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
Holy Water
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
spider upon my shoulder
Devil smiled from way down there
in his blackened hold yeah
Well the priest recited holy words
and wiped my forehead clean
all around the world that day
they heard the babies scream
Those ruffles round my ankles
and those ribbons in my hair
well they could not hide that little spider
lurking way down there
Yeah so when I asked my mama
what those little feelings mean
she said go and find your rosary
and count your blessings
Whoa mama birds do it bees do it dogs do it mama
mama I got some holy water
I'm a gonna pour it all over me
Gimme some of that holy water
Come and pour it all over me
I been eating contradictions
just like they was little snacks and
getting all that fiction confused with all those facts
Yeah but I can't live that way no more I had to admit default
Mama said she told me so (?) but I still love her so
Oh Mama admit it you did it
You (?) now mama
Mama I got some holy water
I'm a gonna pour it all over me
Gimme some of that holy water
Come and pour it all over me
I don't know but I'll certainly find out
Admit it you did it
You sanctify sanctify
I got some holy water
I'm a gonna pour it all over me
Gimme some of that holy water
Come and pour it all over me
I don't know but I'll certainly find out yeah
The lyrics of Patty Griffin's song Holy Water explore themes of religion, innocence, and the struggle to understand one's own emotions and desires. The singer of the song appears to be grappling with conflicting feelings and desires, symbolized by the presence of a spider that seems to both repel and attract her. The devil is also referenced, suggesting a temptation or darkness that lurks in the singer's psyche.
The song also touches on themes of baptism and cleansing, with the priest reciting "holy words" and wiping the singer's forehead clean, while babies scream in the background. This juxtaposition of purity and pain suggests that the process of coming to understand oneself and one's desires can be both liberating and difficult. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency, with the singer seeking a solution to her confusion and asking for "holy water" to be poured over her.
Overall, Holy Water is a powerful and enigmatic song that explores the complexities of human emotions and the search for understanding and peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Well someone missed that little spider
The singer had a spider on their shoulder that someone didn't see.
Devil smiled from way down there in his blackened hold yeah
The singer feels like the devil is watching and is happy about something happening down below.
Well the priest recited holy words and wiped my forehead clean
The priest performed a holy ceremony on the singer, cleaning their forehead.
all around the world that day they heard the babies scream
The ceremony was loud and could be heard all over the world, causing babies to cry.
whoa let it out baby
The artist is encouraging someone to let out their emotions.
Those ruffles round my ankles and those ribbons in my hair well they could not hide that little spider lurking way down there
Even though the singer was dressed up with ruffles and ribbons, they still couldn't hide the spider on their body.
Yeah so when I asked my mama what those little feelings mean she said go and find your rosary and count your blessings
The singer asked their mother about some feelings and was told to pray and be grateful.
Whoa mama birds do it bees do it dogs do it mama mama I got some holy water I'm a gonna pour it all over me
The artist is comparing themselves to animals and wants to use holy water to purify themselves.
Gimme some of that holy water come and pour it all over me
The artist wants someone to perform the holy water ceremony on them.
I been eating contradictions just like they was little snacks and getting all that fiction confused with all those facts
The artist has been consuming conflicting ideas and is having trouble differentiating between what is true and what is not.
Yeah but I can't live that way no more I had to admit default Mama said she told me so (?) but I still love her so
The singer cannot continue living in confusion and is admitting defeat. Their mother had warned them, but they still love her.
Oh Mama admit it you did it You (?) now mama
The artist is accusing their mother of causing their confusion or problems and wants her to admit to it.
I don't know but I'll certainly find out
The singer does not currently know the answer to something, but will try to find out.
Admit it you did it You sanctify sanctify I got some holy water I'm a gonna pour it all over me
The singer is again accusing their mother of something, and wants to use the holy water to purify themselves.
Gimme some of that holy water come and pour it all over me
The singer is still requesting someone to perform the holy water ceremony on them.
Contributed by Joshua N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
flydiegofly
I wish she had recorded this song. One of her bests.
Camille Keith
agreed!