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
Railroad Wings
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the way to everything
Railroad wings
There's things you don't know you know
I thought anger told me what to do
With emptiness chasing me
On the border, I found you
Railroad wings
This emptiness has followed me like a cold blue sky
And it has not been easy for you
There's things I'll never tell you till the day I die
Things I've done I can never undo
Hiding everything
Railroad wings
All these years along, the lights are growing dim
I hear you sing your song in the next room
And as far as I can tell, most everything means nothing
Except some things that mean everything
Railroad wings
In Patty Griffin's song "Railroad Wings," the singer is talking to her loved one about her journey and revelation while traveling on a silver train to Maine. She describes the uncertainty and pain she's been going through, with emptiness following her everywhere like a cold blue sky. She even hints at the possibility of being angry at some point in her life, but that state of mind can't help her in dealing with the void she's been experiencing. Then, on the border, she found her loved one, who happened to be a singer, and hearing her sing brought a sense of peace and hope into her life. She recognizes that this person means the world to her, just like railroad wings that signify a journey to an unknown but hopeful destination.
While the song's opening verses describe a journey towards hope, the later lines indicate that the journey isn't over yet. The singer confesses that she has done things in the past that she can never undo and can never disclose entirely. She's been hiding them deep within herself, possibly because she's ashamed or afraid of losing her loved one. The chorus of the song describes railroad wings as the only thing that seems to make sense, maybe because they represent an unknown but hopeful destination. The song's final line encapsulates a subtle sense of hope within this longer exploration of sadness, desperation, and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
You took a silver train all the way to Maine
You embarked on a long journey towards change, a journey that took you to Maine. It was a crucial step towards finding yourself and your purpose.
On the way to everything
During that journey, you were not just heading towards a destination but also towards everything that life had to offer, including self-discovery and inner peace.
Railroad wings
The silver train and its tracks represent the guiding light and path that you followed towards your personal transformation.
There's things you don't know you know
Sometimes, we are unaware of the knowledge that we possess, especially the kind of knowledge that comes from within and guides us towards our destiny.
I thought anger told me what to do
In the midst of chaos and confusion, it is easy to fall prey to negative emotions like anger that cloud our judgement and make us lose sight of our goals.
With emptiness chasing me
Emptiness or a sense of unfulfillment can be a powerful driving force that propels us towards making a change in our lives.
On the border, I found you
At the brink of my journey, I discovered you, someone who was going to play a vital role in my life and shape my future.
You should've heard her sing
The person I found had a powerful and soulful voice that inspired me and gave me hope in times of darkness and despair.
This emptiness has followed me like a cold blue sky
The emptiness that I felt was pervasive, unshakable and daunting, it was like the cold, blue and vast sky that is hard to escape.
And it has not been easy for you
My journey was not only difficult for me but also for you, the person who was by my side through thick and thin, supporting me every step of the way.
There's things I'll never tell you till the day I die
There are some things that I have kept hidden within my heart and will remain untold for the rest of my life, but they have shaped my journey and who I am today.
Things I've done I can never undo
I have made mistakes and taken actions that cannot be undone, but they have taught me valuable lessons and paved the way towards my transformation.
Hiding everything
I kept my fears, doubts, and insecurities hidden within me, but the person I found saw through the facade and gave me the strength to confront them.
All these years along, the lights are growing dim
As the years go by, the brightness and excitement of the earlier days are slowly replaced by a sense of calmness and stability.
I hear you sing your song in the next room
Even though we have been together for a long time, hearing you sing your song brings back the memories of the early days, reminding me of our journey and how far we have come.
And as far as I can tell, most everything means nothing
In the grand scheme of things, most of what we do and have is insignificant, but there are some things that are truly important and meaningful, such as love, kindness, and compassion.
Except some things that mean everything
Although most things hold little value, there are some that are invaluable and are the pillars of our lives and what we hold dear.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind