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.
Outbound Plane
Nanci Griffith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With this ticket for this outbound plane
Oh, I've been here before
Somehow this doesn't feel the same
Talk is cheap
So we could talk all night long
And we may never figure out just
Where your love went wrong
[Chorus:]
'Cause I don't wanna be standin' here
Don't wanna be talkin' here
And I don't really care who's to blame
'Cause if love won't fly on it's own
Free will
It's gonna catch that outbound plane
The old folks say
That love's not forever anymore
Because these young people walk
Away from love alone
To pace the floor
Young or old I say that love is still the same
You may walk away from love but
You'll fall head and heels again
[Chorus]
Two lonely hearts in this airport
Knowing
Neither cares where that other
Heart is going
But, if love won't fly on it's own
Free will, it's gonna catch that
Outbound plane
That frown you're wearing's
Just you're halo turned upside down
Where is the laughter we once
Shared back in the lost and found?
These broken wings are gonna leave
Me here to stand my ground
You can have this ticket for that
Lonely plane that's flying out
[Chorus]
The song "Outbound Plane" by Nanci Griffith is about a relationship that is coming to an end. The singer is standing at the airport with a ticket for an outbound plane, but she doesn't want to be there. She has been in this situation before, but she can't shake the feeling that something is different this time. She and her partner have been talking all night trying to figure out where the love went wrong, but they might never know. The chorus of the song emphasizes that the singer doesn't want to be there, talking and assigning blame. She knows that if love won't work out, it's going to catch that outbound plane, and there's nothing she can do about it.
The second part of the song talks about how older people say that love is not forever anymore, and younger people walk away from love. But the singer disagrees; she thinks love is still the same, no matter your age. You can walk away from love, but you'll fall head over heels again. The final verse is somewhat pessimistic, with the singer's frown being referred to as their halo turned upside down. She's asking where the laughter once shared went and explains that her broken wings will leave her standing her ground while her partner takes the lonely plane that's flying out.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna be standing here
I do not want to be in this place
With this ticket for this outbound plane
Having a ticket for a plane leaving here
Oh, I've been here before
I have experienced this situation previously
Somehow this doesn't feel the same
This does not feel similar to the previous experience
Talk is cheap
Words are not worth much
So we could talk all night long
We could discuss this endlessly
And we may never figure out just
We may never understand exactly
Where your love went wrong
What caused your love to fail
'Cause I don't wanna be standin' here
I do not want to remain here
Don't wanna be talkin' here
I do not want to continue this conversation
And I don't really care who's to blame
I am not interested in assigning fault
'Cause if love won't fly on it's own
If love cannot survive independently
Free will
Voluntary choices
It's gonna catch that outbound plane
It will leave on the next departing flight
The old folks say
Elderly people have said
That love's not forever anymore
Love does not last forever nowadays
Because these young people walk
Young individuals leave relationships
Away from love alone
Without anyone helping or hindering
To pace the floor
To be restless
Young or old I say that love is still the same
Regardless of age, love remains unchanged
You may walk away from love but
You can leave a relationship, but
You'll fall head and heels again
You will fall in love again unconditionally
Two lonely hearts in this airport
Two isolated individuals in an airport
Knowing
Aware of each other's presence
Neither cares where that other
Neither individual is interested in where
Heart is going
The person's heart is headed
But, if love won't fly on it's own
But if love cannot endure independently
Free will, it's gonna catch that
It will catch the departing flight
Outbound plane
The plane leaving here
That frown you're wearing's
The expression on your face is
Just you're halo turned upside down
Your halo is now inverted
Where is the laughter we once
Where is the humor we previously shared
Shared back in the lost and found?
Shared in moments of joy long ago
These broken wings are gonna leave
These damaged wings will result in departure
Me here to stand my ground
I will remain here and not move
You can have this ticket for that
You can have this ticket to take
Lonely plane that's flying out
Emptier plane departing
Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NANCI GRIFFITH, TOM RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Randy Cooper
I was working on-the-air in radio back in 1991 and met Nanci very shortly after Suzi Buggus cut and released "Outbound Plane". She was so kind, so polite, and just a true sweetheart. When I asked her how she learned that her song "Outbound Train" had not only broken into the top ten also the way it did so after a little bit of a slow start.
She was so humble and told me "That's an easy one,honey. I didn't do anything but write it and as far as I'm concerned,that's Suzy's song. I may have breathed it's first life into it with some words and a melody, but it truly Miss Suzy Bossus who provided that sing the wings after hearing part of Suzy's version, that was all she needed to hear. She honestly felt in the bottom of her heart that it was "Miss Suzy" that would grow that song and get it into and onto radio where she felt it should be. However Miss Suzy felt it should not only provide a decent and fun song. But she didn't stop there. They both wanted that song to strike people with the hope of it herring dinnertime get out of whatever funk or relationship b is is. I should probably mention that they didn't want to necessarily want to see those lovers' relation ship end, but instead wanted the lyrics to tell whomever that there are real life people abs artists that felt that and pain.
She with Suzi's both worked many long hours, in different vehicles,, criss-crossing the country asking (sometimes begging) the jocks and station managers to just please give it 1 shit and if the listeners hated it. At least t get had tried their level best. And their ideas worked and worked very will because top ten indicates quite a few positive markers. The industry, the technology, the ins and out is the agonizing and brain hurting hopping from station to station is an absolute grind.
