![]() Impossible Dream (2004) [ larger cover art ] |
Say goodbye to the old street
That never cared much for you anyway
And the different coloured doorways
You thought would let you in one day
Goodbye to the old bus stop
Frozen and waiting
The Weekend Edition
Has this town way overrated
You walk across the baseball green
The grass has turned to straw
A flock of birds tries to fly
Away from where you are
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, old friend
I can't make you stay
I can't spend another ten years
Wishing you would anyway
How the sky turns to fire
Against a telephone wire
And even I'm getting tired
Of useless desires
Every day I take a bitter pill
It gets me on my way
For the little aches and pains
The ones I have from day to day
To help me think a little less
About the things I miss
To help me not to wonder how
I ended up like this
I walk down to the railroad track
And ride a rusty train
With a million other faces
I shoot through the city veins
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, old friend
You wanted to be free
Somewhere beyond the bitter end
Is where I want to be
How the sky turns to fire
Against a telephone wire
And even I'm getting tired
Of useless desires
Say goodbye to the old building
That never tried to know your name
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, old friend
You won't be seeing me again
Goodbye to all the windowpanes
Shining in the sun
Like diamonds on a winter day
Goodbye, goodbye to everyone
How the sky turns to fire
Against a telephone wire
It burns the last of the day down
And I'm the last one hanging around
Waiting on a train track
And the train never comes back
And even I'm getting tired
Of useless desires
| Jelani (Home of the freak, land of the vague) | Posted: May 02, 2011 - 08:03 How can anyone listen to this?! Her voice is just painful to my ears. Horrible. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: May 02, 2011 - 07:59 rdo wrote: 9 Yeppers. |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Dec 27, 2010 - 14:41 9 |
| swruch (Central Joisey) | Posted: Oct 25, 2010 - 06:02 jagdriver wrote: Ordinarily I like Patty's stuff, but this one has a little too much country twang to my ears. +1 |
| jagdriver (Just a nod and a wink south of Paradise) | Posted: Sep 23, 2010 - 13:38 Ordinarily I like Patty's stuff, but this one has a little too much country twang to my ears. |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Sep 23, 2010 - 13:37 somewhere beyond the bitter end is where I want to be....man I hear ya chica |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Sep 23, 2010 - 13:37 Cynaera wrote: This woman's voice can bring me to tears so easily, it frightens me. I have a hard time listening to her music, but I have a hard time NOT listening to it. I walk the wire with her. I try to balance songs like this with "Flaming Red" so I don't sink forever into a world I'll never completely, or even marginally, understand. Still - she's got one of the purest, most confident, most sure voices I've heard in a long time. I totally agree with grungepuppy - glad Ms. Griffin didn't tolerate the "Catholic-School" method of teaching. Glad she grabbed the ruler and fwapped back. Agree on all counts. Edit: reading C's comments again. I think I love C as much as I love Patty, such a perfect description of her music. |
| 4merdj (donde el viento se devuelve) | Posted: Sep 23, 2010 - 13:37 I am completely and blissfully biased ... I just love Patty's flawless artistic work! |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Aug 22, 2010 - 13:22 grungepuppy wrote: Wow, I'm having a hard time believing that anyone doesn't love her voice. If this isn't superb, what do you want from a singer? I guess fans of today's emo (Death Cab, etc.) are afraid of range, power, and true emotion. I for one am glad to hear someone sing as if their vocal coach isn't sitting there rapping them on the knuckles saying "too much, stop trying, don't stray from the formula." This woman's voice can bring me to tears so easily, it frightens me. I have a hard time listening to her music, but I have a hard time NOT listening to it. I walk the wire with her. I try to balance songs like this with "Flaming Red" so I don't sink forever into a world I'll never completely, or even marginally, understand. Still - she's got one of the purest, most confident, most sure voices I've heard in a long time. I totally agree with grungepuppy - glad Ms. Griffin didn't tolerate the "Catholic-School" method of teaching. Glad she grabbed the ruler and fwapped back. |
| grungepuppy (Flagstaff, AZ) | Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 14:33 Wow, I'm having a hard time believing that anyone doesn't love her voice. If this isn't superb, what do you want from a singer? I guess fans of today's emo (Death Cab, etc.) are afraid of range, power, and true emotion. I for one am glad to hear someone sing as if their vocal coach isn't sitting there rapping them on the knuckles saying "too much, stop trying, don't stray from the formula." |
| jnhashmi (South Pasadena/Los Angeles) | Posted: Jul 21, 2010 - 14:28 She's one of the greatest out there today. Just an amazing, amazing songwriter and singer. Her hard rock songs are the best. |
| njr (Champaign, IL) | Posted: Mar 16, 2010 - 13:51 It's actually the end of one segment and beginning of the other, but Kent and Patty Griffin are two of my favorites (though neither of these are among my favorite songs of theirs.) Interesting juxtaposition to be sure. |
