Patty Griffin is one of the most respected and lauded singer-songwriters in contemporary folk music. Her songs have been recorded and covered by artists across the musical spectrum, from Dixie Chicks to Kelly Clarkson, and beyond. Learn more about some of Patty Griffin's best songs with this quick list.
photo: Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesPatty Griffin wrote this song, inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr's "I've Been to the Mountain" speech. It's been covered by numerous people, but hearing Griffin herself sing it feels like a gift. As did Dr. King's speech, the lyrics of this song talk about carrying on despite any of life's hardships or struggles, seeking greater truths, and striving for peace.
This is another splendid heartbreak song from Patty Griffin, about how everything seems to feel so wrong in the face of a broken heart. She sings about holding on despite the pain of lost love, not knowing when to give up and walk away. It's a whole lot of sad and hard, but it's a beautiful and earnest heartbreak song.
As she's noted at concerts, Patty Griffin wrote this song for her dog. It's a tune about the ultimate joy of living. The lyrics sing about living in the moment and appreciating the beauty all around because tomorrow it may be gone.
This song is initially about feelings of desperation and hopelessness but becomes one of the most hopeful songs about survival and perseverance. Throughout the song, Griffin raises the question of how to face all the sadness and despair of life's darkest moments, concluding that perhaps it's enough to know that one day you'll smile again.
This song is a tremendously honest account of heartbreak and disappointment. The lyrics talk about a relationship gone so far awry that all that's left is one person waiting for the other to never show up. It's about as sad and lonely as they get and, next to maybe Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is one of the finest heartbreak songs around.
