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
Truth #2
Patty Griffin Lyrics
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Coming from my mouth
You say that I like the proof
Baby that might be so
I might get to the end of my life
Find out everyone was lying
Look like you are not afraid anymore
I say that I would rather die trying
Oh swing me way down south
Sing me something brave from your mouth
And I`ll bring you pearls of water on my hips
And the love in my lips
All the love in my lips
This time when I swung the bat
And I found myself laying flat
I wondered
What a way to spend a dime
What a way to use the time
ain't it baby?
Now I looked at our reflections
In the window walking past
And I saw strangers
I think we`re just so scared all the time
That`s the main reason why
The world is so dangerous
Oh swing me way down south
Sing me something brave from your mouth
And I`ll bring you pearls of water on my hips
And the love in my lips
All the love in my lips
You don`t like the sound of the truth
Coming from my mouth
You say that I like the proof
Baby that might be so
Tell what`s wrong with having a little faith
In what you`re feelin' in your heart
Why must we be so afraid
And always so far apart
In Patty Griffin's song "Truth #2", the singer addresses someone who doesn't like the truth that's coming from her mouth. The listener accuses her of enjoying proof, but the singer insists she would rather die trying than to become complacent in a world full of lies. The chorus brings in Southern swing influences as the singer asks her lover to sing her something brave from his mouth while she offers "pearls of water" and "love in my lips".
The second verse begins with the singer referencing a moment when she found herself lying flat after swinging the bat - an incident that prompts her to ask what a waste of time it was. As she and her lover walk by a window with their reflections, she realizes how much of strangers they've become because of their constant fear, which leaves them so far apart from each other. The second chorus follows as she repeats her earlier request of the lover to sing something brave.
The song speaks of the importance of honesty and how fear can mask the truth. The singer encourages bravery and faith in one's heart, even if it means risking heartbreak or disappointment. The motif of water - which can both cleanse and drown - can be interpreted as a symbol for the conflicting emotions in a relationship, and the "love in my lips" reinforces the idea of authentic communication and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
You don`t like the sound of the truth
The singer's honesty is unpleasant for the listener's ears.
Coming from my mouth
The truth is spoken by the singer, which is causing discomfort to the listener.
You say that I like the proof
The listener accuses the singer of enjoying proving the truth.
Baby that might be so
The artist concedes that the listener's accusation might be true.
I might get to the end of my life
The artist contemplates the end of their life.
Find out everyone was lying
The singer expresses the possibility of discovering that everyone was deceitful at the end of their life.
Look like you are not afraid anymore
The singer observes a change in the listener's demeanor, implying that they are no longer frightened.
I say that I would rather die trying
The artist asserts that they would prefer to risk and fail than never try at all.
Oh swing me way down south
The artist seeks comfort in the listener's words and pleas for support.
Sing me something brave from your mouth
The artist asks the listener to encourage her with brave words.
And I`ll bring you pearls of water on my hips
The singer offers to reciprocate emotional support and bring the listener emotional nourishment.
And the love in my lips
The artist implies that her love is genuine and is communicated through her words.
All the love in my lips
The singer concludes the stanza with reinforced emphasis on the authenticity of her love.
This time when I swung the bat
The singer uses a metaphor of failing to hit something in baseball to describe an unsuccessful venture in life.
And I found myself laying flat
The singer encountered failure in this attempt.
I wondered
The artist expresses a moment of pondering or self-questioning.
What a way to spend a dime
The artist questions whether wasting time in this manner was a wise use of resources.
What a way to use the time
The singer reflects on the poor decisions they made regarding how they spent their time.
ain`t it baby?
The singer invites the listener to agree with her and her criticism of one's own inadequate ways.
Now I looked at our reflections
The artist shifts to reflect on a moment with the listener where they saw their reflections.
In the window walking past
The artist clarifies that the reflections were in a window while walking past it.
And I saw strangers
The artist felt that the pair of them were becoming a pair of strangers due to their individual life experiences.
I think we`re just so scared all the time
The singer suggests that fear is the overwhelming source of our tendency for estrangement.
That`s the main reason why
The artist asserts that fear is key to why the world is so dangerous.
The world is so dangerous
The stanza concludes with a commentary on the danger in the world.
Tell what`s wrong with having a little faith
The singer challenges the factors that prevent people from having faith.
In what you`re feelin` in your heart
The singer invites people to believe in their hearts and emotions.
Why must we be so afraid
The artist questions the reason why fear has to rule our lives.
And always so far apart
The artist lamentsthe human tendency to distance ourselves from others due to fear.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRIFFIN, PATRICIA J.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind