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
Kite Song
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody had a kite
They were flying everywhere
And all the trouble went away
And it wasn't just a dream
All the trouble went away
And it wasn't just a dream
We try and try with all our mights
To light a little light down here
In the middle of the night
We dream of a million kites
Flying high above
The sadness and the fear
Little sister just remember
As you wander through the blue
The little kite that you sent flying
On a sunny afternoon
Made of something light as nothing
Made of joy that matters too
How the little dreams we dream
Are all we can really do
In the middle of the night
The world turns with all of it's might
A little diamond colored blue
In the middle of the night
We keep sending little kites
Until a little light gets through
The song "Kite" by Patty Griffin is a beautiful ode to hope and how we can always find our way out of the darkest moments. The lyrics speak of a day when everyone had a kite and they were flying everywhere. There was a sense of joy and laughter in the air, and it feels like all the trouble in the world has gone away.
The song beautifully captures the power of dreams and how they can give us the strength to face adversity. The lyrics in the middle of the song speak about how we try to light a little light down here, in the middle of the night, and how we dream of a million kites to fly high above the sadness and fear. It speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and how we continue to keep sending little kites until a little light gets through.
The song is a reminder to cherish the little things in life and how they can bring us so much joy. The little kite that is sent flying on a sunny afternoon is a metaphor for hope, dreams, and how the little things that we do can make a big difference in our lives.
Overall, the song "Kite" is a beautiful and uplifting song about hope and how we can find our way through the darkest moments in life by holding onto our dreams and cherishing the little things.
Line by Line Meaning
The Sunday after there was laughter in the air
The atmosphere was filled with joy and happiness after Sunday
Everybody had a kite
Everyone had a kite which can be flown
They were flying everywhere
The kites were flying everywhere in the sky
And all the trouble went away
All of the problems and difficulties vanished away for some time
And it wasn't just a dream
It was not just imagination or fantasy that all the trouble had gone away
In the middle of the night
Amidst the darkness when everyone is asleep
We try and try with all our mights
Despite the challenges and problems, we continue to strive with all our strength
To light a little light down here
To bring some light and positivity in this world
We dream of a million kites
We have hope for a future where there will be happiness and freedom
Flying high above the sadness and the fear
The kites represent freedom and positivity that helps us overcome our sadness and fears
Little sister just remember
The singer is advising their sibling or loved one
as you wander through the blue
As you go through difficult times
The little kite that you sent flying
Remember the small act of joy you experienced in the past
on a sunny afternoon
In a happy moment
Made of something light as nothing
The kite is made of light materials and seems like it's nothing extraordinary
Made of joy that matters too
The joy you feel is essential and important as well
How the little dreams we dream
The small dreams and hopes we have
Are all we can really do
Is all we can hold onto when we're feeling low
The world turns with all of it's might
Despite the chaos and difficulties, the world keeps moving forward
A little diamond colored blue
A metaphor for a small glimmer of hope and joy
We keep sending little kites
We continue to hold onto the small dreams and hopes for a better tomorrow
Until a little light gets through
Until we can see the light at the end of the tunnel
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind