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
Time Will Do The Talking
Patty Griffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hated being your fool
So I got a little bit more mud on my face
But the years will bring a bigger scheme of things
And make a pretty memory out of my disgrace
I don't believe there is such a thing as saying too much
There are those who like to look and
Those who ain't afraid to touch
Oh baby don't you know that the
Time will do the talking
Years will do the walking
I'll just find a comfy spot and wait it out
Time will do the talking
Years will do the walking
Time will tell you baby what you can't hear now
Well we dig our heels in
And wonder who's gonna win
Who is gonna win it or wear it out
I change the lock on the door
Or learn how to take a little more
I can outrun all of the devils there
But never the doubt
Try not to throw all your money into 20/20 vision
For the world won't wait on politics or indecision
Oh baby don't you know that the
Time will do the talking
Years will do the walking
I'll just find a comfy spot and wait it out
Time will do the talking
Years will do the walking
Time will tell you baby what you can't hear now
Can you hear the voice inside you
It calls you back to where you belong
Can you see the one beside you
Who's been standin' there all along
Baby, well you were so cruel
I hated being your fool
So I got a little bit more
Mud on my face
But the years will bring
The bigger scheme of things
And make a pretty memory out of my disgrace
The time will do the talking
Years will do the walking
I'll just find a comfy spot and wait it out
Time will do the talking
Years will do the walking
Time will tell you baby what you can't hear now
Time will tell you baby what you can't hear now
Time will tell you baby what you can't hear now
In “Time Will Do The Talking,” Patty Griffin is reflecting on a past relationship that ended badly. She acknowledges that she hated being the person's fool and had to endure some humiliation because of it. However, she believes that time and the years to come will smooth out the rough edges and allow her to look back on this experience with a clearer mind. She also recognizes that there are two types of people in this world - those who like to observe and those who are action-driven, and that she falls somewhere in the middle.
Throughout the song, Patty Griffin is reminding herself that the only thing that can heal wounds is time. She understands that change is inevitable, and as humans, we must learn to adapt and grow with it. There is a sense of acceptance in her lyrics, as if to say that she has made peace with her past and is ready to move forward.
The chorus is a reminder that while things may seem uncertain or unclear now, time will eventually reveal the truth. The years will eventually tell the story of what happened and shed light on things that may have been hidden or overlooked.
Line by Line Meaning
You were so cruel
The actions of the person addressed in the song were unpleasant and rude
I hated being your fool
The person addressed in the song felt embarrassed and ashamed due to the unkind behavior they received from the other person
So I got a little bit more mud on my face
In an attempt to deal with the hurt caused by the other person, the person addressed in the song became more involved in negative situations
But the years will bring a bigger scheme of things
Over time, life will reveal a larger purpose and plan that puts the current situation in perspective
And make a pretty memory out of my disgrace
Although the person addressed in the song feels ashamed now, the passage of time will help them to look back on the situation more fondly
I don't believe there is such a thing as saying too much
The person addressed in the song feels that honesty and openness are important in communication
There are those who like to look and
Some people prefer to observe from a distance without getting involved
Those who ain't afraid to touch
Others are more comfortable with getting up close and personally involved in situations
Oh baby don't you know that the
The singer is addressing the person they were previously talking about
Time will do the talking
The passage of time will reveal the truth about a situation
Years will do the walking
Over time, things will change and relationships may naturally end
I'll just find a comfy spot and wait it out
The singer will take a relaxed and patient approach to waiting for these changes to occur
Well we dig our heels in
People try to maintain their position in a situation
And wonder who's gonna win
People speculate about who will end up being victorious in a given situation
Who is gonna win it or wear it out
People question if they themselves or the situation will be the ultimate victor
I change the lock on the door
As a reaction to difficulties, actions can be taken to protect oneself
Or learn how to take a little more
Alternatively, people can learn to tolerate the negative situations they must face
I can outrun all of the devils there
The singer feels they have inner strength to overcome difficulties
But never the doubt
Doubt can be difficult to escape, even in the face of courage and bravery
Try not to throw all your money into 20/20 vision
People should avoid overspending or making decisions impulsively, without considering the future implications
For the world won't wait on politics or indecision
Life goes on, regardless of what someone thinks they should do or how they feel
Can you hear the voice inside you
The song reminds the listener to listen to their own inner voice and intuition
It calls you back to where you belong
Following one's intuition can lead them to the right path in life
Can you see the one beside you
The song reminds the listener to be aware of the people around them
Who's been standin' there all along
The people closest to us often offer the most support and guidance
Time will tell you baby what you can't hear now
The passage of time will bring clarity and understanding to current struggles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICIA J. GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind