers to her backing band as "The Blue Moon Orchestra." This reference is believed to have been drawn from both the title of one of her earliest albums, Once in a Very Blue Moon, and its title selection, which reached #85 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1986.
I fought the law
Nanci Griffith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money and I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
[Chorus]
Left my baby and I feel so bad
I guess my race is run
She's the best thing that I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
Robbin' people with a zip gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I miss my baby and good fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
[Chorus]
Left my baby and I feel so bad
I guess my race is run
She's the best thing that I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
The lyrics to "I Fought the Law" by Nanci Griffith is a song about a person who is down on their luck and is turning towards crime to survive. The opening line mentions "breakin' rocks in the hot sun," which references the punishment of prison labor. The singer then goes on to say "I needed money and I had none," indicating that they have resorted to robbery to make ends meet. However, their criminal activities are eventually caught by the law, and they lose everything in the process.
The chorus "Left my baby and I feel so bad, I guess my race is run, she's the best thing that I ever had" shows that the singer had a significant other and a life outside of crime. However, their actions have caused them to lose everything they held dear, and they must face the consequences. The repeated line "I fought the law and the law won" emphasizes the inevitability of punishment when breaking the law.
Overall, Nanci Griffith's version of "I Fought the Law" gives a compelling account of how desperation can lead to poor decision-making and the consequences of those actions. The song underscores the message that crime can never lead to happiness or fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I am doing hard labor under the sun's heat
I fought the law and the law won
I attempted to do something illegal, but was caught and punished by the legal system
I needed money and I had none
I was in a desperate financial situation
Left my baby and I feel so bad
I had to leave my loved one behind and I am filled with regret
I guess my race is run
I think it is the end for me and I have no more chances to succeed
She's the best thing that I ever had
My partner is the most important and valuable thing in my life
Robbin' people with a zip gun
I resorted to using a weapon to steal from others
I miss my baby and good fun
I yearn for the company of my loved one and the fun times we had together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sonny Curtis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wayne Schmidt Music
Jerry Alison is seriously under rated. There was DJ Fontana, and him in the early years of rock n' roll drumming. Jazz was the place to be as far as serious drumming was concerned, and these pioneers paved the way for Ringo, Bonham, Keith Moon, and many others.
SpiffEatWorld
Yes! Topper Headon of the Clash was a jazz-trained drummer.
Jamie L Wendland
Jerry Allison and Dick Richards of the Comets are my favorite drummers--they invented rock drumming. I also love Jerry's songwriting. I mean it doesn't get better than Real Wild One..
Iknow itall
Best piece of drumming bar none! Absolutely perfection! Unbelievable timing. Superb!!!
Kevin Casson
It's that good, it's almost unbelievable. And he is so layed back. Not animated one bit!. Wow! RIP JI. We miss ya so much!
city zen
Jerry Alison is a great rnr drummer.
Kevin Casson
Most underestamated drummer ever. Bobby Vee said i
Once " JI could play coloures". And yoh know Bobby Vee was right!!
Kevin Casson
Jerry Allison's drumming on this will never, ever be beaten. His timiming is pure perfection!!
Geoff Oneill
thats why shes the queen of folkabilly!!!
unkulmark
Most people do not know that Sonny Curtis also wrote the Mary Tyler Moore theme song! Sonny sings it live here: https://youtu.be/uLTKkxf25Tc