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
Silver Bell
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silver bell
Yeah that's the name of the old motel
You were traveling when they fell
Down on a bed at the silver bell
How you been
I'm doing well
I hear you're digging a hole to hell
I'm doing well
Meet me tonight at the silver bell
I hate to tell you baby,
This is home
The wallpaper is
A color called sea foam
Pull down the shades a little and you've
Got yourself a prison cell
Every night the wicked wait tonight
Baby at the silver bell
Silver bell
Yeah that's the name of the old motel
I did a stupid thing
I even tried
Feels like a hundred bees are
Stinging me from the inside
Don't know just what to do
Don't know just who to tell
So I'm telling you to meet me
Tonight down at the silver bell
Silver bell
Yeah that's the name of the old hotel
I hate to tell you baby,
This is home
The wallpaper is
A color called sea foam
Pull down the shades a little and you've
Got yourself a prison cell
Every night the wicked wait
Down at the silver bell
The lyrics to Patty Griffin's song "Silver Bell" tell the story of two people who are reuniting after some time apart. "Silver Bell" refers to an old motel, and throughout the song, we hear the characters speak to each other about their current lives. The first verse describes one of the characters traveling and staying at the Silver Bell motel when something happened, but it is unclear exactly what happened. The second verse finds one character digging a hole to hell, while the other expresses that they are doing well, and invites the other to meet them at the motel.
The repetitive reference to the motel as "home" is interesting, given that it is typically viewed as a temporary space. The color of the wallpaper being called sea foam and the suggestion that even with the shades pulled down, it is still a prison cell adds a sense of despair to the setting. The final line, "every night the wicked wait down at the silver bell" adds to this feeling of unease, making it unclear if the place is actually safe. The singer goes on to reveal that they did a "stupid thing" that made them feel like "a hundred bees are stinging" them, but they don't know who to tell. It is clear that the other person is a safe space where they can share their troubles.
Overall, "Silver Bell" is a song about finding comfort in someone who knows you well, even if your surroundings are not ideal. The reference to "every night the wicked wait" leaves the listener with a sense of danger and foreboding, yet the reassurance of the singer that they are doing well suggests a glimmer of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Silver bell
The name of an old motel
Silver bell
The name of an old motel
Yeah that's the name of the old motel
Confirming that the name of the motel is Silver Bell
You were traveling when they fell
The person was staying at Silver Bell motel when something happened
Down on a bed at the silver bell
Lying down on a bed at the Silver Bell motel
How you been
A greeting question asking how the person has been doing lately
I'm doing well
Positive response indicating that the person is doing fine
I hear you're digging a hole to hell
A humorous statement about something the person is doing
Meet me tonight at the silver bell
Making plans to meet at the Silver Bell motel that evening
I hate to tell you baby,
A regretful start to a message for the person
This is home
An acknowledgement that the Silver Bell motel is familiar and feels like home
The wallpaper is A color called sea foam
Describing the decor of the motel room
Pull down the shades a little and you've Got yourself a prison cell
A comparison between the motel room and a prison cell
Every night the wicked wait tonight Baby at the silver bell
An eerie statement about the atmosphere at the Silver Bell motel
I did a stupid thing
Admitting to making a mistake
I even tried
An attempt to do something
Feels like a hundred bees are Stinging me from the inside
Describing an internal feeling of discomfort
Don't know just what to do
Feeling lost or unsure of what to do next
Don't know just who to tell
Not knowing who to confide in or ask for help
So I'm telling you to meet me Tonight down at the silver bell
Requesting to meet the person at the Silver Bell motel that evening
Silver bell
The name of an old hotel
Yeah that's the name of the old hotel
Repeating that the name of the place they are meeting is Silver Bell motel
Every night the wicked wait Down at the silver bell
Reiterating that there is an eerie feel to the Silver Bell motel at night
Lyrics © Almo Music
Written by: ADAM STEINBERG, PATRICIA GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind