Top 10 Songs by Patty Griffin

Patty Griffin is a Texas signer/songwriter signed to independent label ATO. Her unique style makes her hard to categorize. Her 1996 album, Living with Ghosts, leans toward folk-country with acoustic guitars and soft vocals with a touch of roughness around the edges. Her following album- Flaming Red- was drastically different, using electronic guitars, heavy drumming, and loud, demanding vocals. Since then, 1000 Kisses, A Kiss In Time, and Impossible Dream have been rooted in Texas-style country. But don’t be mistaken. Her songwriting skills take the meaning of “country music” to a new level. Don’t expect to hear about pick-up trucks, blue jeans, and whiskey. Many of her songs express profound emotions -she seems to tell us being true to yourself comes at a high price. If you aren’t moved to tears by the time you play through this list of Griffin’s best music, then you just have a stone cold heart.

10 Living with Ghosts- No surprises here- this song is like many of the others on her albums and on this list. Describing a hard break up, the song, which gets its title from the line ” I still don’t blame you for leaving, baby its cold living with ghosts,” features raw, powerful vocals and acoustic guitar.

9 Flaming Red- This song is a rare gem in the Griffin collection of music. Rock n roll to the core, Flamin Red is one of the few feel good songs you’ll hear from all x albums. Ladies, if you don’t have a pair of red shoes now, you will after you hear this song. And you will find yourself strutting in the street, empowered, humming this tune,

8 Mother of God-Expounds on deep-rooted religious habits borne from childhood and the comfort she seems find in returning to old habits of prayer.

7 Tony- Griffin weaves the tale of the unhappy life and tragic suicide of a fellow student, Tony, who killed himself because he couldn’t face being overweight, nerdy and gay in a small town at a small school.

6 Lorraine- A heart-wrenching story, this song journeys though the life of “Sweet Lorraine” who struggles against her abusive parents to find herself. Your stomach will churn at – “Her daddy called her a slut and a whore on the night before her wedding day. The very next morning at the church her daddy gave Lorraine away.”

5 Let him fly- Country music fans will recognize this song from the Dixie Chicks’ album Fly. As it turns out, the Chicks happen to be one of Griffin’s biggest fans, and they’ve covered several of her songs. The group is talented, but this version is much more touching and heartfelt. The lyrics “Took awhile to understand the beauty of just letting go/ ‘Cause it would take an acrobat/ I already tried all that/ I’m gonna let him fly” describes the pain and freedom of letting go of someone you care about.

4 Useless Desires- If you’ve ever left behind a hometown and a family that just wasn’t quite ready for you, you will relate to this song.

3 Mil Besos- The title is Spanish for 1,000 kisses, and, just like the title, the whole song is in Spanish. I don’t know one word of the Spanish language but the beautiful melody and ethnic undertones make it sensual; it makes for a perfect slow dance song at a wedding.

2 Long ride- Death puts life in perspective, and in Long Ride, Griffin struggles to come to terms with the loss of a family member who she was apparently not on good terms with. You will cry at- ” I said goodbye to you and I threw my roses down. Ain’t nothin’ left at all, in the end of bein’ proud/ with me ridin’ in this car and you flyin’ through them clouds.” If you are caught in the middle of a family feud, this song will make you want to forgive and harden your heart all at once.

1 Rain- Recently featured on Fox’s prime time TV show Bones, Rain renders listeners overwhelmed, desperate and hopeless. It’s the classic break up story- Griffin isn’t ready to let go, grieves the loss, and asks for one more night for “another chance to live-” but so much more powerful than any other sad love song, period.