Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin & Robert Plant
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
“Had a Good Reason” is the fifth track off Patty Griffin’s self-titled tenth studio album.
The song is about maternal abandonment, sung from the perspective of an abandoned daughter who has achieved success as a performer.
Griffin has stated that she wrote the song with two singers in mind: Billie...
[Verse 1]
I guess you're never gonna come back for me, ma
With a suitcase of pretty dresses and shoes
One for you and one for me, ma
And perfume for the ladies looking after me too
There was a chair beside the door I wished you'd walk through
Wearing your sad eyes and frown
You'd stand beside me and we'd wind the Victrola
And sing along together
Make the sweetest sounds
[Chorus]
I used to think it might be who I am
Maybe who I am wasn't right
And I'd wonder if you missed me the same way
Lonely day after lonely night
But I know you must've had a good reason
You had a good reason, alright
[Verse 2]
I guess you're gonna never see me a-shining
All the lines of people winding around the block
The world is mine, and it's a microphone in my hand
Singing with a band, ma, the toast of the town
Sometimes I think I see you out there a-smiling
Your pretty sad eyes singing along
And all at once I'm a bird with no ceiling
A voice and a feeling like I'll never come down
[Chorus]
I used to think it might be who I am
Maybe who I am wasn't right
And I'd wonder if you missed me the same way
Lonely day after lonely night
But I know you must've had a good reason
You had a good reason, alright
Had a Good Reason was written by Patty Griffin.
Had a Good Reason was produced by Patty Griffin & Craig Ross.
Patty Griffin released Had a Good Reason on Fri Mar 08 2019.
Griffin has stated that she wrote the song with two singers in mind: Billie Holiday and Edith Piaff. The two women–one American and one French, one black and one white–were both abandoned by their mothers at an early age and went on to become beloved, iconic vocalists.