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
Mil Besos
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La fe perdida,
Ahora tiene mi vida una razón.
No sé si fue el embrujo de tus ojos,
Que le dijo a tus labios,
Róbale el corazón.
Yo sé que en los mil besos
Se me fue el corazón;
Y dicen que es pecado
Querer como te quiero,
Quizás tengan razón.
Pero que ha de importarme
Todo lo que me digan,
No te he de olvidar;
Que si es pecado amarte
Yo he de seguir pecando
Nunca lo he de ocultar.
Te he de seguir amando,
Te he de seguir besando
Hasta volverte loca.
Hasta que me devuelvas
El corazón que en besos
Yo te deje en la boca
The lyrics of Patty Griffin's song Mil Besos expresses the feeling of finding faith in love and the power of it having to provide a purpose in one's life. The singer is unsure whether it was the spellbinding eyes or the seductive lips of her lover that stole her heart. Despite the societal stigma that claims it is a sin to love so strongly, she persists in loving her partner and will continue to do so without any regret. This is indicated by the line "Pero que ha de importarme todo lo que me digan, no te he de olvidar" which means "But what does it matter to me what they say, I won't forget you." The singer is willing to be engulfed by passion and continue to love her partner until they are also unable to resist the love and desires that they share.
The repeated phrase "Yo sé que en los mil besos que te he dado en la boca se me fue el corazón" translates to "I know that in the thousand kisses I've given you on the mouth, my heart was lost." Based on the interpretation of these lyrics, it appears that the heart of the singer was stolen by her partner through tender kisses. The lyrics have an element of seduction and romance, creating a picture of a passionate love between two individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
He encontrado en tu amor,
I have found in your love,
La fe perdida,
The lost faith,
Ahora tiene mi vida una razón.
Now my life has a purpose.
No sé si fue el embrujo de tus ojos,
I don't know if it was the spell of your eyes,
Que le dijo a tus labios,
That told your lips,
Róbale el corazón.
Steal his heart.
Yo sé que en los mil besos
I know that in the thousand kisses
Que te he dado en la boca
That I have given you on the mouth
Se me fue el corazón;
My heart went away;
Y dicen que es pecado
And they say it's a sin
Querer como te quiero,
To love as I love you,
Quizás tengan razón.
Perhaps they are right.
Pero que ha de importarme
But why should I care
Todo lo que me digan,
About what they say to me,
No te he de olvidar;
I won't forget you;
Que si es pecado amarte
If it's a sin to love you
Yo he de seguir pecando
I'll keep sinning
Nunca lo he de ocultar.
I'll never hide it.
Te he de seguir amando,
I'll keep loving you,
Te he de seguir besando
I'll keep kissing you
Hasta volverte loca.
Until you go crazy.
Hasta que me devuelvas
Until you give me back
El corazón que en besos
The heart that in kisses
Yo te deje en la boca
I left in your mouth.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: EMA ELENA VALDELAMAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind