Patty Griffin (born Patricia Jean Griffin on March 16, 1964, in Old Town, M… Read Full Bio ↴Patty Griffin (born Patricia Jean Griffin on March 16, 1964, in Old Town, Maine) is an American Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and musician. Known for her stripped-down songwriting style centered around the folk music genre, her songs have been covered by a host of musicians including Emmylou Harris, Ellis Paul, Rory Block, and the Dixie Chicks. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Americana Music Association's "Artist of the Year" award and her album, Children Running Through, won for "Best Album". In 2011, her album Downtown Church won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album.

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

Not A Bad Man
Patty Griffin Lyrics

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I am not a bad man
I want you to know
I signed up when I was 19
Now 24 years old

There's ghosts that follow me around
Things I've seen and did
But I am not a bad man

Just an American kid

I bet you see a stranger
When you look at me
When I look in the mirror
I know that's what I see

Got some pills to get my head right
But they don't work so well
So I drank a little more tonight
And here is where I fell

I bet you see a stranger
When you look at me
When I look in the mirror
I know that's what I see

I just want a little sleep now
A sleep that's silent as snow

But I am not a bad man
I just wanted you to know

Overall Meaning

In Patty Griffin's song "Not A Bad Man," the singer admits to the ghosts that follow him around, the things he's seen and done, and his struggle with finding peace after serving in the military. He wants the listener to know that he is not a bad man despite his experiences.

The lyrics suggest that the singer suffers from PTSD and is using alcohol and prescriptions to cope with his mental health struggles. The line "I just want a little sleep now / A sleep that's silent as snow" speaks to his desire to find tranquility amidst the chaos in his head. He acknowledges that others may view him as a stranger because of his experiences and the pain he carries with him, but he still wishes to be seen as someone who is not inherently bad.

The song highlights the challenges of adjusting to civilian life after serving in the military, the trauma that soldiers carry with them, and the societal misconceptions of veterans. By humanizing veterans and showing the lasting impact of war on individuals, Patty Griffin's "Not A Bad Man" serves as an important reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve their country.

Line by Line Meaning

I am not a bad man
I want to clarify that I am not wicked

I want you to know
It's essential that you understand

I signed up when I was 19
I joined the military at nineteen years old

Now 24 years old
I am currently twenty-four years old

There's ghosts that follow me around
I have traumatic memories that haunt me

Things I've seen and did
I have experienced and done things I can't forget

Just an American kid
I am just a young American adult

I bet you see a stranger
I assume I seem unfamiliar to you

When you look at me
Observing me

When I look in the mirror
When I examine myself

I know that's what I see
I acknowledge that I see the same