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.
wheels
Nanci Griffith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the last winter storm of the season and such
And I am lost to the fiction of the book in my lap
The snow makes me drowsy, while the dreams roll and tumble,
It's a long way to Texas, it's a long way back home
It's a three hour flight on the plane when I go
Away from this snow from Boston to Southshore where the
Dreams roll and tumble, and bring the prose to the wheel,
[Chorus:]
Bring the prose to the wheel, I'm not drivin' these wheels
I'm not drivin' these wheels
Bring the prose to the wheel, I'm not drivin' these wheels
I'm not drivin' these wheels, (today)
That face in the window, it's one I should know
But it's never been haloed by New England snow,
And the child 'cross the isle is sleepin' away
While the soldier behind me lets his dreams roll and tumble
My way,
[Chorus]
This cradle of the interstate makes me weary of dreams
The hurt they cause is now, restless, it seems
Oh soldier, dear soldier, 'ya keep your dreams to yourself,
My hearts rolled and tumbled 'till I've put it on the shelf
[Chorus]
From Boston to Southshore in the back of the bus
It's the last winter storm of the season and such
And I am lost to the fiction of the book in my lap,
The snow makes me drowsy, while the dreams roll and tumble,
Nanci Griffith's song, "I'm Not Drivin' These Wheels," tells the story of someone traveling from Boston to Southshore in the back of a bus during the last winter storm of the season. The singer is lost in a work of fiction, as the snow makes her drowsy and causes her dreams to roll and tumble. She reflects on the long journey to Texas and the three-hour flight home, away from the snow. As the dreams of those around her intrude upon her own thoughts, she proclaims that she's not driving these wheels and asks for someone to bring the prose to the wheel instead.
The song can be interpreted in a number of ways, but it's clear that it's about feeling lost in a journey and a moment in time. The singer is physically traveling, but emotionally, she's caught up in the book in her lap and in the dreams of those around her. As she thinks about the long way home and the interstate that makes her weary of dreams, she realizes that she needs to take a step back from her own thoughts and let someone else drive her forward.
Line by Line Meaning
From Boston to Southshore in the back of the bus,
Travelling from Boston to Southshore on a bus.
It's the last winter storm of the season and such
The final winter storm of the season.
And I am lost to the fiction of the book in my lap
Enthralled in a book and not aware of the surroundings.
The snow makes me drowsy, while the dreams roll and tumble,
Feeling sleepy due to the snow and having bittersweet dreams.
It's a long way to Texas, it's a long way back home
A long journey to and from home in Texas.
It's a three hour flight on the plane when I go
A three-hour plane journey when travelling.
Away from this snow from Boston to Southshore where the Dreams roll and tumble, and bring the prose to the wheel,
Escaping the snow while travelling from Boston to Southshore, where dreams come alive and influence the writing process.
Bring the prose to the wheel, I'm not drivin' these wheels I'm not drivin' these wheels Bring the prose to the wheel, I'm not drivin' these wheels I'm not drivin' these wheels, (today)
Requesting inspiration to write, as one is not driving the vehicle. A repeated plea for inspiration.
That face in the window, it's one I should know But it's never been haloed by New England snow,
Seeing a familiar face in the window, but the person has never experienced New England snow.
And the child 'cross the isle is sleepin' away While the soldier behind me lets his dreams roll and tumble My way,
Observing a sleeping child and a soldier with vivid dreams.
This cradle of the interstate makes me weary of dreams The hurt they cause is now, restless, it seems
The interstate feels claustrophobic, and emotional pain caused by dreams is causing discomfort.
Oh soldier, dear soldier, 'ya keep your dreams to yourself, My hearts rolled and tumbled 'till I've put it on the shelf
Asking the soldier to keep his dreams to himself, as the artist's heart has had enough of bittersweet dreams.
Bring the prose to the wheel, I'm not drivin' these wheels I'm not drivin' these wheels Bring the prose to the wheel, I'm not drivin' these wheels I'm not drivin' these wheels, (today)
Repeating the request for inspiration to write, and inability to drive the vehicle.
From Boston to Southshore in the back of the bus It's the last winter storm of the season and such And I am lost to the fiction of the book in my lap, The snow makes me drowsy, while the dreams roll and tumble,
Repeating the opening lines, emphasizing the journey and bittersweet dreams.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NANCI GRIFFITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FrancoS59
"There are days he cries so loudly
That the southern rain blows north to ease his heart"
Images to listen in this suggestive song: storytelling intertwined with poetry.
This sentence is strongly evocative and is of a movingly humanity: Nanci in these lines with depth manages to express a world of feeling, of compassion and humanity.
Nanci with a wild and moving voice evokes its protagonist, in so different places and scenarios in the States.
Nanci's voice is a beauty that almost hurts, for how strong it penetrates you.
Nanci is an extraordinary writer. In a few lines she expresses a world of feelings and humanity: also for this reasons I love her so much.
@JanKleber
Love Nanci Griffith!!!
@johnsandiford5978
Thanks for listening Jan
@ruthboykin9873
Great voice, sweet song. don't think I've heard her before. Thank you John.
@johnsandiford5978
Glad you enjoyed the song Ruth
@Obolombo01
Thank you, thank you, thank you John !!!! Just found It. Was always in mind. Love the wonderful backing voxs. 185 calls, 16 comments and 10 likes in such a short time is ok ehh ??? I think there are lot of listeners out there who never heard this song ,or forgot it They will love it!!!!! Thanks again und GOD bless you.
@johnsandiford5978
Glad you enjoyed the song Christian
@primroseharan9749
lovely song and great singer thanks for this
@johnsandiford5978
Glad you enjoyed it Primrose
@danielburns987
Nanci Griffith was 68 years old, when she died on August 13, 2021 at the time!!!