After a short marriage which ended in 1992, Griffin began playing in Boston coffee houses and was scouted by A&M Records who signed Griffin on the strength of her demo tape. This resulted in her debut album Living With Ghosts -- a set of demos featuring only Ms. Griffin and her guitar -- which garnered critical acclaim in 1996. Her sophomore album, Flaming Red, demonstrated a more rocking, full-band sound. The ill-fated Silver Bell album was never released by her record label, however, and the label terminated her recording contract shortly after that. Many of the songs from Silver Bell were re-recorded for subsequent albums.
After switching to ATO Records Griffin brought out three albums in rapid succession: 1000 Kisses and Impossible Dream, which were both nominated for Grammy awards, and A Kiss in Time, a well-received live album. In March 2007, she released Children Running Through to great critical acclaim.
She has penned a wide variety of songs - Long Ride Home, Top of the World, Tony, Forgiveness, Chief, Mad Mission--that touch her listeners deeply. A number of high profile artists have covered Patty's songs, including the Dixie Chicks, Bette Midler, Emmylou Harris, The Wreckers, Solomon Burke and pop star Kelly Clarkson; these have brought her exposure in the more mainstream pop and country worlds outside of folk music circles. Upon hearing Solomon Burke's cover of one of her tunes, she said she almost didn't feel worthy of singing it anymore.
Following her collaboration with Mavis Staples on a tune for a compilation album Peter York, suggested Griffin make an album of gospel songs. Griffin agreed on the condition that Buddy Miller, a friend and bandmate, produced the record. Downtown Church was recorded at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville with a 2010 release date. The album features long-time friends Buddy and Julie Miller, as well as Shawn Colvin and Emmylou Harris. It also includes songs by Hank Williams, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, and "All Creatures of Our God and King," a song accredited to St. Francis of Assisi.
Griffin featured on Robert Plant's solo album, Band of Joy, which was released in September 2010
Griffin's album American Kid was released on May 7, 2013
02 Cold as It Gets
Patty Griffin Lyrics
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For the one who laid all of our beauty to waste
Threw our hope into hell and our children to the fire
I am the one who crawled through the wire
I am the one who crawled through the wire
There's a million sad stories on the side of the road
Strange how we all just got used to the blood
Silent and froze in the mud
Silent and froze in the mud
I know a cold as cold as it gets
I know a darkness that's darker than coal
A wind that blows as cold as it gets
Blew out the light of my soul
Blew out the light of my soul
I dream in my sleep
I dream in my days
Of some sunny street not so far away
Where up in a window a curtain will sway
And you and I'll meet down below
You and I'll meet down below
I know a cold as cold as it gets
I fight a war I may never see won
I live only to see you live to regret
Everything that you've done
Everything that you've done
Everything that you've done
The lyrics of Patty Griffin's song "Cold as It Gets" speak to a deep sense of loss and searching. The singer is on a relentless quest to find someone who has caused immense pain and destruction. The first lines demonstrate the length to which the singer is willing to go to find this person, stating that they would search "to the end of the earth" for their face. The singer blames this person for destroying their hope and the future of their children. The line "Threw our hope into hell and our children to the fire" is particularly powerful in its imagery, alluding to both literal and metaphorical destruction.
The second verse describes the prevalence of sad stories in our world, to the point where we have become desensitized to the violence and suffering. The line "Strange how we all just got used to the blood" speaks to the way we can internalize violence and make it normal. This verse is followed by a repeated refrain about the extreme cold that the singer has experienced, which seems to represent the depths of their despair.
The final verse brings a glimmer of hope, with the singer dreaming of a brighter future where they will meet with the person they have been searching for. However, the refrain returns, reminding the listener that this hope is not easily won. The line "I fight a war I may never see won" speaks to the ongoing nature of this struggle and the possibility that it may never be resolved.
Overall, the lyrics of "Cold as It Gets" are haunting and powerful, speaking to the intense emotions that come with loss and searching for answers. The song is a reminder that pain and despair are not easily forgotten, and that we must stay resilient in the face of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
To the end of the earth I search for your face
I am desperately trying to find you, no matter how far I have to go
For the one who laid all of our beauty to waste
You destroyed everything we had that was good and left us with nothing
Threw our hope into hell and our children to the fire
You destroyed our optimism and put our innocent youth in danger
I am the one who crawled through the wire
I had to go through hardships and barriers to find you
There's a million sad stories on the side of the road
Many people have experienced tragedy and heartbreak in their lives
Strange how we all just got used to the blood
It's unsettling how people can become desensitized to violence and suffering
Millions of stories that'll never be told
Countless tales of grief and trauma will go unheard
Silent and froze in the mud
People remain silent and trapped in turmoil
I know a cold as cold as it gets
I have experienced the coldest and darkest moments imaginable
I know a darkness that's darker than coal
I have felt a type of darkness that is even more intense than pitch black coal
A wind that blows as cold as it gets
I have felt a chilling, biting wind that causes a deep numbness
Blew out the light of my soul
My spirit has been completely extinguished due to this immense darkness and coldness
I dream in my sleep
Even in my dreams, I am consumed by thoughts of you and this pain
I dream in my days
Throughout my waking hours, I cannot escape the haunting memories of what you have done
Of some sunny street not so far away
I long for a world that isn't as dark and cold as the one I'm currently experiencing
Where up in a window a curtain will sway
In this imagined street, there will be signs of life and joy, like a swaying curtain in a window
And you and I'll meet down below
I hope that we can reunite and come together to heal from the pain you have caused
I fight a war I may never see won
I continue to fight even though I may never see a resolution or victory
I live only to see you live to regret
My only hope is that you will eventually feel remorse for what you have done
Everything that you've done
You have caused so much destruction and pain with your actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind