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Patty Griffin — If I Had My Way
Album: Downtown Church
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 254









Released: 2010
Length: 3:19
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down

You read about Sampson from his birth
Strongest man that ever lived on earth
One day Sampson was walking alone
Looked down on the ground and saw an old jawbone
Stretched out his hand, swung it over his head
When he starts moving ten thousand was dead

If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down

Sampson and the lion, they got in attack
Sampson jumped on that lion's back
You read about him, he killed a man with his paw
Sampson got his hands around the lion's jaw
Broke that beast till the lion was dead
Bees made honey in the lion's head

If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down

Delilah was a woman so fine and fair
She had lovely good looks and a cold black hair
Delilah gained on Sampson's mind
First saw the woman just to fill his time

Sit down on Sampson's knees
Tell me where your strength lies if you please
She spoke so kind, talked so fair
Sampson told Delilah, cut off my hair

Shave my head, clean as your hand
And my strength will be like a natural man
Caught old Sampson by surprise
Picked up a stick and poked him eye to eye

Dragged him down to the judgment hall
Chained him to the stone cold wall
Left him there till his head turned brown
Sampson tore that building down

If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down
Tear this building down
Tear this building down
Tear this building down
I would tear this building down
Tear this building down
I would tear this building down
Comments (33)add comment
The Blasters' version of Samson and Delilah is well worth of listen. 
Posted 2 months ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
She’s always exceptional, but I prefer her own material. 
Posted 2 months ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
 dejapete wrote:
Funny. I found this review I wrote about Downtown Church, and I don't remember writing it:

clipped ... 
 
Should you monitor your alcohol intake a little more closely?
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Pillow Talk, Be Careful.




Posted 11 years ago by zepher    [ Reply ]
 meloman wrote:

Don't make it this one! Silver Bell and Flaming Red are musts...
 
agreed, particularly if you like the hard-rockin' patty...
Posted 11 years ago by gillespp    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:
The more I hear Patty Griffin, the more I think I need to buy one of her albums.

 
Don't make it this one! Silver Bell and Flaming Red are musts...
Posted 11 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
Not one of her best songs IMHO.
Posted 11 years ago by BazH    [ Reply ]
 black321 wrote:


Not exactly, Dead covered it as well.  It's a "traditional" tune
 
Reverend Gary Davis I think.
Posted 12 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
Funny. I found this review I wrote about Downtown Church, and I don't remember writing it:

"I read somewhere Patty Griffin said she's not a religious person, but wanted to explore its music. Given that, this is not truly a gospel album but has elements that will entertain you or inspire you, or both. I feel this album takes Patty more to the heart of her singing, surpassing her previous work."
Posted 12 years ago by dejapete    [ Reply ]
Hello, Bill!!  {#Music}
Posted 12 years ago by Hyperemesis    [ Reply ]
Flaming Red and Silver Bell are must have's . .  Amazing voice, brilliant songwriter

kaybee wrote:
The more I hear Patty Griffin, the more I think I need to buy one of her albums.

 


Posted 12 years ago by kevanski    [ Reply ]
 hippiechick wrote:
Congratulate Patty on her marriage to Robert Plant!
 
rumor.
Posted 12 years ago by annie_fannie    [ Reply ]
Congratulate Patty on her marriage to Robert Plant!
Posted 12 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
{#Taped-shut}
Posted 12 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:
The more I hear Patty Griffin, the more I think I need to buy one of her albums.

 
Her live album A Kiss In Time is a good place to start. I also like 1,000 Kisses and Impossible Dream.  Flaming Red is good too, but it's a little more edgy.
Posted 12 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:
The more I hear Patty Griffin, the more I think I need to buy one of her albums.

 
Likely will not be dissappointed. Fabulous songwriter, though not sure if she wrote any on this CD (I do not have it yet). Lots of songs she has written get you up and dancing, plenty others tear you up, and some do both. Flaming Red rocks more than most, but they are all good.

Note: Silver Bells was never released, but I've seen a link to download it on RP.
Posted 12 years ago by djengs    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:
The more I hear Patty Griffin, the more I think I need to buy one of her albums.

 
this one's good. but definitely go get Silver Bell. Oh, and Flaming Red.
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
The more I hear Patty Griffin, the more I think I need to buy one of her albums.

Posted 12 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
Like PG.. Not this PG, however.. Many other, better versions of this song abound.  Whomever said Lyle Lovett is right.  PG > LL all math day long.



Posted 12 years ago by sieversfam    [ Reply ]
 Byronape wrote:

If you have to ask, you are not thinking hard enough.

Or perhaps don't have a gutter for a brain.

{#Tongue}

 
actually more like a storm sewer. but a fist? jeeez, isn't there a better place she could put that?


Posted 12 years ago by DD rabbi_phil    [ Reply ]
 rabbi_phil wrote:

from the "what it's worth/has nothing to do with anything department"....I read in an interview with Ms. Manson that she could put her entire fist in her mouth.....hmmmmmmmmmm......and my thoughts on that at the time were "why would someone want to do that exactly?"

 
If you have to ask, you are not thinking hard enough.

Or perhaps don't have a gutter for a brain.

{#Tongue}

Posted 12 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
Shirley Manson does a version of this that just ROCKS. Such a powerful voice - a very dramatic rendition of the song.
 
from the "what it's worth/has nothing to do with anything department"....I read in an interview with Ms. Manson that she could put her entire fist in her mouth.....hmmmmmmmmmm......and my thoughts on that at the time were "why would someone want to do that exactly?"

Posted 12 years ago by DD rabbi_phil    [ Reply ]
 terrapin52 wrote:
Nice Dead cover of Samson and Delilah.
 

Not exactly, Dead covered it as well.  It's a "traditional" tune
Posted 13 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]
Blasters' version is better IMO but this is fine.
Posted 13 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Nice Dead cover of Samson and Delilah.
Posted 13 years ago by terrapin52    [ Reply ]
I'm afraid Shirley Manson ruined me for this song. Her rendition is called "Samson and Delilah," and it's so powerful I almost can't listen to it all in one sitting - it's too intense.  I hope I can find it to upload it to the LRC, but if I can't, I hope someone else will submit it. It deserves to be played here!  Okay, I'm slinking away now...
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Songs like a Lyle Lovett song - or a good imitation of one. Maybe that was her aim.
Posted 13 years ago by SinisterDexter    [ Reply ]
 Phototrekker wrote:
yawn - 
 
{#Roflol}

Posted 13 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
yawn - 
Posted 13 years ago by Phototrekker    [ Reply ]
Love this, end of story!
Posted 13 years ago by nalle    [ Reply ]
Shirley Manson does a version of this that just ROCKS. Such a powerful voice - a very dramatic rendition of the song.
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
She boogies this song.  Absolutely great rendition!


Posted 13 years ago by Andy_B    [ Reply ]
Great rendition.  Peter, Paul and Mary also did a great version.

But that was a long, long time ago.
Posted 13 years ago by RParadise    [ Reply ]