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
If I Had My Way
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down
You read about Sampson and from his birth
The strongest man that ever lived on Earth
He looked down on the ground and he saw an old jaw-bone
He swung it over his head, swung it over his head
When he start moving ten thousand was dead
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down
Sampson and the lion got in attack
Sampson joined up on the lion's back
You read about this lion, he killed a man with his paw
Sampson he got his hands around the lion's jaw
He ripped that beast till the lion was dead
The bees made honey in the lion's head
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down
Delilah was a woman so fine and fair
She had a lovely good looks and a coal black hair
Delilah came down on Samson's mind
First he saw a woman of the Philistines
She set down on Samson's knees
Tell me where your strength lies if you please
She spoke so kind, talked so fair
Samson told "Delilah cut off my hair,
Shave my head, clean as your hand
And my strength will be like a natural man."
Took old Samson by surprise
They picked up a stick and then they punched out his eyes
Backing down to the judgment hall
Chained him to the stone cold wall
They left him there â??til his hair turn brown
Strength to tear that building down
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down
Tear this building down
Tear this building down
Tear this building down
Patty Griffin's song "The way I fly" is a reinterpretation of the classic American gospel song "If I Had My Way". Griffin's instrumental accompaniment features a delicate guitar string plucking, which contrasts with the song's lyrics, describing the power of a violent rebellion against a building or institution. The song invokes the spirit of Samson - one of the strongest and most celebrated personas in the history of humanity - and draws analogies to the power of individual expression and social movements.
The song's lyrics begin with the sentiment of the singer. If they had their way, they would tear down a building. The subsequent lines refer to the story of Samson as described in the Old Testament. Samson was one of the strongest biblical figures, endowed with extraordinary physical strength that allowed him to fight and kill massive armies single-handedly. His story is used to express the idea of personal strength and determination in the face of adversity. The song acknowledges Sampson's power and heroism, describing the way he killed a multitude of his enemies single-handedly.
The song then describes Samson's encounter with Delilah, a woman hired by the Philistines to discover the source of Samson's strength. Delilah eventually convinces Samson to reveal his secret, and has his hair cut, leading to his capture and his subsequent blinding. The singer refers to this episode as an example of society trying to stamp out the strengths of the individual, but ultimately failing.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Way I Fly" celebrate the power of individuality and the desire for self-expression, even in the face of threat and attempts at suppression. The song is a powerful reimagining of a gospel classic, and its use of Samson's story ensures it will remain relevant for years to come.
Interesting facts about the song:
Line by Line Meaning
If I had my way
Expressing a desire to act on one's own volition.
I would tear this building down
Wishing to destroy something or someone that is unjust and oppressive.
You read about Sampson and from his birth
Referencing the biblical story of Sampson and drawing inspiration from his power and strength.
The strongest man that ever lived on Earth
Describing Sampson as the epitome of physical strength and power.
One day old Sampson was walking alone
Narrating the beginning of Sampson's journey and how he discovered his strength.
He looked down on the ground and he saw an old jaw-bone
Describing how Sampson found a tool to demonstrate his extraordinary strength.
He swung it over his head, swung it over his head
Depicting Sampson's immense physical power and his ability to wield a weapon with ease.
When he start moving ten thousand was dead
Hyperbolically exaggerating Sampson's strength and his ability to take down a large number of enemies at once.
Sampson and the lion got in attack
Retelling a story about Sampson fighting a lion.
Sampson joined up on the lion's back
Describing how Sampson overpowered the lion by jumping on its back.
You read about this lion, he killed a man with his paw
Referencing another story about a lion's strength and power.
Sampson he got his hands around the lion's jaw
Depicting Sampson's dominance over the lion by grabbing its jaw.
He ripped that beast till the lion was dead
Illustrating Sampson's ability to kill the lion with his bare hands.
The bees made honey in the lion's head
Contrasting the previously aggressive and fierce lion with the peaceful and productive honeybees.
Delilah was a woman so fine and fair
Introducing the character of Delilah in the story.
She had a lovely good looks and a coal black hair
Describing Delilah's appearance and her attractive qualities.
Delilah came down on Samson's mind
Portraying Delilah's influence over Sampson and his vulnerability to her.
First he saw a woman of the Philistines
Describing Delilah's background and her connection to Samson's enemies.
She set down on Samson's knees
Suggesting Delilah's intimacy with Sampson and the seductive nature of their relationship.
Tell me where your strength lies if you please
Prompting Sampson to reveal the secret of his strength to Delilah.
She spoke so kind, talked so fair
Describing how Delilah used her charm and persuasion to extract information from Samson.
Samson told 'Delilah cut off my hair,
Revealing the source of Sampson's strength and his vulnerability to Delilah's deceit.
Shave my head, clean as your hand
Detailing how Samson gave in to Delilah's request to shave his head.
And my strength will be like a natural man.'
Expressing Sampson's misguided trust in Delilah and his belief that his strength was self-reliant.
Took old Samson by surprise
Illustrating how Delilah's treachery caught Samson off guard.
They picked up a stick and then they punched out his eyes
Detailing the violent and cruel punishment inflicted on Samson after his capture.
Backing down to the judgment hall
Describing how Samson was taken to court to face his sentence.
Chained him to the stone cold wall
Depicting Samson's imprisonment and confinement.
They left him there 'til his hair turn brown
Revealing the duration of Samson's imprisonment and his loss of strength.
Strength to tear that building down
Reaffirming the singer's desire to destroy something that is oppressive and unjust.
Tear this building down
Repeating the desire to take down an oppressor, reinforcing the main theme of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANESHA BIRCHETT, ANTEA BIRCHETT, RODNEY JERKINS, FRED III JERKINS, LASHAWN AMEEN DANIELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind