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
Sooner Or Later
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You really need to fall
You think you wanna die
You need to cry alone (?)
You don't feel anything
No sorrow no danger nothing
Someone was asking you
Where do you wanna go
You didn't seem to know
You never ask for much
Just wanna feel the touch and the chill
Sooner or later, Sooner or later you will
Sooner or later, Sooner or later you will
Sooner or later, Sooner or later you will
The snow is coming down
Outside the motel walls
You feel a little chill
You need to cry is all (?)
The night is moving slow
And you're just so tired, I know
So be still
Baby be still
Oh yeah
Sooner or later, Sooner or later you will
Sooner or later, Sooner or later you will
In Patty Griffin's song "Sooner or Later," the lyrics speak to the experience of being lost in the midst of life's crossroads. The song begins with the idea that sometimes when you feel like you're flying high, you eventually will fall. The lines "you think you wanna die, you need to cry alone" speak to the feeling of isolation that comes with not knowing where you're going or what you're doing in life. The next lines, "you don't feel anything, no sorrow, no danger nothing" suggest numbness, a complete lack of emotion that often comes with feeling overwhelmed.
As the song continues, the singer portrays the experience of someone who is so lost that she doesn't even know where she wants to go. When asked, "where do you wanna go?" she doesn't seem to care or know, which emphasizes the complete lack of direction. The final lines of the chorus, "sooner or later, sooner or later you will" repeats the idea that eventually she will find her way, hopefully by becoming in tune with herself and eventually figuring out the path she wants to take.
In the second verse, the lyrics describe a desolate motel room, which emphasizes the feeling of being alone and lost. The line "you feel a little chill, you need to cry is all" once again expresses the overwhelming sadness that the singer has been feeling. Then, as the song comes to a close, the line "baby be still" feels like a comforting reminder to take a moment to breathe and take things in before figuring out what to do next.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes you fly so high
Sometimes you succeed so much, you feel invincible
You really need to fall
You eventually will have to experience failure to grow
You think you wanna die
You may feel overwhelmed and helpless
You need to cry alone (?)
You may need to process and deal with difficult emotions on your own
You don't feel anything
You may feel numb or disconnected from your emotions
No sorrow no danger nothing
You may struggle to feel any emotions, positive or negative
Someone was asking you
Someone was inquiring about your future plans or desires
Where do you wanna go
They were specifically asking about your goals and aspirations
You didn't seem to care
You may lack motivation or direction in your life
You didn't seem to know
You may feel lost or uncertain about your future path
You never ask for much
You tend to have modest desires and requests
Just wanna feel the touch and the chill
You simply crave physical and emotional sensations, even if they are intense or uncomfortable
Sooner or later, Sooner or later you will
Eventually, you will face the consequences of your actions, whether positive or negative
The snow is coming down
It is currently snowing outside
Outside the motel walls
The singer is currently staying at a motel
You feel a little chill
The artist is experiencing a physical sensation of coldness
You need to cry is all (?)
The artist is feeling emotional and needs to release those emotions through crying
The night is moving slow
Time seems to be passing at a sluggish pace
And you're just so tired, I know
The singer acknowledges the listener's fatigue and exhaustion
So be still
The artist encourages the listener to be calm and at peace
Baby be still
The artist adds a term of endearment to further comfort the listener
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANGELO T. PETRAGLIA, PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind