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
Blue Sky
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever I knew it was nothing at all
Nothing at all, just making me small
Smaller and smaller
I fall back
Sooner or later with a view from the ground
Chasing the race and the races run you down
And a tear in your eye
You say baby why can't we fly
Into the blue sky
High
Into the blue sky
Be my singing lesson
Be my song
When I tell you I'm falling
You tell me I'm strong
You say trees have grown tall
Birds have flown high
Higher and higher
Goodbye goodbye goodbye
I'll fly over a rainbow
I'll be sun kissed
Sail around the planet Venus
And send a long letter
Way back home
That says all that I know
All that I know is the blue sky
High in the blue sky
The farther I come the farther I fall
Whatever I knew it was nothing at all
Trees have grown tall, birds have flown high
Higher and higher
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
The lyrics to Patty Griffin's "Blue Sky" capture the feeling of trying to find one’s place in the world, struggling to find meaning in one's endeavors and failing to find one's place. The songwriter admits that the farther she comes, the farther she falls. She has come to the realization that everything she believed she knew was nothing at all. This realization is making her feel smaller and smaller until she falls back. She now has a view from the ground, feeling defeated by the race of life that is running her down. The tears in her eyes make her question why she can't fly into the blue sky. She is looking for a way to find herself and rise above her troubles.
The chorus provides a glimmer of hope, suggesting that she can fly high into the blue sky. She asks her friend to be her singing lesson and her song. She will need someone to remind her of her strength when she tells them that she is falling. Her friend tells her that trees have grown tall, and birds have flown high. This is a reminder that she too can rise above her problems, and it is not too late. She declares that she is going to fly over a rainbow, be sun-kissed, sail around Venus and send a long letter back home. The letter will say everything she knows, which is the blue sky. She now knows that she can rise high into the blue sky with the support of her loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
The farther I come the farther I fall
No matter how far I go, each time I fail it seems to get worse.
Whatever I knew it was nothing at all
After much reflection, I realize that what I thought I knew before was not enough.
Nothing at all, just making me small
All the times I've failed before have left me feeling weaker and more insignificant.
Smaller and smaller
I keep shrinking down to nothing with every failure.
I fall back
Each time I fail, I retreat and withdraw from the world.
Sooner or later with a view from the ground
After falling so many times, I begin to see the world from a different perspective - one from the ground.
Chasing the race and the races run you down
Trying to keep up with everyone else in this competitive world eventually wears you out and burns you out.
And a tear in your eye
With each failure, you become more and more emotional and vulnerable.
You say baby why can't we fly
You become envious of those who seem to have it all and who can easily soar above their problems.
Into the blue sky
You want to escape your troubles and find peace in the open sky.
High
You want to fly higher than you ever have before, to get as far away from your problems as possible.
Be my singing lesson
You need someone to guide you and inspire you, to help you find your voice and your own unique path.
Be my song
You want someone to sing to you and help uplift your spirits whenever you fall down.
When I tell you I'm falling
You need someone to confide in when you're feeling down and out.
You tell me I'm strong
You need someone to remind you of your inner strength and resilience.
You say trees have grown tall
You need someone to remind you that growth and success take time and patience.
Birds have flown high
You need someone to remind you that anything is possible with determination and hard work.
Higher and higher
You need someone to remind you to keep reaching for the stars, no matter how many times you fall.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye
You need to let go of the past, of all the failures and regrets, and start moving forward.
I'll fly over a rainbow
You dream of finding an idyllic place, away from all your troubles and problems.
I'll be sun kissed
You dream of finding warmth and light in your life after feeling so cold and dark for so long.
Sail around the planet Venus
You dream of exploring new horizons and experiencing new adventures.
And send a long letter
You want to keep in touch with those you love and let them know of your progress and adventures.
Way back home
You need to return home - either physically or metaphorically - in order to find peace and closure.
That says all that I know
You want to share your knowledge and experiences with others in order to help them along their own journey.
All that I know is the blue sky
You come to the realization that the only constant and uplifting force in your life is the beauty and peace of the blue sky.
High in the blue sky
You dream of soaring high above all your problems and concerns, and finding eternal peace and tranquility.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Forrest Richard Betts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind