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
Flaming Red
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bought a candle it was
Flaming red flaming red
I thought a thought then I forgot
So I sang a happy song
In my head, in my head
Wore my red shoes
They're getting worn out from
All of the wandering
Worn out and holy
Holy as Jesus
Me and my red shoes
Nothing can please us
Stupid girl
She was dressed like
She deserved everything that she got
Bloody pumps
Dead girl
Hey, world
Thanks a lot
Thanks a lot
Wore my red shoes
Wore my red shoes again
They're getting worn out from
All of the wandering
Worn out and holy
Holy as Jesus
Me and my red shoes
Nothing can, nothing can please us
Flaming red (x8)
Walkin' in my red shoes and I
Get so worn out
Walkin' in my red shoes and my
Soles are torn out
Walkin' in my red shoes and I'm
Holy as Jesus and I'm
Walkin' in my red shoes and
Nothing can, nothing can please us
Flaming red ( 12x )"
The opening lines of Patty Griffin's song Flaming Red sets the stage for a somewhat surreal narrative. The singer takes a walk around the block and buys a candle that is flaming red, but as the song progresses it becomes unclear what the significance of the candle is. The singer then says they thought a thought but forgot it, so they sang a happy song in their head instead. It almost feels like the singer is trying to distract themselves from something that may have been troubling them.
The second verse shifts to the singer's red shoes, which they wear again even though they are getting worn out from all the wandering. The shoes are described as "holy as Jesus" and the singer declares that her and her red shoes are not pleased by anything. This could be interpreted as a nod to the power of personal style and how feeling confident in your own skin can be a source of strength.
The song takes a dark turn in the bridge with the mention of a "stupid girl" who was dressed in a way that made it seem like she deserved the violence that was inflicted upon her. The singer then says "thanks a lot" to the world, perhaps expressing frustration at the pervasive victim-blaming mentality that can exist in society. The song returns to the theme of the red shoes and concludes on a repeated chorus of "flaming red."
Overall, the song seems to be exploring themes of distraction, self-expression, and the pitfalls of societal norms. The imagery of the flaming red candle and shoes create a vivid world that is both fantastical and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Took a walk around the block
I went for a stroll around the neighborhood
Bought a candle it was
I purchased a candle that turned out to be
Flaming red flaming red
Bright red, just like flames
I thought a thought then I forgot
I had a thought but it slipped my mind
So I sang a happy song
To distract myself, I sang a joyful tune
In my head, in my head
Just inside my mind
Wore my red shoes
I put on my red shoes
Wore my red shoes again
I've worn them before
They're getting worn out from
They're starting to look ragged due to all the
All of the wandering
Walking and exploring I've been doing
Worn out and holy
Dilapidated and full of holes
Holy as Jesus
As pure and sinless as the son of God
Me and my red shoes
Myself and my bright red footwear
Nothing can please us
We cannot be satisfied
Stupid girl
Insult directed towards a foolish girl
She was dressed like
Her attire gave the impression that she was
She deserved everything that she got
Implying that any misfortune she experienced was justified
Bloody pumps
Shoes that were stained with blood
Dead girl
A girl who is no longer among the living
Hey, world
Addressing the world at large
Thanks a lot
Sarcastic expression of gratitude
Wore my red shoes
Once again, I put on my bright red shoes
Wore my red shoes again
Repeating my previous action
They're getting worn out from
The shoes are again suffering wear and tear due to
All of the wandering
My continued perambulations
Worn out and holy
The shoes are frayed and have multiple holes, but I still revere them
Holy as Jesus
As pure and sinless as the son of God
Me and my red shoes
Myself and my bright red footwear
Nothing can, nothing can please us
Once again emphasizing that we cannot be content
Flaming red (x8)
Repeating the phrase 'flaming red' eight times
Walkin' in my red shoes and I
Striding around while wearing my red shoes, and I
Get so worn out
Feeling exhausted from all the walking
Walkin' in my red shoes and my
Continuing to walk while clad in my red shoes, and my
Soles are torn out
The bottoms of the shoes have become damaged and are falling apart
Walkin' in my red shoes and I'm
Still marching around in my bright red footwear, and I am
Holy as Jesus and I'm
I am still metaphysically pure, like Christ himself, and I am
Walkin' in my red shoes and
Continuing to tramp around while wearing my bright red shoes, and
Nothing can, nothing can please us
We still cannot be content
Flaming red ( 12x )
'Flaming red' repeated a dozen times to conclude the song
Contributed by Kennedy F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.