Top 10 Patty Griffin Songs

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Born on March 16, 1964, in Old Towne, Maine, Patty Griffin earned her fame as a singer-songwriter known for her stripped-down folk music. She was raised as the youngest of seven siblings, near the Penobscot Native American Reservation. When she was sixteen years old, she bought herself a guitar to feed her hobby of singing and playing music. She had no intention of embarking on a musical career at that time. It wouldn’t be until she was thirty years old, after ending a six-year marriage, that she’d begin to play in coffee houses in Boston, Massachusetts.

It was during this time that she was discovered by A&M Records. Through this label, she debuted on May 21, 1996, with her first studio album, Living with Ghosts. In 1998, it was followed by Flamingo Red, an album featuring a mix of mellow songs and high-tempo rock tunes. It wouldn’t be until 2013 that she’d record her third studio album, Silver Bell. After this, her contract with A&M Records ended. The album remained unreleased at that time.

Moving On

After A&M Records, she signed with ATO Records. Patty Griffin re-recorded her songs from Silver Bell, including “Making Pies,” “Mother of God,” Standing,” and “Top of the World.” Copies of the unreleased Silver Bell album were leaked and bootlegged before its official release in October 2013. After this, four additional albums were recorded and released, starting with 1000 Kisses in 2002, A Kiss in Time in 2003, Impossible Dream in 2004, and Children Running Through in 2007. Among these albums, Children Running Through was an album Griffin referred to as work that featured the kind of music she wanted to perform. As it turned out, the Americana Music Association agreed with this formula, recognizing it as the Best Album. She also won Artist of the Year.

As a singer, Patty Griffin was in high demand, performing a series of duets with other recording artists. In 2008, it was with Joshua Radin for “You Got Growing Up to Do.” She collaborated with Dierks Bentley on “Beautiful World” in 2009. That same year, she recorded with Mavis Staples and the Tri-City Singers for a version of “Waiting for My Child to Come Home.” After collaborating with Staples, it was suggested to Griffin to make a gospel album. In 2010, she recorded and released Downtown Church. In 2011, it won a Best Traditional Gospel Album Grammy Award. It was also in 2010 that Patty Griffin embarked on a four-year romantic relationship with Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant.

Breast Cancer

During the summer of 2016, Patty Griffin noticed something was physically wrong with her. In October, she learned she had breast cancer. Upon this discovery, she canceled her remaining tour dates. Although she and Robert Plant were no longer a couple at that time, they still had a strong enough friendship that he took her place as a performer. It was during Emmylou Harris’ refugee relief tour that this happened. Griffin returned to her home in Austin, Texas, to take on this life-threatening battle.

Patty Griffin Legacy

She later won a Grammy Award again in 2019, this time for Best Folk Album for Patty Griffin. In total, she has eleven studio albums to her credit, along with three live albums. Not only has Patty Griffin earned a name for herself as a singer, but also as a songwriter. Several recording artists have benefited from her handiwork, cashing in on songs she personally wrote and recorded. In addition to singing, songwriting, and playing music, she has appeared in several movies, usually as a performer, throughout her music career. Much of her music has also been featured in an impressive array of productions on both the big and small screens.

Top 10 Patty Griffin Songs

#10 – Not Alone

From Patty Griffin’s debut album, “Not Alone” was featured in the final scene and the ending credits of the movie Niagara, Niagara. It was also used at the end of a Crossing Jordan episode that was broadcast on October 29, 2001. In 2009, it was part of the soundtrack belonging to the television series Without a Trace. It was again used on NCIS on January 15, 2013. “Not Alone,” despite not making a chart impression, was a beautiful mix of acoustic eeriness that deservedly crept its way in as a fan favorite.

# 9 – Hourglass

“Hourglass” was a song that mixed the worlds of blues and jazz, with a gypsy-like charm. It was a remarkable song of reflection, as Patty Griffin drew on her experience as a breast cancer survivor to bring out the best musical side of herself in a song that’s worth sitting down and listening to. Take it all in and let the hours feel like they’ve come to a standstill.

