Her songwriting has been praised for its wit, and her technical guitar playing has also received praise (which she made light fun of in her feminist song, Not Bad for a Broad).
In 1990, she joined Christine Lavin, Megan McDonough, and Sally Fingerett to form the Four Bitchin' Babes, with whom she toured and recorded one album.
In 2005, Larkin produced La Guitara, a compilation of songs performed by female guitarists designed to answer the question, "Why are there no great female guitar players?" with the answer being that "There are–and here they are."
Beg To Differ
Patty Larkin Lyrics
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New York is far away from here
And you can see it in the rain
And you can see it in the cheap suits and the ties
It's just a fallen away frontier
It's just a fallen away frontier
And they are fencing it with fast food chains
And you say everybody's marching to the same beat
Marching to the same beat of the drum
Everybody's thinking of the same thing
But I will, I will, I will beg to differ with you
New York is far away from here
New York is far away from here
And you can see it in the coffee shops
And catch it from the corner of your eye
It's just a layer of thin veneer
It's just a layer of thin veneer
Then it stretches like a parking lot
That's swept up in a string of satellites
And you say everybody's marching to the same beat
Marching to the same beat of the drum
Everybody's thinking of the same thing
But I will, I will, I will beg to differ with you
Full-moon rising up in the air tonight
Freight train coming through to catch a ride down one [?]
Think about my love, oh my sweater a little tighten up
The [?] at distance and I feel little better, you see
You say everybody's marching to the same beat
Marching to the same beat of the drum
Everybody's thinking of the same thing
But I will, I will, I will beg to differ with you
New York is far away from here
New York is far away from here
And you can see it in the setting sun
See it just before you say goodbye
It's just a landscape of souvenirs
It's just a landscape of souvenirs
And I'm embarrassed to be human
I'm embarrassed that I want what I despise
You say everybody's marching to the same beat, yeah
Marching to the same beat of the drum
Everybody's thinking of the same thing
But I will, I will, I will beg to differ with you
In "Beg to Differ," Patty Larkin paints a bleak picture of urban growth, particularly in New York. She begins by acknowledging the physical distance between the singer and the city. However, she notes that its presence can still be felt in the rain, cheap suits and ties, and the proliferation of fast food chains and buildings. Larkin critiques the homogenization of society with her refrain "everybody's marching to the same beat, but I will beg to differ with you."
As the song progresses, Larkin continues to speak out against the superficial veneer of city life. She describes New York as a "layer of thin veneer" that stretches like a parking lot and can be seen in coffee shops and the corner of one's eye. Larkin argues that it is nothing more than a landscape of souvenirs, and she is embarrassed to be a human who desires and despises that same landscape.
The chorus remains the same throughout the song, emphasizing Larkin's desire to be different, to beg to differ. She highlights the monotony of life and how everyone seems to be following the same path. However, Larkin's resistance to conformity is palpable in the music as well. The song has an upbeat tempo, creating a sense of defiance and rebellion beyond just the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
New York is far away from here
The physical distance from New York is apparent, even in the rain, and can be observed through people's fashion choices.
It's just a fallen away frontier
New York is a once-great city that has lost its former glory and identity, replaced by generic fast food chains and hasty construction projects.
And you say everybody's marching to the same beat
There is a prevailing sense of conformity and uniformity in society, where everyone thinks and acts alike.
But I will, I will, I will beg to differ with you
The singer recognizes this social conformity, but refuses to conform and instead chooses to be different.
And you can see it in the coffee shops
Even in the trendy coffee shops, there is a palpable sense of distance from New York.
It's just a layer of thin veneer
New York is only pretending to be something it is not - a thin layer of surface-level decoration is disguising the truth.
Then it stretches like a parking lot
The deception and illusion of New York spreads out like a vast parking lot.
Full-moon rising up in the air tonight
The full moon in the sky creates a sense of mystery and wonder.
Freight train coming through to catch a ride down one
A freight train passing through creates a sense of urgency and anticipation.
Think about my love, oh my sweater a little tighten up
The singer thinks of her loved ones and feels a sense of comfort and safety.
The [?] at distance and I feel little better, you see
The distance from New York makes the singer feel more at ease and peaceful.
And you can see it in the setting sun
Even in the setting sun, the distance from New York is apparent and tangible.
It's just a landscape of souvenirs
The city has been reduced to a collection of meaningless and ephemeral souvenirs.
And I'm embarrassed to be human
The singer is ashamed at the state of humanity and society.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PATTY LARKIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind