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
Caín
Patty Griffin Lyrics
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he looked like Opie, one of the dead boys
Grandpa gave him a cup of cocoa and
Rubbed his head for luck like he always did
All you need is a coca-cola
That's what it takes to get the job done
A bunch of boys sitting in the van
With a bag of chips and a bloody can
Father do you know your son
Father do you know his name
There were two now there is one
They told me that his name was Cain
Black boys in the dungeons picking out all the red ones
The small are getting smaller
Getting smaller every day
White boys in the dungeons picking out all the green ones
All they found beneath that black knit cap was a bad cliche
Father do you know your son
Father do you know his name
There were two now there is one
They told me that his name was Cain
All of the smart kids live in Asia
Lord have mercy on us, euthanasia
Is there a heaven for the frustrated
The bored to death, the emasculated
Father do you know your son
Father do you know his name
There were two now there is one
They told me that his name was Cain
The song Cain by Patty Griffin is a powerful commentary on societal issues, including the disappearance of young boys, racial tension, and the drawbacks of modern society. The opening lyrics describe a group of boys, one of them resembling Opie from The Andy Griffith Show, who were killed. The grandfather of one of the boys gives him a cup of cocoa and rubs his head for luck, as if to say that these small gestures are all that we can offer to the young victims of violence.
The song goes on to describe the racial tension between black and white boys who are picking out various objects, such as red candies or green M&Ms, which leads to the realization that modern society is struggling. The line "All of the smart kids live in Asia" speaks to the idea that America has fallen behind other countries in education and opportunity.
The repeated refrain "Father do you know your son" is especially powerful, asking the question of whether or not parents truly understand and know their children. The song suggests that tragedies such as the killing of these boys could be prevented if parents were more involved in their children's lives and understood their struggles and fears.
Overall, Cain is a poignant song that touches on issues that are unfortunately still relevant today. Its haunting melody and lyrics remind listeners of the need for compassion, understanding, and change in our society.
Line by Line Meaning
One of the dead boys, he looked like Opie
There was a deceased boy who resembled Opie
he looked like Opie, one of the dead boys
One of the deceased boys bore resemblance to Opie
Grandpa gave him a cup of cocoa and
The grandfather provided the young boy with a cup of cocoa
Rubbed his head for luck like he always did
The grandfather would rub the boy's head for luck, as he had done before
All you need is a coca-cola
A coca-cola is sufficient to accomplish your goals
That's what it takes to get the job done
A coca-cola is necessary to complete the task
A bunch of boys sitting in the van
Several boys were seated inside of a van
With a bag of chips and a bloody can
They possessed a bag of chips and a can that contained blood
Father do you know your son
Are you aware of who your child is?
Father do you know his name
Can you identify him by name?
There were two now there is one
There were originally two individuals, but now only one remains
They told me that his name was Cain
I was informed that this remaining individual was called Cain
Black boys in the dungeons picking out all the red ones
African American males were confined and sorting through all of the red objects
The small are getting smaller
Individuals who are smaller in size are continuing to decrease in size
Getting smaller every day
This trend is happening on a daily basis
White boys in the dungeons picking out all the green ones
Caucasian males were confined and in the process of selecting all of the green items
All they found beneath that black knit cap was a bad cliche
Underneath the black knit hat, they discovered something that was unoriginal and overused
All of the smart kids live in Asia
Most intelligent children reside in Asia
Lord have mercy on us, euthanasia
A plea for mercy in regards to euthanasia
Is there a heaven for the frustrated
Does a place like Heaven exist for those who are discontent?
The bored to death, the emasculated
Individuals who are extremely uninterested and lacking in masculinity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind