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
Nobody's Crying
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's off to slay some demon dragonfly
And he looked at me, that long last time
Turned away again and I waved goodbye
In an envelope, inside his coat
Is a chain I wore, around my throat
Along with, a note I wrote
But darling, I wish you well
On your way to the wishing well
Swinging off of those gates of hell
But I can tell how hard you're trying
Just have that secret hope
Sometimes all we do is cope
Somewhere on the steepest slope
There'll be an endless rope
And nobody crying.
Well a long night turns into a couple long years
Of me walkin' around, around this trail of tears
Where the very loud voices of my own fears
Is ringin' and ringin' in my ears
It says that love is long gone
Every move I make is all wrong
Says you never gave a damn for me
For anything, for anyone
But darling, I wish you well
On your way to the wishing well
Swinging off of those gates of hell
But I can tell how hard you're trying,
Just have that secret hope
Sometimes all we do is cope
Somewhere on the steepest slope
There'll be an endless rope
And nobody crying.
May you dream you are dreaming, in a warm soft bed
And may the voices inside you that fill you with dread
Make the sound of thousands of angels instead
Tonight where you might be laying your head
But darling, I wish you well
On your way to the wishing well
Swinging off of those gates of hell
But I can tell how hard you're trying
Just have that secret hope
Sometimes all we do is cope
Somewhere on the steepest slope
There'll be an endless rope
And nobody crying.
And nobody crying,
Nobody crying
In "Nobody's Crying" by Patty Griffin, the singer tells the story of a man who leaves without any explanation or reason. The man leaves behind a note and a chain that the singer wore around her throat, and the words on the note express the depth of her love but also her confusion about why she loves him. The singer continues to struggle in his absence, walking around a trail of tears with the loud voice of her own fears ringing in her ears. However, she still wishes the man well and hopes that he finds happiness, even though his departure has caused her so much pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Well he jumps in the taxi, headed for the sky
He leaves for an adventure.
He's off to slay some demon dragonfly
He wants to conquer his fears.
And he looked at me, that long last time
He acknowledges his departure.
Turned away again and I waved goodbye
He leaves, and she says goodbye with a heavy heart.
In an envelope, inside his coat
He carries a sentimental item with him.
Is a chain I wore, around my throat
The item is a symbol of their affection.
Along with, a note I wrote
She wrote a message to him.
Said "I love you but, I don't even know why"
The message expresses her confusion and love for him.
But darling, I wish you well
She wishes him good luck.
On your way to the wishing well
She hopes he finds what he is looking for.
Swinging off of those gates of hell
He is facing great challenges.
But I can tell how hard you're trying
She recognizes his effort.
Just have that secret hope
She encourages him to have faith.
Sometimes all we do is cope
She acknowledges that life can be difficult.
Somewhere on the steepest slope
She believes there is a way out of hardship.
There'll be an endless rope
There is hope and a way to safety.
And nobody crying.
There will be no sorrow or grief.
Well a long night turns into a couple long years
She is struggling with the pain of separation.
Of me walkin' around, around this trail of tears
Her life has become a miserable path.
Where the very loud voices of my own fears
She has to deal with her insecurities.
Is ringin' and ringin' in my ears
Her fears are overwhelming.
It says that love is long gone
She thinks their love has ended.
Every move I make is all wrong
She feels lost without him.
Says you never gave a damn for me
She thinks he never cared.
For anything, for anyone
She feels unimportant and neglected.
May you dream you are dreaming, in a warm soft bed
She hopes he finds comfort in his dreams.
And may the voices inside you that fill you with dread
She hopes his fears will turn to hope.
Make the sound of thousands of angels instead
She hopes he finds peace and love.
Tonight where you might be laying your head
She wishes him well for the night.
And nobody crying.
There will be no sorrow or grief.
Just have that secret hope
She encourages him to have faith.
Sometimes all we do is cope
She acknowledges that life can be difficult.
Somewhere on the steepest slope
She believes there is a way out of hardship.
There'll be an endless rope
There is hope and a way to safety.
And nobody crying.
There will be no sorrow or grief.
And nobody crying,
There will be no sorrow or grief.
Nobody crying
There will be no sorrow or grief.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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