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.
Once In A Very Blue Moon
Nanci Griffith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were just checkin' if I was okay
And if I still miss you
Well you know what they say
[Chorus:]
Just once in a very blue moon
Just once in a very blue moon
And I feel one comin' on soon
No need to tell me you'd like to be friends
And help me get back on my feet again
And do I still miss you?
Well it's just now and then
[Chorus]
There's a blue moon shinin'
When I'm reminded
Of all we've been through
Such a blue moon shinin'
Does it ever shine down on you?
Oh, 'cause you act like
It never even hurt you at all
And I'm the only one
Gettin' up from a fall
Tell me you dont feel it
Oh can't you recall
[Chorus]
The song "Once in a Very Blue Moon" by Nanci Griffith is a tale about an old romance that has come to an end. The opening lyrics talk about receiving a letter from a former lover, checking in to see if the singer is coping with the split. The chorus, "Just once in a very blue moon," acknowledges that although it has been a long time, the former partner comes to mind once in a while, like a rare occurrence. The lyrics suggest that it is difficult to forget the memories because the split was hard. The question is whether the person who left is having the same experience and is equally affected. The singer suggests that the former partner is acting as though the separation had no impact.
In the second verse, the former partner offers to help the singer heal and move on, but still casually asks if the singer still misses them, and the reply is affirmative. The final lines of the song talk about when there's a blue moon shining, and the memories and feelings of love return. The rhetorical question is anticipating whether the person who initiated the break can relate to these emotions or whether the loss did not bother them. The lyrics are empathetic to both partners, and the tone is bittersweet.
Line by Line Meaning
I found your letter in my mailbox today
I received a letter from you today in my mailbox.
You were just checkin' if I was okay
You were inquiring about my well-being.
And if I still miss you
You wanted to know if I still have you in my thoughts.
Well you know what they say
As you well know, that's what people ask after a breakup.
Just once in a very blue moon
An event that seldom happens.
And I feel one comin' on soon
I believe that this is about to happen shortly.
No need to tell me you'd like to be friends
I don't need you to inform me if you're interested in being acquaintances again.
And help me get back on my feet again
You're willing to assist me in getting back on track.
And do I still miss you?
You did, indeed, inquire about my remaining feelings towards you.
Well it's just now and then
I have fleeting moments where I miss you.
There's a blue moon shinin'
A unique opportune moment has come upon us.
When I'm reminded of all we've been through
I'm brought back to different circumstances we've had each other's backs through.
Such a blue moon shinin', does it ever shine down on you?
I ponder if you're aware of the rarity of the current moment.
Oh 'cause you act like it never even hurt you at all
You present yourself as if you never experienced any pain.
And I'm the only one gettin' up from a fall
I'm the only one moving on from the hardships of our past together.
Tell me you don't feel it, oh can't you recall
Could you honestly say that you don't recall how our past was and have no nostalgic emotions towards it?
Just once in a very blue moon
An event that seldom happens.
Just once in a very blue moon
An event that seldom happens.
Just once in a very blue moon
An event that seldom happens.
And I feel one comin' on soon
I believe that this is about to happen shortly.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EUGENE ALBERT LEVINE, PATRICK ALGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LyonsArcade
She is so deceptively good. Most people would sing this song so sweet and pretty, but that's kind of easy and fake... she sings it with her own voice, it has almost a SLAP in it, she has such a cool voice... I guess it has a heavy Joan Baez influence, but the way she just goes from softspoken lines, to kind of swelling up into a nice, strong, 'slap' of a belt on some of those lines is just so well done. Nothing seems fake, she seems completely sincere, and she's not trying to sound a certain way, she just has a ton of energy in all of her vocals, it's never boring and just wakes you up, even if it's a slow, soft song like this. What an incredible talent she was. Effortless, too.
@FeistyShlomit
Miss her. So glad we have her beautiful musical legacy.
@jimblack5596
This is the video that introduced me to Nanci. It played on the short lived Nashville Network. I was mesmerized and instantly became a life long fan. RIP Nanci and thanks for your music.
@tamilapp4944
Oh my goodness I miss her so much! 😢 This is absolute perfection!
@chadlove3443
I love you Nanci Griffith. After having discovered you just months ago, I have listened to you almost every day. Your voice fills me with beauty.
@chuckmenefee3573
Totally underrated always made the song fit her style and did it well!
@bobholtzmann
Nanci's music still rings loud and true for me - I hope she's doing well in heaven.
@toddsavage3111
Thinking of her on this very blue moon
@johnthegreek5836
I love Nancy Griffith’s voice and music, it’s sad we lost her so young, I’m so glad she left her music for us to always enjoy
@Britishrailer
Love you Nanci. We miss you.