This time of miusici is / was, timeless and while I obviously can't speak for anyone else, I'm thankful to have spent time with her. She literally helped to me me a better person.
Even though you're gone far too soon, thsnk you for using me so much about about everything and everything about the music industry across the genre. You are gone far to soon in my heart, Bill I'll remember that time with you and I'm In bthankful for your quotes to keep me living right. Thank you for the role you were, and thank you for that quick 30 second or a minute Texas Two Step right there in the middle of the Dallas Sheraton lobby in front of a few thoughts of fans who wanted your dire hard fans until you were fine with me. God blues you abundantly in Heaven, and I'm confident that you are loving your angel life and singing in Heavenly choruses.
Bernd Jenter
Hearing that she is gone makes me sad ! R.I.P. Nancy . One of a kind ! š¤
Randy Cooper
I was working on-the-air in radio back in 1991 and met Nanci very shortly after Suzi Buggus cut and released "Outbound Plane". She was so kind, so polite, and just a true sweetheart. When I asked her how she learned that her song "Outbound Train" had not only broken into the top ten also the way it did so after a little bit of a slow start.
She was so humble and told me "That's an easy one,honey. I didn't do anything but write it and as far as I'm concerned,that's Suzy's song. I may have breathed it's first life into it with some words and a melody, but it truly Miss Suzy Bossus who provided that sing the wings after hearing part of Suzy's version, that was all she needed to hear. She honestly felt in the bottom of her heart that it was "Miss Suzy" that would grow that song and get it into and onto radio where she felt it should be. However Miss Suzy felt it should not only provide a decent and fun song. But she didn't stop there. They both wanted that song to strike people with the hope of it herring dinnertime get out of whatever funk or relationship b is is. I should probably mention that they didn't want to necessarily want to see those lovers' relation ship end, but instead wanted the lyrics to tell whomever that there are real life people abs artists that felt that and pain.
She with Suzi's both worked many long hours, in different vehicles,, criss-crossing the country asking (sometimes begging) the jocks and station managers to just please give it 1 shit and if the listeners hated it. At least t get had tried their level best. And their ideas worked and worked very will because top ten indicates quite a few positive markers. The industry, the technology, the ins and out is the agonizing and brain hurting hopping from station to station is an absolute grind.
This time of miusici is / was, timeless and while I obviously can't speak for anyone else, I'm thankful to have spent time with her. She literally helped to me me a better person.
Even though you're gone far too soon, thsnk you for using me so much about about everything and everything about the music industry across the genre. You are gone far to soon in my heart, Bill I'll remember that time with you and I'm In bthankful for your quotes to keep me living right. Thank you for the role you were, and thank you for that quick 30 second or a minute Texas Two Step right there in the middle of the Dallas Sheraton lobby in front of a few thoughts of fans who wanted your dire hard fans until you were fine with me. God blues you abundantly in Heaven, and I'm confident that you are loving your angel life and singing in Heavenly choruses.
Glenda Brown
So sad about our loss as lovers of her music!Heartbreaking!
Clare O'Malley
I remember she once visited Ireland and played for free in our local hotel ... so down to Earth for a superstar !
Bamaboompa
Listening to a lot of Nancy today.
Damn!
Jenjenjen
I still canāt believe it.
Shaylin Anderson
@Sara J Welch - I know!! I thought it would get easier as time passed, but it just gets worse. Itās hard that her family has refused to publicly release details of her cause of deathā¦.they certainly donāt owe us anything, and she gave us more than we deserved of herself in life, but I just hope whatever it was - she didnāt suffer too much through it, and she got to take her last breath at home, surrounded by love & the comfort home brings, rather than in a cold, sterile hospital or hospice facility. I hope she had a hand to hold, and reminders of how truly accomplished & adored she was. I hope her dogs were with her and music was softly playing. Her house was empty & on the market within days of the news, so I donāt think it was unexpectedā¦but I guess that doesnāt make it easier. I just hope she felt ready.
Her family wonāt release those details, they didnāt hold any type of memorial, or service. They havenāt even said whether she was buried, and whereā¦..or if she was cremated & thereās a plan to scatter her ashes. And thatās okā¦no one owes us that, either. It just feels open ended.
I really didnāt know what I could do to pay my respects, or otherwise honor her for all she brought to my life, and the powerful words she gave the world. I felt like I needed to, though. So I went to Mary Margaretās grave & rested 2 long stem blue roses on it. It required a road trip, but luckily itās a road trip Iāve made many times since my sister used to live in San Angelo. So she went with me & we blasted Nanci the whole way & back. We laughed & cried, talked about the memories of our childhood that each song invokedā¦.āLittle Love Affairsā is the ālullabyā I used to sing to both of my nieces (her little girls) as newborns when Iād rock them to sleep. I canāt think of a better song to send them off to their dreams with āonce was my shadow, grown weary of travel, till you - gave it home.ā
It did the trick ā¤ļø
Sara J Welch
@Raystargazer -- I miss Nanci more every day. The news of her death rocked the world of musicians and fans the world over.
Raystargazer
still.
Leslie Sexton
I know. It was a bitter pill. RIP Nanci