# 8 – Wherever You Wanna Go

In 2013, Patty Griffin released American Kid, along with the song “Wherever You Wanna Go.” The songs from the album came as an inspiration to her after dealing with the death of her father. The heartbreak of losing that loved one came through in this song, along with the message of hope that came with it. When it comes to dealing with grief that ends with a hint of promise, “Wherever You Wanna Go” is it.

#7 – Truth

Originally recorded on Silver Bell in 2013, “Truth” became a song the Dixie Chicks made famous. It wasn’t the first time the country stars have covered the songwriting genius of Patty Griffin. The album itself took time to release due to issues that developed with A&M Records but it finally made it through for the listening enjoyment of fans, as well as recording artists, who found “Truth” and Silver Bell nothing short of fantastic. Upbeat and catchy, it’s hard not to get caught up in its brand of “Truth” for its message and entertainment value.

# 6 – Heavenly Day

On the US Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart, “Heavenly Day” became Patty Griffin’s number 17 hit in 2007. It came from her award-winning album, Children Running Through. According to music critics, “Heavenly Day” was a song that let Griffin’s voice shine, showcasing the amazing talent she possesses. The evocation of good times seemed gospel-like, appealing to scores of fans who agreed this is an all-time favorite.

“Heavenly Day” has repeatedly been featured in a series of commercials and episodes of different television programs, including Chevy’s Volt series, Smallville, and The Haunting of Hill House. For Griffin, the inspiration behind “Heavenly Day” actually came from her dog as she wrote this tune for it as a happy, feel-good number.

#5 – Rider of Days

From the 2015 album Servant of Love, “Rider of Days” features Patty Griffin’s incredible voice right after the guitars open up into a slow burn that’s worth listening to from start to finish. There’s a reason why Griffin’s songwriting skills have been considered top-notch and why so many artists have covered her work over the years. Like a proud victory lap around the track after finishing the race, “Rider of Days’ was a song of triumph without losing focus on what the race was about.

#4 – Beautiful World (featuring Dierks Bentley)

In 2010, “Beautiful World,” a duet by Dierks Bentley and Patty Griffin, earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. Although the win went to “I Told You So” by Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis, “Beautiful World” remained a major favorite among country music fans. Even though the song from his album, Feel the Fire, did not appear on any music charts, it earned critical acclaim and a favorable nod.

# 3 – River

“River” was Patty Griffin’s first recording after her battle with the breast cancer diagnosis she received in 2016. Released in 2019, along with her self-titled album, became one of the best vocal performances of her career. It played an instrumental role in winning Best Traditional Gospel Album in 2011 at the Grammy Awards. The beauty of “River” lay in the mix of cello and piano, an openhearted plea about working through the tumultuous experience of love and loss. As a survivor of breast cancer, the triumphant anthem of feminine strength came through loud and clear as Griffin was at her very best while her vocals laid out “River,” which was about a strong woman who fought the currents and emerged victorious.

#2 – Up to the Mountain

On an episode of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson sang the cover version of Patty Griffin’s 2007 original, “Up to the Mountain.” It also featured Jeff Beck playing guitar. This song, written by Patty Griffin, was also her highest-charting single as a songwriter. On the US Billboard Hot 100, this live performance peaked at number 56.

The song was immediately released after it aired on the show’s Idol Gives Back episode. Griffin’s original vocal performance of this song was on her 2007 album, Children Running Through, and was later featured on a fourth-season episode of the ABC sitcom Grey’s Anatomy. This song was about facing struggles and learning to do so honestly while striving for peace. “Up to the Mountain” was a tribute to Martin Luther King and what he stood for as a simple man who fought so valiantly for the God-given right to freedom.

#1 – Rain

Patty Griffin’s “Rain” was a 1996 masterpiece from her debut album, Living with Ghosts. The pain of lost love is felt in this song, along with the need not to give up hope despite it all. For a good song to trigger the tears to flow from the eyes like a river, “Rain” knows how to deliver. The music video for “Rain” was an animated masterpiece that’s bound to tug at the heartstrings. Holding on when it sometimes feels hopeless often feels like drowning. Griffin’s plea for another chance was so beautifully played that it’s clear to see why over three million YouTube viewers love this song for the gem it is.