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
So Long
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hang them small and pretty on the vine
Tear em' by the roots from the walls where they climb
For all time
Take the last of my money
Search the corners of my pockets for the change
Take my best
Take my worst
Take the curse
Take my name
Let the stars in the sky
Fall by and by
To the sea
Let the water rise up
Let the sun fall down on me
'Cause you only stand up for so long
Stand up for so long so long that you're gone
So long
Everything I have I borrowed
I've worn this dress like my own
Shined my shoes every Sunday as a child
And now I'm grown
So take the rings from my fingers
Take from my neck a silver chain
Take my future
Take my past
When that sweet day is my last
Take my pain
Take my pain
Let the stars in the sky
Fall by and by
To the sea
Let the water rise up
Let the sun fall down on me
'Cause you only stand up for so long
Stand up for so long
So long that you're gone
So long
Take the last of these pictures
Take the nails from all the walls and all the frames
Take these memories from my mind
Flickering like candle flames
The lyrics of Patty Griffin’s song So Long speak of letting go of everything we hold dear in life because eventually, we will have to depart from this world. The opening lines encourage one to take the last roses, hang them small and pretty on the vine but to tear them by the roots from the walls where they climb, for all time. The imagery of taking the last of these roses and tearing them from the walls beautifully showcases the idea of how everything must come to an end, no matter how lovely or precious it is. The subsequent lines carry on with the theme of letting go, with the singer asking to take the last of her money, the rings from her fingers, a silver chain from her neck, and even her name.
The lines “Let the stars in the sky fall by and by to the sea. Let the water rise up, let the sun fall down on me” highlights the cyclicity of life and how everything will eventually come to an end. The singer has already given away every material possession, and now she wants the natural elements to do the same; to make her see that all that matters in life is the time one has lived and the memories one has made. The chorus of the song repeats the idea that we can only stand up for so long until we’re gone, which further exacerbates the idea that life is fleeting and everything is temporary.
Overall, Patty Griffin’s So Long is a song that encourages listeners to let go of everything in life because, in the end, everything is temporary. Whether it is material possessions, memories, or love, everything will eventually come to an end. The imagery in the song is brilliant, and the lyrics are thought-provoking, urging the listener to contemplate what truly matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the last of these roses
Remove the final flowers and display them beautifully as a tribute
Hang them small and pretty on the vine
Support them in a way that is both attractive and gentle
Tear 'em by the roots from the walls where they climb
Remove them from the sturdy barriers they have climbed confidently
For all time
Forever
Take the last of my money
Accept the final sum of currency in my possession
Search the corners of my pockets for the change
Look thoroughly for the loose coins and currency in the depths of my pockets
Take my best
Take what I value most
Take my worst
Take what I'd rather discard
Take the blessings
Take away the good things that are in my life
Take the curse
Remove the bad things that plague my life
Take my name
Take away the identity that distinguishes me as me
Let the stars in the skyFall by and byTo the sea
Allow the celestial bodies to fall into the waters gradually
Let the water rise upLet the sun fall down on me
Allow the water to swallow me and the sun to fade away
'Cause you only stand up for so long
Because people cannot endure everything
Stand up for so long so long that you're goneSo long
Eventually, it's time to say goodbye
Everything I have I borrowed
I possess nothing I created myself
I've worn this dress like my own
I wore this gown like it belonged to me
Shined my shoes every Sunday as a child
As a child, I polished my shoes every Sunday
And now I'm grown
Now, I am an adult
So take the rings from my fingers
Remove the rings I wear on my fingers
Take from my neck a silver chain
Remove the silver chain around my neck
Take my future
Take my future prospects
Take my past
Take my history
When that sweet day is my lastTake my painTake my pain
At the end of my life, take away my pain
Let the stars in the skyFall by and byTo the sea
Allow the celestial bodies to fall into the waters gradually
Let the water rise upLet the sun fall down on me
Allow the water to swallow me and the sun to fade away
'Cause you only stand up for so longStand up for so longSo long that you're goneSo long
Eventually, everything ends
Take the last of these pictures
Take the final photographs
Take the nails from all the walls and all the frames
Remove the nails from every frame and every wall
Take these memories from my mindFlickering like candle flames
Remove the memories that are as fleeting as candle flames from my mind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind