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Patty Griffin — Chief
Album: 1000 Kisses
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 216









Released: 2002
Length: 3:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Chief had been out of the army
For fifteen years or more
He was still marching up and down that street
Just like he was a walking to war

They called him Chief 'cause he was Indian
It was a name they said behind his back
In the summer he'd march without any shoes
Till the soles of his feet turned black
Till the soles of his feet turned black

His hands wouldn't work the machinery
'Cause his brain told them what to say
It's a hell of a life but it's somebody's life
Up and down the street all day

Honey, I've been put through the paces
Running like a dog on a track
The wheels keep it going as fast as you get there
But you don't ever get to go back

I don't really know what I'm doing
Just watching myself in some play
And the actress looks like she wants to go home
And lie in a bed all day
Yeah, lie in a big bed all day

Her hands wouldn't work the machinery
'Cause her brain tells them what to say
It's a hell of a life but it's somebody's life
Up and down the street all day

But I wish that you could see me
When I'm flying in my dreams
The way I laugh there way up high
The way I look when I fly
The way I laugh, the way I fly

Chief got out of the army
Jesus went to live with the poor
I'm still marching up and down that street
I don't know what I'm doing that for
I don't know what I'm doing that for
I don't know what I'm doing that for
Comments (38)add comment

This song is fabulous, in interpreting,  the arrangement, the instrumental performance, note the Accordion, the pauses, so it deserves to be heard more often on the radio.

** 9 **

Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
 cathenley wrote:
Patty is a goddess...
 
Yes, she is. {#Pray}
Posted 15 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
Patty is a goddess...
Posted 15 years ago by cathenley    [ Reply ]
nails on a blackboard....
Posted 15 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Sounds quite like Dolly Parton to me but then I am no specialist in this type of music. Like it though!
Posted 15 years ago by Sun_n_Fish    [ Reply ]
 Pyro wrote:


I'd win every time because NO ONE SOUNDS LIKE Emmylou, IMHO. And I like Patty, don't misunderstand. She just doesn't sound much like Emmylou to me....
 
ITA, except I prefer Patty: like Emmylou alot, but LOVE, LOVE Patty!

Posted 16 years ago by wilcogirl11    [ Reply ]
I wonder if this song is about Ira Hayes. Maybe Ira Hayes' story is just one element of a larger tapestry...

c.
Posted 16 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
 dogpound wrote:
god I love her music.
Makes me wanna take a bath with my toaster
 
Let me join you....please make it stop!

Posted 16 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
 dogpound wrote:
god I love her music.
Makes me wanna take a bath with my toaster
 

Please, don't let us stop you...
Posted 16 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Fair enough. I hope you saw the recent Neil Young concert film "Heart of Gold"; Emmylou still looks (and sounds) great!
 
I saw Emmy live in late September and she'll be back in town this weekend.  She still looks and sounds incredible!

Posted 16 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
inindian wrote:
Go for it! Better still, microwave your head!
Woof woof
Posted 16 years ago by maxmox    [ Reply ]
dogpound wrote:
god I love her music. Makes me wanna take a bath with my toaster
Go for it! Better still, microwave your head!
Posted 16 years ago by inindian    [ Reply ]
Patty put the singer AND the writer in 'singer-songwriter'. Sublime.
Posted 16 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
Pyro wrote:
I'd win every time because NO ONE SOUNDS LIKE Emmylou, IMHO. And I like Patty, don't misunderstand. She just doesn't sound much like Emmylou to me....
Fair enough. I hope you saw the recent Neil Young concert film "Heart of Gold"; Emmylou still looks (and sounds) great!
Posted 17 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
On_The_Beach wrote:
She should do a duet with Emmylou Harris and we could play "Who's singing now?"
I'd win every time because NO ONE SOUNDS LIKE Emmylou, IMHO. And I like Patty, don't misunderstand. She just doesn't sound much like Emmylou to me....
Posted 17 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
rgj13 wrote:
Chicks came first (arguably there are technicalities, but nevermind).and helped Griffin get exposure by having her open for them on the "Let Him Fly" tour, which was named after a song on Griffin's first album, Living with Ghosts.
Thanks for the interesting info! I like her voice a bit better than Natalie Maines' voice, though there's nothing wrong with either one....
Posted 17 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
She should do a duet with Emmylou Harris and we could play "Who's singing now?"
Posted 17 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
'the way I laugh, the way I fly........' Very nice.
Posted 17 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Hahaha! "They called him 'The Cheif' cause he was Indian." Wow...
Posted 17 years ago by Larz0rz    [ Reply ]
dogpound wrote:
god I love her music. Makes me wanna take a bath with my toaster
i know what you mean.
Posted 17 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
dogpound wrote:
god I love her music. Makes me wanna take a bath with my toaster
Bagels or toast?
Posted 17 years ago by jenseda    [ Reply ]
god I love her music. Makes me wanna take a bath with my toaster
Posted 17 years ago by dogpound    [ Reply ]
One of my favorites from an unbelievable album. Thought I had my own itunes playing there for a minute!
Posted 17 years ago by vvlee    [ Reply ]
VIVA LA PATTY!
Posted 20 years ago by jand8595    [ Reply ]
rls wrote:
3 hours between PG songs... I prefer more variability, no matter how good the songs or artist.
Eclectic means playing Lilith Fair type stuff a lot
Posted 20 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
Gawd, she's good! What a fine, strong voice.
Posted 20 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
3 hours between PG songs... I prefer more variability, no matter how good the songs or artist.
Posted 20 years ago by rls    [ Reply ]
Leslie wrote:
The more I hear of her work, the more I like. This woman has an amazing voice which draws me in. I will concentrate more on the arrangement and other instruments now.
I agree. The more I hear her, the more I like her.
Posted 20 years ago by Pusherman    [ Reply ]
i'm rather disturbed at how much I am liking this song.
Posted 20 years ago by janeanger    [ Reply ]
The more I hear of her work, the more I like. This woman has an amazing voice which draws me in. I will concentrate more on the arrangement and other instruments now.
Posted 20 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
This is my favorite song from this album. I can't help but tear up every time I hear it!! LOVE IT!!!
Posted 20 years ago by gypsy222    [ Reply ]
graterb wrote:
Sounds like the Dixie chicks because she writes for them on occasion. Who was first?
Chicks came first (arguably there are technicalities, but nevermind).and helped Griffin get exposure by having her open for them on the "Let Him Fly" tour, which was named after a song on Griffin's first album, Living with Ghosts.
Posted 21 years ago by rgj13    [ Reply ]
Sounds like the Dixie chicks because she writes for them on occasion. Who was first? :roll:
Posted 21 years ago by graterb    [ Reply ]
Anyone else thinks this sounds like The Dixie Chicks?
Posted 21 years ago by ndanger666    [ Reply ]
Best of the Native American medley theme-pack you put together. You guys are terrific. I subscribed about a month ago and am now a regular. It\'s like someone raided my CD collection and started playing my favorites. I keep this on all day as I write. How about some Lisa Germano?
Posted 21 years ago by BrodMiller    [ Reply ]
A little too much twang for my tastes.. but Over all very very good. She\'s got a really great voice.
Posted 22 years ago by CoolbeaN    [ Reply ]
The more that I hear of this new Patty Griffin album, the more I realize I need to go buy this!! Good stuff!!
Posted 22 years ago by gypsy222    [ Reply ]