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
7. long ride home
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shiniest car I've ever seen
The back seat is nice and clean
She rides as quiet as a dream
Someone dug a hole six long feet in the ground
I said goodbye to you and I threw my roses down
Ain't nothing left at all in the end of being proud
With me riding in a race car, and you flying through the clouds
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long ride home
One day I took your tiny hand
Put your finger in the wedding band
Your daddy gave a piece of land
We laid ourselves the best of plans
Forty years go by with someone laying in your bed
Forty years of things you wish you'd never said
How hard would it have been to say some kinder words instead
I wonder as I stare up at the sky turning red
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long ride home
Headlights staring at the driveway
The house is dark as it can be
I go inside and all is silent
It seems as empty as the inside of me
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long, on the long
Oh the long, on the long
On the long ride home
Patty Griffin's song, "Long Ride Home," is a heartbreaking tale of regret, loss, and reflection, told through a series of vivid images that paint a picture of a life filled with missed opportunities and unspoken truths. The song is about a love that has ended, and the singer is left to confront all the things left unsaid and undone in the relationship. The lyrics describe a funeral procession, with a long black limousine carrying the singer and the coffin of the person they loved. As they say their final goodbyes and toss roses onto the casket, the singer reflects on the many years they spent together and all the things left unsaid.
The singer then recounts a moment in their history, when they took their vows and exchanged wedding rings. They embarked on a life together, with plans and dreams, but over time, things fell apart. Now, as they stare at the empty darkness of the house they once shared, the singer is left feeling as empty as that space. The passage of time has given the singer plenty of time to think about what went wrong, and the regrets they carry.
Overall, the lyrics of "Long Ride Home" paint a vivid picture of the sadness and heartbreak that can come when a relationship ends, leaving behind only memories and a longing for what might have been.
Line by Line Meaning
Long black limousine
The funeral procession is led by a fancy, intimidating vehicle.
Shiniest car I've ever seen
The vehicle is immaculately polished and draws attention to itself.
The back seat is nice and clean
The car has been well-maintained and cared for.
She rides as quiet as a dream
The car moves smoothly and quietly, as if gliding along.
Someone dug a hole six long feet in the ground
A grave has been dug for someone who has passed away.
I said goodbye to you and I threw my roses down
The singer has recently attended a funeral, where they said their final farewell to someone they loved.
Ain't nothing left at all in the end of being proud
When it comes to losing someone you love, pride means nothing in the end.
With me riding in a race car, and you flying through the clouds
The artist is on a journey alone, while the person they love is gone forever.
I've had some time to think about you
The artist has had some distance from the person they lost and has had time to reflect on their memory.
And watch the sun sink like a stone
The artist has gone through many highs and lows, like the sun setting each day.
One day I took your tiny hand
The singer remembers holding hands with the person they love while they were young and carefree.
Put your finger in the wedding band
The artist became committed to the person they love, symbolized by a wedding ring.
Your daddy gave a piece of land
The person they love had family land that was important to them both.
We laid ourselves the best of plans
The singer and their loved one made grand plans for their future together.
Forty years go by with someone laying in your bed
They spent a long and happy life together, sharing the same bed.
Forty years of things you wish you'd never said
Despite being happy together, there were things that they said to each other that they regret.
How hard would it have been to say some kinder words instead
The artist wishes they had been less harsh and more compassionate towards their loved one in moments of conflict.
I wonder as I stare up at the sky turning red
The singer is looking out into the sunset and is contemplative about their life and choices.
Headlights staring at the driveway
The singer has returned home and is approaching their empty driveway.
The house is dark as it can be
The artist's home is dark due to the absence of their loved one, who used to fill it with light.
I go inside and all is silent
The artist has entered their home and is surrounded by deafening silence.
It seems as empty as the inside of me
The artist is consumed by loneliness and sadness.
On the long, on the long
The singer has a long journey ahead of them, both literally and emotionally.
Oh the long, on the long
The length of the journey emphasizes the artist's sense of loss and sadness.
On the long ride home
The singer is returning home from a place of grief and is processing their feelings on the way back.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PATTY GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind