Fragile

Nanci Griffith · Flyer [1994]

I look out on these shields of heather

'Cross this countryside

I wonder how they've grown together

While people live such separate lives



Think I'll stay inside for the winter

'Cause the weather's in my bones

And the wind could shatter bone to splinter

Then howl me back home



Fragile as the lady of the harbour

Fragile as her torch that glows

Fragile as the Gulf Stream waters

To the Texas coast

To the Texas coast



I stared up at the faces in the mountain

Just a year ago

Laughin' in the spirit of America

Singin' in the snow



Now I wish I felt as strong as that mountain

Just carved in stone

I wish I was the Gulf Stream water

And I could sail you home



Fragile as the lady of the harbour

Fragile as her torch that glows

Fragile as the gulf stream waters

To the Texas coast

To the Texas coast



I would give you all that's in me

Though part of me is gone

If I could have that day upon the mountain

For the snow and the song



Here's to love and all that it changes

When you're alone out in that storm

'Cause if I'd had a shield of heather

I'd have never loved at all



Fragile as the lady of the harbour

Fragile as her torch that glows

Fragile as the Gulf Stream waters

To the Texas coast

To the Texas coast, I would sail you home

To the Texas coast, I would sail you home

To the Texas coast

Fragile - Nanci Griffith

Nanci Griffith's 1994 recording 'