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
Big Daddy
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How 'bout that, how 'bout that
Here he comes again
Me and my friends, we all laugh at him
'Cause he's so funny, warm and fuzzy
We're rocking, big daddy
A celebration, a celebration
He caught a little fish, he had one wish
Daddy, we're rocking, big daddy
A celebration, a celebration
Please throw the little fish back
Throw the little fish back
Throw the little fish back
Throw the little fish back
Please throw the little fish back
We're rocking, big daddy
Throw the little fish back
Throw the little fish back
Throw the little fish back
Rocking, big daddy
We're rocking, big daddy
In Patty Griffin's song "Big Daddy", the singer is addressing her father, who she affectionately calls "big daddy". She and her friends seem to be enjoying a day of fishing with him. The moment is joyous - they are laughing and celebrating together. However, the singer brings up a small conflict when the father catches a little fish - she pleads with him to throw it back. The lyrics repeat several times, and the joyous tone of the rock-infused music is conveyed in the repeated phrase "We're rocking, big daddy".
The song seems to touch on themes of parenthood and youth. The singer's fondness for and closeness to her father are evident in her nickname for him, and the lyrics capture a particular moment of camaraderie between the two. However, as she pleads with him to throw back the fish, the lyrics suggest a theme of protecting the small and the vulnerable, a responsibility often associated with parenthood. This theme adds some depth and complexity to the otherwise buoyant and celebratory song.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy, we're rocking, big daddy
Addressing and acknowledging the presence of a father figure, expressing excitement and energy in his company
How 'bout that, how 'bout that
An exclamation of admiration and approval of what's going on in the moment
Here he comes again
The father figure is returning or making another appearance
Me and my friends, we all laugh at him
The artist and their companions find amusement in the father figure's behavior or personality
'Cause he's so funny, warm and fuzzy
The father figure possesses qualities that make him endearing or humorous
A celebration, a celebration
The atmosphere is one of joy and revelry
He caught a little fish, he had one wish
The father figure has accomplished something he desired, but it is a small or insignificant thing
Please throw the little fish back
The artist is urging the father figure to practice compassion or respect for the fish by releasing it back into the water
Throw the little fish back
Reiterating the request for the father figure to spare the life of the fish
We're rocking, big daddy
Reasserting the initial energy and excitement in the father figure's presence
Throw the little fish back
Continuing to make a plea for the father figure to let the fish go
Throw the little fish back
Repeating the request one more time
Throw the little fish back
Closing with a final statement urging the father figure to do the right thing
We're rocking, big daddy
Concluding with a final expression of excitement and enjoyment in the father figure's presence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jay Joyce, Patricia J. Griffin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind