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
Florida
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sailing down A1A
Into the arms of Florida
Sailing down a highway
Singing their heads off
Protected by the holy ghosts
Flying in the ocean
Driving with their eyes close
The night wants to kiss you deep
And be on his way
Pretend he don't know you the very next day
Isn't it hard sometimes
Isn't it lonely?
How I still hang around here
And there's nothing to hold me
You slide down into the seat
From twelve hours on your feet
And get the tide to wash you away
For thousands and thousands of days
And someone you never meet
Signs a check you get every week
You try and you still can't forget
All the strangers that you have met
The night never owed you nothing anyway
Makes promises that he never intends to keep every day
Isn't it hard sometimes
Isn't lonely?
How I still hang around here
And there's nothing to hold me
Every time, every year
The travelers come and go
You see them landing with their pale wings
And flying back to the snow
And the summer comes marching in
With his heavy boots on
Kicking along the blacktop
Sidewalks of A1A
The young girls in their bare feet
Cigarettes smoking
Looking every which way
Wishing and hoping
And you want the night just to let you sleep
And be on his way
Wrap you up in some cool sheets
And have nothing to say
Isn't hard sometimes
Isn't it lonely?
How I still hang around here
And there's nothing to hold me
In Patty Griffin's song "Florida," she sings about two young girls driving down the highway A1A in Florida with the wind in their hair and the holy ghosts protecting them. The song is full of imagery which creates a sense of longing and vulnerability, with lines that tell the story of two girls searching for something more, but uncertain of what exactly that is. The lyrics reflect on the challenges of life and the wandering spirit that comes with it. The night, a symbol for the trials of life, is something that one has to deal with but it never owes anything. The summer comes marching in with his heavy boots on, kicking along the blacktop sidewalks of A1A. The young girls in their bare feet, cigarettes smoking, are looking every which way, wishing and hoping for something to hold them.
Griffin's lyrics are so poignant because they encapsulate life, the uncertainty it brings, the longing for something more, and the sadness of not being able to find it. The song is an ode to the restlessness of life, that feeling of being lost and alone, and searching for something beyond the horizon. The sadness in the lyrics matches the melody, and the result is a beautiful, haunting song that lingers long after the music ends.
Line by Line Meaning
A couple of young girls went
A pair of young girls traveled
Sailing down A1A
Driving along Florida's A1A highway
Into the arms of Florida
Arriving and staying in Florida for a while
Sailing down a highway
Driving along a road with a sense of adventure
Singing their heads off
Excitedly singing at the top of their lungs
Protected by the holy ghosts
Feeling safe and watched over by spiritual beings
Flying in the ocean
Metaphorically flying like birds while swimming in the ocean
Driving with their eyes close
Taking risks and adventure despite the danger
The night wants to kiss you deep
The nighttime brings about deep feelings of intimacy
And be on his way
It is fleeting and temporary
Pretend he don't know you the very next day
Feeling disconnected and unrecognized
Isn't it hard sometimes
Life can be difficult
Isn't it lonely?
Feeling alone even in the presence of others
How I still hang around here
Continuing to stay in a place that brings about these emotions
And there's nothing to hold me
Feeling a lack of attachment or responsibility
You slide down into the seat
Sitting down after a long day of work
From twelve hours on your feet
Spending a long amount of time standing and working
And get the tide to wash you away
Letting the ocean take away stress and troubles
For thousands and thousands of days
Continuing to live like this for a long time
And someone you never meet
Having a distant and detached relationship with an employer
Signs a check you get every week
Getting paid for work with no real connection to the source of income
You try and you still can't forget
Difficulty in letting go of past memories
All the strangers that you have met
Encountering many people but feeling as though there is no real bond
The night never owed you nothing anyway
The nighttime was never meant to bring comfort or reassurance
Makes promises that he never intends to keep every day
Feeling disappointment and betrayal
Every time, every year
This same feeling continues year after year
The travelers come and go
People come to visit and then leave
You see them landing with their pale wings
Noticing the fleeting beauty of visitors
And flying back to the snow
Going back to a place that is no longer home
And the summer comes marching in
The summer season brings about change
With his heavy boots on
Bringing about change that can be difficult to handle
Kicking along the blacktop
Creating movement and change along the paved road
Sidewalks of A1A
The sidewalks of Florida's A1A highway
The young girls in their bare feet
Noticing young girls enjoying the freedom of being barefoot
Cigarettes smoking
Smoking and taking risks despite the consequences
Looking every which way
Scanning and taking in their surroundings
Wishing and hoping
Feeling a sense of longing and desire
And you want the night just to let you sleep
Desiring a peaceful and restful night
Wrap you up in some cool sheets
Finding comfort and ease
And have nothing to say
Finding peace in silence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind