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
Ruby's Arms
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wore when I was with you
All I need's my railroad boots
And my leather jacket
As I say goodbye to Ruby's arms
Although my heart is breaking
I will steal away out through your blinds
For soon you will be waking
The morning light has washed your face
And everything is turning blue now
Hold on to your pillow case
There's nothing I can do now
As I say goodbye to Ruby's arms
You'll find another soldier
And I swear to God by Christmas
There'll be someone else to hold you
The only thing I'm taking is
The scarf off of your clothesline
I'll hurry past your chest of drawers
And your broken wind chimes
As I say goodbye I'll say goodbye
Say goodbye to Ruby's arms
I'll feel my way down the darkened hall
And out into the morning
The hobos at the freight yards
Have kept their fires burning
Jesus Christ
This goddamn rain
Will someone put me on a train
I'll never kiss your lips again
Or break your heart
As I say goodbye I'll say goodbye
Say goodbye to Ruby's arms
Patty Griffin's song Ruby's Arms is a heart-wrenching breakup song that details the emotions of leaving everything behind and moving on. The song starts with the singer leaving everything behind, including their clothing, and only holding onto their railroad boots and leather jacket. The singer is saying goodbye to Ruby's arms as they know they have to leave. The singer is heartbroken, and with a heavy heart, will gently walk away from Ruby's house before she wakes up.
The second verse is where the singer admits to leaving with a heavy heart. Ruby has another soldier who will hold her and love her as he did, and the singer won't be around to see it. He admits he's only taking the scarf off the clothesline, and he quickly walks past the chest of drawers and the broken wind chimes. The last verse is the most heartbreaking, with the singer murmuring how he will never kiss Ruby's lips or break her heart again as he waves goodbye to her.
One of the interesting things about this song is that it was originally made by Tom Waits, but Patty Griffin made it her own. Griffin's interpretation of the song manages to capture the essence of heartbreak and the raw emotions attached to it.
Line by Line Meaning
I will leave behind all of my clothes
I am leaving everything that reminds me of you.
I wore when I was with you
including clothes that I wore when I was with you.
All I need's my railroad boots
I only need my railroad boots to leave.
And my leather jacket
and my leather jacket to keep me warm.
As I say goodbye to Ruby's arms
As I say farewell to our shared life together, our memories fade.
Although my heart is breaking
Although I am feeling intense pain and sadness at parting.
I will steal away out through your blinds
I will leave quietly without disturbing you.
For soon you will be waking
as you will wake up soon after I leave.
The morning light has washed your face
As dawn breaks and lights up your face.
And everything is turning blue now
the realization is finally dawning on me, so everything now feels dull and blue.
Hold on to your pillow case
Hold on to something familiar and comforting when my presence is no longer there.
There's nothing I can do now
Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to help anymore.
You'll find another soldier
You will find another person who can take my place in your life.
And I swear to God by Christmas
I promise that there will be someone else to hold you before Christmas.
There'll be someone else to hold you
Someone else will come along to comfort and hold you.
The only thing I'm taking is
The only thing I will take is the scarf from your clothesline.
The scarf off of your clothesline
The scarf with memories of you will be the only thing from our shared past that I will take.
I'll hurry past your chest of drawers
I will leave quickly and without hesitation past the dresser containing our memories.
And your broken wind chimes
And the broken wind chimes that still have meaning to me.
I'll feel my way down the darkened hall
I'll use my sense of touch to make my way out of the house.
And out into the morning
I will exit our shared life and into a new day without you.
The hobos at the freight yards
The poor wanderers at the railway station.
Have kept their fires burning
Have made a little life for themselves despite the hardship they face every day.
Jesus Christ
An expression of frustration or sadness.
This goddamn rain
The rain feels like an additional burden of despair.
Will someone put me on a train
I wish someone can take me away from this place on a train.
I'll never kiss your lips again
I'll never have the chance to feel your love again.
Or break your heart
And I do not want to be the one to hurt you again.
As I say goodbye I'll say goodbye
As I part with you, I'll say goodbye again.
Say goodbye to Ruby's arms
Say goodbye to our shared love or memories of our relationship, symbolized by Ruby's arms.
Contributed by Lincoln Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
reciclado gringo
will leave behind all of my clothes
I wore when I was with you
All I need's my railroad boots
And my leather jacket
As I say goodbye to Ruby's arms
Although my heart is breaking
I will steal away out through your
Blinds for soon you will be waking
The morning light has washed your face
And everything is turning blue now
Hold on to your pillow case
There's nothing I can do now
As I say goodbye to Ruby's arms
You'll find another soldier
And I swear to God by Christmas time
There'll be someone else to hold you
The only thing I'm taking is
The scarf off of your clothesline
I'll hurry past your chest of drawers
And your broken window chimes
As I say goodbye
I'll say goodbye
Say goodbye to Ruby's arms
I'll feel my way down the darken hall
And out into the morning
The hobos at the freight yards
Have kept their fires burning
So Jesus Christ this goddamn rain
Will someone put me on a train
I'll never kiss your lips again
Or break your heart
As I say goodbye
I'll say goodbye
Say goodbye to Ruby's arms
Richard Notman
Why has Tom Waits not been honored by The Kennedy Center? He is absolutely one if the greatest song writers of all time.
reciclado gringo
Patty nails this tune at its core. Tom I’m sure is honored to have someone interrupt it so raw. So much clarity and beautifully?
windel12002
Tom wrote some great songs....This is one of them and Patty really puts her soul into singing it. Thanks for posting this.
reciclado gringo
will leave behind all of my clothes
I wore when I was with you
All I need's my railroad boots
And my leather jacket
As I say goodbye to Ruby's arms
Although my heart is breaking
I will steal away out through your
Blinds for soon you will be waking
The morning light has washed your face
And everything is turning blue now
Hold on to your pillow case
There's nothing I can do now
As I say goodbye to Ruby's arms
You'll find another soldier
And I swear to God by Christmas time
There'll be someone else to hold you
The only thing I'm taking is
The scarf off of your clothesline
I'll hurry past your chest of drawers
And your broken window chimes
As I say goodbye
I'll say goodbye
Say goodbye to Ruby's arms
I'll feel my way down the darken hall
And out into the morning
The hobos at the freight yards
Have kept their fires burning
So Jesus Christ this goddamn rain
Will someone put me on a train
I'll never kiss your lips again
Or break your heart
As I say goodbye
I'll say goodbye
Say goodbye to Ruby's arms
Meaty O'Creaty
This is an incredible cover of a beautiful song.
you can have it i guess
i've been listening to patty cover this song since i was a kid in school. this version is truly cinematic
CP Philly
Stunning.
GloryIsNoiseTV
Nailed it.
柳原行雄
最高です
John Pepe
Thank You Patty Griffin.......