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 More Quotes by Patty Griffin More Quotes From Patty Griffin Most everything means nothing, except some things that mean everything. Patty Griffin mean You must always know how long to stay; and when to go. Patty Griffin know-how knows long I think there are times when a song can be a spiritual experience - just making music, in general, is pretty much that. Patty Griffin spiritual song thinking 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 voice song men God as "he," as a patriarchal thing, is offensive to me. It's standard fare for America - "he, he, he." Every time I hear that, it's like another blow against females. It's very radical talk at this point for females to say this kind of stuff, but nationwide, I still hear females referring to God as "he." Patty Griffin female blow america 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 pain queens laughing 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 keys needs thinking 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 males catholic beautiful 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 natural way needs But darling, I wish you well On your way to the wishing well Patty Griffin darling wish way I'm confused that there is a lack of faith in listening to and deciding what is a great song and instead going for these formulaic, bad songs over and over again. But that's what happened when people from beverage companies bought record labels and radio stations as opposed to people who love music owning record labels. Patty Griffin confused song love I think listeners are hungry to hear quality. Patty Griffin hungry quality thinking 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 writing song moving Everyone is tortured. Do you know anyone who isn't? Patty Griffin do-you-know knows 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 singing beautiful rooms 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 happy-day staples singing Fame is a can of worms I haven't really had to contend with. Patty Griffin worms cans-of-worms fame You have this life in this body, and it's really fragile. But what you have inside is what you have to offer, and it's just as important as anyone else's. Patty Griffin you body important life When you're little, first of all, everybody smiles at you because you're cute, so you think the world is great. And everything is so vivid. You know, you're not clouded out by anxiety, and you don't miss things. Patty Griffin great you cute world A lot of things drew me to Texas. One is the wilderness: It's pretty close to wide open spaces, which I didn't grow up around and I love. You don't have to have a lot of money to have a view: The view is the sky, and it's everywhere. Patty Griffin me money sky love