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
Her Majesty
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But she doesn't have a lot to say
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
But she changes from day to day
I want to tell her that I love her a lot
But I gotta get a bellyful of wine
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
Someday I'm going to make her mine
The lyrics to "Her Majesty" by Patty Griffin seem to depict a man who is infatuated with a woman named Her Majesty and wants to make her his own. However, there is some hesitation on the man's part, possibly due to the woman's unpredictability. The man acknowledges that Her Majesty is a pleasant person, but there seems to be a lack of substance in their interactions. He wants to express his love for her, but feels as though he needs to drink beforehand. It seems that the man is hopeful that someday he will be able to make Her Majesty his, despite any issues he is currently facing.
The song could be interpreted as a commentary on relationships and the complexities that come with them. The man is clearly interested in Her Majesty, but there are factors that are holding him back from fully expressing his feelings. The reference to needing to drink before expressing love could be seen as a form of self-medication to deal with his insecurities. The line about Her Majesty changing from day to day could suggest that the man is unsure of how to approach her, or that he feels as though he cannot get a read on her emotions.
Overall, "Her Majesty" is a haunting and introspective song that delves into the nuances of love and relationships. It is a piece of music that invites you to think deeply about the theme of love, the complexities of a relationship, and the emotions people experience when they find themselves infatuated with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
She is an attractive woman who is kind in nature.
But she doesn't have a lot to say
However, she is not very expressive or communicative.
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
She is still an attractive and kind woman.
But she changes from day to day
But her behavior and personality seem inconsistent and unpredictable.
I want to tell her that I love her a lot
I have strong feelings of affection towards her that I am eager to express.
But I gotta get a bellyful of wine
However, I need to get drunk before I feel confident enough to express my feelings to her.
Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
Again, she is a kind and attractive woman.
Someday I'm going to make her mine, oh yeah
I am determined to pursue her romantically and make her my own in the future.
Someday I'm going to make her mine
I am confident that I will eventually win her heart and be with her romantically.
Contributed by Sophia E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.