| Jimmy86 (CA) | Posted: Feb 12, 2010 - 23:34 chyk5 wrote: Five synth pop songs in a row (and I liked some of it back in the day) then...Patty. Who could ask for more? Just did the same thing this time. But I've got a wide variety of tastes, and RP services them like no other! |
| ziggytrix (Dallas, TX) | Posted: Jan 12, 2010 - 13:06 I do not understand the folks who dislike this powerful voice. Get the corn out of your ears! |
| casey1024 (Between past & future...) | Posted: Jan 12, 2010 - 13:06 Wow. |
| whtahtefcuk (Flagstaff, AZ, USA) | Posted: Jan 12, 2010 - 13:04 I heart Patty! |
| Pyro | Posted: Jan 12, 2010 - 13:04 Her writing is just heart wrenchingly superb. |
| chyk5 (Florida) | Posted: Jan 12, 2010 - 13:03 Five synth pop songs in a row (and I liked some of it back in the day) then...Patty. Who could ask for more? |
| Misterfixit (Nashville) | Posted: Sep 08, 2009 - 17:45 Beautiful |
| papaman (Downstate New Mexico) | Posted: Sep 08, 2009 - 17:44 Thank you Bill for introducing Patty Griffin's music to me. |
| MojoJojo (Indianapolis, IN USA) | Posted: Sep 08, 2009 - 17:43 marcel wrote: Sorry, but I cannot imagine anyone singing it better... I love her voice. Just sad she doesn't make records more frequently... |
| Middleton (Pleasantville) | Posted: Jul 07, 2009 - 13:19 one of my favorite tracks on this album ... I play it over & over & over... |
| Pyro | Posted: Jul 07, 2009 - 13:13 keller1 wrote: I totally get why you say that about this tune —- the vocals have a lot harder edge than a lot of Patty's other stuff. That said, she is one of my personal favorites, and just amazing live. I adore her, but some of her recordings ARE shrill. I think it's the fault of the producer.... Most of the songs on RED have this sharp edged (shrill) quality. Fortunately, I do love her voice.... |
| dBdwg | Posted: Jul 07, 2009 - 13:12 album cover 10 |
| keller1 (In A Gadda Da Vida, Baby) | Posted: Apr 03, 2009 - 11:56 mcklein18 wrote: agree with others...yes the lyrics are thougtful and vivid, but she needs to find someone else to sing them! her voice is shrill and irritating I totally get why you say that about this tune —- the vocals have a lot harder edge than a lot of Patty's other stuff. That said, she is one of my personal favorites, and just amazing live. |
| handyrae (Zero Point Field) | Posted: Apr 03, 2009 - 11:55 mcklein18 wrote: agree with others...yes the lyrics are thougtful and vivid, but she needs to find someone else to sing them! her voice is shrill and irritating I don't think she needs someone else to sing them — but it would help greatly if she could get some of the nasalness and back of the throat quality out of her voice. |
| jjbix (san diego) | Posted: Apr 03, 2009 - 11:54 patty g. . . a woman of substance and enduring talent . . . |
| Stefen (West Hollywood, CA) | Posted: Apr 03, 2009 - 11:53 ![]() |
| marcel (some 10.000 km east of paradise) | Posted: Apr 03, 2009 - 11:52 mcklein18 wrote: agree with others...yes the lyrics are thougtful and vivid, but she needs to find someone else to sing them! her voice is shrill and irritating Sorry, but I cannot imagine anyone singing it better... I love her voice. Just sad she doesn't make records more frequently... |
| Pyro | Posted: Apr 03, 2009 - 11:51 I would stand in a pouring rain just to hear her sing.... I understand the "shrill" comments below. Her voice has a bit of a sharp edge, but her producer seems to make the CDs sound particularly bright / shrill. "Red" (CD) is that way. |
| govna (beantown) | Posted: Apr 03, 2009 - 11:50 patty is god. |
| mcklein18 | Posted: Jan 30, 2009 - 09:37 agree with others...yes the lyrics are thougtful and vivid, but she needs to find someone else to sing them! her voice is shrill and irritating |
| sfListener | Posted: Jan 30, 2009 - 09:37 Useless Desires, don't know how any other comination of words could carry more weight. |
| dogpound (the island on which I belong) | Posted: Jan 30, 2009 - 09:35 really great song writer |
| jim1964 (british columbia, but use to ride the IRT to work) | Posted: Dec 29, 2008 - 18:37 dunno wrote: I like her other work very much, but while listening to this song I had to turn the volume down. simply too much of her voice, it did hurt my ears. .....you must have sensitive ears. |
| dcoy | Posted: Dec 29, 2008 - 18:36 Jelani wrote: Ugh.Great melody destroyed by fingernails on a chalkboard voice. Ahh. Great melody augmented by beautiful voice. |
| dunno (somewhere between here and over there) | Posted: Nov 28, 2008 - 03:59 Jelani wrote: Ugh.Great melody destroyed by fingernails on a chalkboard voice. I like her other work very much, but while listening to this song I had to turn the volume down. simply too much of her voice, it did hurt my ears. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Oct 27, 2008 - 14:13
Oh boy!....This song is worth every second !.- |
| jesspra (County of Kings, New York) | Posted: Oct 27, 2008 - 14:12 I've been a huge fan since I heard her open for Lucinda Williams in Cleveland 13 years ago or so...both of those goddesses get me right in the heart every time. |
| chyk5 (Florida) | Posted: Oct 27, 2008 - 14:11 Brilliant song and album. |
| jamesat43 (Cary, North Carolina) | Posted: Aug 25, 2008 - 09:10 How can this be the first time I have ever heard this brilliant song? |
| zaknafein (Kansas City, MO) | Posted: Aug 25, 2008 - 09:07 Out of all the brilliant songs that Patty has written over the years, this is one of my favorites. Just an awesome track. |
| skindy (AwlbanNY) | Posted: Jul 24, 2008 - 17:20 michaelgmitchell wrote: Hey, NY'er . . . agreed. I would never have heard of her without RP.
