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
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What they have to say
And the headlines and sound bytes are givin' me
Demons to hate
And the man on TV
He tells me it's ugly
But if you ask me
It's a beautiful world
There's tears and there's fears and there's losses and crosses to bear
And sometimes the best we can do is just to whisper a prayer
And press on because
There's so much to live for and so much to love
In this beautiful world
Say what you will but I still believe
It's a beautiful world
It's a beautiful world
And I know (I know)
I'm not dreamin'
I just choose (choose) to believe it
So I hate that I sometimes miss what's right in front of my eyes, oh
And I know at the end of my road I'll be wantin' more time
Just another sunset
One more kiss from my baby
A smile from a friend
In this beatiful world
It's a beautiful world
Yeah, it's a beautiful world
Say what you will, but I still believe
It's a beautiful world
Yeah, it's a beautiful world
Oh, it's a beautiful world
Patty Griffin’s eponymous song “Patty Griffin” is an inspiring message to celebrate the beauty of the world despite the noise, fear, and ugliness that we see and hear daily. The song is an anthem of hope and positivity that aims to uplift the listeners and encourage them to see the goodness and beauty amidst the chaos. In the first stanza, the lyrics highlight the negativity bombarding us from every direction, from the news headlines to the man on TV trying to convince us that the world is ugly. But, the chorus reinforces the singer's belief that the world is, in fact, a beautiful place. The second stanza goes on to acknowledge the struggles and hardships of life, but continues to focus on the beauty inherent in the world.
Patty Griffin’s voice in this song is not one of blind optimism, but rather it is a voice of conscious hopefulness. She recognizes the often harsh reality of life but still chooses to believe in the beauty and goodness that exists despite all of that. The song doesn't offer platitudes or solutions, but rather it emphasizes the power of belief in making a difference. It is a call to remember the simple things that are easily missed, such as a sunset, a kiss from a loved one, or a smile from a friend, and to cherish those moments.
Line by Line Meaning
All the noise and the voices are screamin'
There is a lot of noise and conflicting opinions being expressed around me
What they have to say
Everyone is trying to make their voice heard and communicate their message
And the headlines and sound bytes are givin' me
The media is bombarding me with sensationalized news and brief snippets of information
Demons to hate
These news stories are trying to make me angry and resentful
And the man on TV
A news anchor or pundit on television is giving their opinion
He tells me it's ugly
This person is describing the world in negative terms
But if you ask me
Despite what this person is saying
It's a beautiful world
The world is still beautiful despite its challenges
There's tears and there's fears and there's losses and crosses to bear
Life can be difficult and emotional, with hardships and challenges to face
And sometimes the best we can do is just to whisper a prayer
In these difficult moments, we can find comfort in prayer
And press on because
And continue to move forward despite our struggles
There's so much to live for and so much to love
There are many things to be grateful for and to appreciate in life
Say what you will but I still believe
Despite any negative opinions or comments, I still choose to believe
It's a beautiful world
Because I know that the world is still beautiful and full of wonder
And I know (I know)
I am confident in my knowledge
I'm not dreamin'
That my belief in the beauty of the world is not just a dream, but a reality
I just choose (choose) to believe it
I make a conscious choice to focus on the positives in life
So I hate that I sometimes miss what's right in front of my eyes, oh
Sometimes, I get so caught up in negativity that I overlook the beauty around me
And I know at the end of my road I'll be wantin' more time
At the end of my life, I will regret not appreciating the good things more
Just another sunset
Easily overlooked moments of beauty, such as sunsets, are important to appreciate
One more kiss from my baby
I will always want more time with the people I love
A smile from a friend
Even something as small as a smile from a friend can brighten my day and make the world feel more beautiful
Yeah, it's a beautiful world
Once again affirming my belief that the world is beautiful
Oh, it's a beautiful world
Finally, concluding that the world truly is beautiful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRETT BEAVERS, DIERKS BENTLEY, JAMES M BEAVERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lorrainemarshall3475
This totally describes my life story, one of abuse and hurt, but also many blessings......my name is Lorraine. I feel led, and blessed to have stumbled across this song and Patty Griffin's music.
@JujuOkrr
This is literally one of my top 10 most favorite songs in life. It's tragic, beautiful, raw emotion and captures perfectly the dynamics that so many of us face with extremely dysfunctional families. 🙌✊
@MorrisLess
Why is it that every time I listen to a new (to me) Patti Griffin song, I have a new favorite song?
This song, and her delivery, just reach in and rip your heart out.
@justwannaseehisface1
Heard this on the radio in my car 10 years ago and wrote it down. Searched for it on the internet when I got home but no luck. Since then checked about once year every year around Christmas but no luck. Found it this morning. sweet.
@judithjango-cohen1356
Glad you found it. Thank you for sharing it with me. So sweet.
@marksavage1744
This song is so brutal and raw. I simply can't listen to this without tearing up. Sadly, this hits too close to home for a lot of us. That last verse starting around 3:45 has some of the most powerful lyrics ever.
Thanks for posting. I have the CD, but it's nice to have this incredible music at your fingertips.
And thanks PG for all your music. Simply the best dark-emotional singer-songwriter ever.....
@peachbellini2615
I think there are lots of people with similar stories of Lorraine.. she's not alone
@LorraineAshby
A friend brought me here and I am so glad I came - such a beautiful song - I just love Patty Griffins voice and the way she sang this brought tears to my eyes ... can really relate to this one ..... Lorraine .....
@s1monz
Her delivery of each and every word is incredible.
@oldboehne1153
I just cry . I met her parents at a show way back in the day. Iv met Tom Brady I've waited on Scorsese, I was friends with princess amadalla, but she is my kryptonite. What a songwriter, what a singer. Thanks Patty.