Patty Griffin Quotes

#1. When I started performing, I played acoustic music, partly because that way you don't have to worry about interacting too much with other people creatively. Asserting myself in that way was not really a strong point for me.

Patty Griffin

#2. Most everything means nothing, except some things that mean everything.

Patty Griffin

#3. I don't actually have to think very hard when I'm writing. I mean, there are times where it's a task, and you have to plug away and plug away. But then there are times when a song writes itself in 15 minutes, and you're just struggling to keep up with it.

Patty Griffin

#4. Often I have to move my body in a certain way, like exercising, to begin to get into the right rhythm for writing a song.

Patty Griffin

#5. He'd like you to join the club that likes to say
there's no such thing as love ...

Patty Griffin

#6. I grew up as a Catholic, and there was so much that was beautiful there, and also so much that was troubling. The whole patriarchal thing, the whole male-dominated approach, really bothered me.

Patty Griffin

#7. I think listeners are hungry to hear quality.

Patty Griffin

#8. It's occurred to me I need to laugh at myself more, and that I don't need to be some sad folk singer all the time. I don't want to be the queen of pain.

Patty Griffin

#9. From the age of 12, I had an understanding that singing was something I loved to do more than anything, and I did say to myself, 'Why not?' But there were definitely some doubts along the way.

Patty Griffin

#10. Along the way, I've had different advice from different music producers. I've been told to tone it down, that the quiet parts of my voice are appealing and there's harshness to the loud part of my voice.

Patty Griffin

#11. But darling, I wish you well On your way to the wishing well

Patty Griffin

#12. Everyone is tortured. Do you know anyone who isn't?

Patty Griffin

#13. Fame is a can of worms I haven't really had to contend with.

Patty Griffin

#14. I grew up Catholic, so I have these defenses about listening to anything with too much religiosity; some of the lyrics didn't sit well in my mouth. One of my beefs is the patriarchal setup. Having the 'he, he, he, God, God, God, king, king, king' stuff was hard for me.

Patty Griffin

#15. I was brought up to express myself only when asked to express myself, and then to do so in a way that's pleasing to hear. But I've always had a need to make my presence known. I was just sort of born that way, I guess. It's my natural tendency.

Patty Griffin

#16. I don't necessarily buy any key to the future of happiness, but I need a little place in the sun sometimes or I think I will die.

Patty Griffin

#17. Some people don't care if they live or they die.
Some people want to know what it feels like to fly.
They gather their courage and they give it a try
And fall under the wheels of time going by.

Patty Griffin

#18. There's an imbalance when if a woman goes out for a walk at 3 in the morning and something happens to her it was somehow her fault, and with a man that's not true.

Patty Griffin

#19. You know you've done enough
When every bone is sore,
You know you've prayed enough
When you don't ask any more,
You know you're coming to some kind of understanding
When every dream you've dreamed has passed
And your still standing.

Patty Griffin

#20. One of the great things that I loved about doing solo - which I ended up doing because I was too shy to ever try out for bands back in the day - I could sit there with a list of songs and 'paint away' for the show.

Patty Griffin

#21. Studios are designed to pull out all of that beautiful ambience you get from singing in a room, and then the engineer puts it back in digitally or through whatever machinery you've got.

Patty Griffin

#22. I've noticed more people coming to shows and I've had a feeling that they were from a part of the culture I haven't been able to get to before, younger people. I think on iTunes they've been experimenting with my songs and the digital radio world has been very kind to me.

Patty Griffin

#23. I was asked to sing with Mavis Staples on a gospel compilation called 'Oh Happy Day.' And, you know, other than being totally intimidated at the prospect of singing with Mavis, I was honored. I don't really have much of a background in gospel music.

Patty Griffin

#24. I think there are times when a song can be a spiritual experience - just making music, in general, is pretty much that.

Patty Griffin

#25. You must always know how long to stay; and when to go.

Patty Griffin

#26. Most people like the sad songs. Some of the oldest songs known to man are sad. Listening to a voice singing something sad is a really great way to help you to feel sad when you need to.

Patty Griffin