Any suggestion for a CD of Patty's if you had to choose one? Wow, sorry to be many months late in replying to your question! Hmm, this really depends on your mood and your general taste. Patty's songwriting is consistently excellent on all her CDs... it's the style and production that vary a bit on them. "Living With Ghosts" has very stripped-down instrumentation and production. "Flaming Red" is more rocking, with fuller production. "Impossible Dream" is dominated by achingly beautiful ballads. "Children Running Through" combines some bluesy and rocking songs with her signature soaring ballads. But if I had to choose just one of her CDs to recommend (or rather, to start with), it would be "1,000 Kisses." It comes as close as any CD I know to being called a "perfect CD." Every song is a fully-formed gem, and they create a seamless flow in both sound and theme. It's utterly beautiful, beginning to end. |
| Jelani (Home of the freak, land of the vague) | Posted: Jul 24, 2008 - 17:07 Ugh.Great melody destroyed by fingernails on a chalkboard voice. |
| asocash (Webster, NY) | Posted: Jul 24, 2008 - 17:02 And if you love that, give a listen to Patty singing "Goodbye".... ouiae wrote: If you love this, give a listen to Patty singing "Long Ride Home"...
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| EssexTex (Texas (Nr Lake Travis)) | Posted: Jun 23, 2008 - 04:41 skindy wrote: Ditto, ditto, ditto. When this song played a while ago, I just stopped what I was doing and soaked in the excellence. I thank my lucky stars (and Bill!) for having discovered Patty here at RP. I own just about all of her CDs, and saw her live back in April. In many past concert experiences, artists who sound great on their studio recordings often sound less-than-perfect when performing live. So I expected I might be a bit disappointed when I saw Patty. NOT A CHANCE. She was even better live than on record, if you can believe it. She simply blew me away. I hung on every word and every note. There is a purity and clarity to Patty's voice that I seldom hear ANYWHERE else. Add to that her exquisite songwriting (longing, sadness, small-town themes, childhood memories and so much else, as crisply and deeply as it can be captured), and her stunning guitar and piano work (which has to be experienced live to be fully appreciated) - and you have a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Patty Griffin is head and shoulders above most other musicians, period. |
| enidualc (Guyville) | Posted: Apr 21, 2008 - 06:28 love this song but... i will not have useless desires today i will not have useless desires today i will not have useless desires today i will not have useless desires today |
| chyk5 (Florida) | Posted: Apr 21, 2008 - 06:26 Great song from an excellent CD; start to finish. |
| EssexTex (Austin TX) | Posted: Apr 21, 2008 - 06:23 Beautiful song |
| michaelgmitchell | Posted: Feb 18, 2008 - 06:45 Hey, NY'er . . . agreed. I would never have heard of her without RP. Any suggestion for a CD of Patty's if you had to choose one? skindy wrote: Ditto, ditto, ditto. When this song played a while ago, I just stopped what I was doing and soaked in the excellence. I thank my lucky stars (and Bill!) for having discovered Patty here at RP. I own just about all of her CDs, and saw her live back in April. In many past concert experiences, artists who sound great on their studio recordings often sound less-than-perfect when performing live. So I expected I might be a bit disappointed when I saw Patty. NOT A CHANCE. She was even better live than on record, if you can believe it. She simply blew me away. I hung on every word and every note. There is a purity and clarity to Patty's voice that I seldom hear ANYWHERE else. Add to that her exquisite songwriting (longing, sadness, small-town themes, childhood memories and so much else, as crisply and deeply as it can be captured), and her stunning guitar and piano work (which has to be experienced live to be fully appreciated) - and you have a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Patty Griffin is head and shoulders above most other musicians, period. |

