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.
The Sun
Nanci Griffith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the angry times we shared
All the feelings and the
Sorrows come and gone
We have let them slip away
Because I'm standing here today
And I'm smiling at your old
West Texas sun
I remember times
When you'd weathered out my mind
But you always had a peaceful
Word to say
And you could always bring a smile
With the mischief in your eyes
Still, I'm glad the miles
Keep me separate from your games
You know you're still as wild
As those old west Texas plains
Standing by the highway
Do you still call my name?
Lord, I can't believe
It's been such a long, long time
Since I've seen that Texas boy smile
Well, I'll be heading out of town
I may stop by next time around
Hell, it's raining, but at least
That's something real
I came shackled down with fears
About our dreams and wasted years
And now I know exactly how to feel
Wash away the tears
All the angry times we shared
All the feelings and the
Sorrows come and gone
We have let them slip away
Because I'm standing here today
Smiling at your old west Texas sun
In Nanci Griffith's song "The Sun," the singer reminisces about a relationship that was once filled with anger, pain, and sadness. However, the singer notes that those emotions have all vanished, and they have been washed away like tears. The singer stands in the present day, smiling at the old west Texas sun, which can be seen as a metaphor for their newfound peace of mind. Despite the distance that now separates them, the singer reflects upon how this person had the ability to comfort them in their toughest moments. The singer notes that despite the distance, they still remember their time together fondly.
The singer also acknowledges the wild nature of this person, likening them to the old west Texas plains. The singer seems to have moved past any negative feelings toward this person's wildness and appreciates the memories they shared. The singer notes that they may visit the person in the future, but for now, they're content basking in the happiness that comes from knowing they've made peace with their past. The final chorus reiterates the idea of washing away the past's tears, allowing the singer to embrace the present and find happiness in the memories they've shared.
Overall, "The Sun" is a song about the evolution of a relationship and coming to terms with the past. Despite challenging times, the singer and this person have let go of any negative emotions, and the sun represents a new beginning, a chance to embrace the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Wash away the tears
Let's forget the past and move on
All the angry times we shared
Our past disagreements and quarrels
All the feelings and the sorrows come and gone
All the emotions we've experienced and overcome
We have let them slip away
We've let go of the negative and held onto the positive
Because I'm standing here today
We are still here and alive to enjoy our present time
And I'm smiling at your old West Texas sun
We are reminiscing about fond memories of Texas
I remember times
I recall past memories
When you'd weathered out my mind
When you had a great impact on my thoughts and emotions
But you always had a peaceful word to say
You always had a calming message
And you could always bring a smile
You had the ability to make me happy
With the mischief in your eyes
You always had a playful side
Still, I'm glad the miles keep me separate from your games
I'm happy to be away from your tricks and games
You know you're still as wild
You're still as spontaneous and adventurous as ever
As those old West Texas plains
Like the vast, unexplored land of Texas
Standing by the highway
You're still out exploring the world
Do you still call my name?
Are you still thinking about me?
Lord, I can't believe it's been such a long, long time
It's been a long time since we've talked
Since I've seen that Texas boy smile
Since I've seen you happy
Well, I'll be heading out of town
I'm leaving soon
I may stop by next time around
I might visit you next time I'm in the area
Hell, it's raining, but at least that's something real
Although it's a downpour, it's still genuine and tangible
I came shackled down with fears
I had many uncertainties and anxieties
About our dreams and wasted years
Concerning our aspirations and lost time
And now I know exactly how to feel
But now I know how to truly feel about our relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NANCI GRIFFITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind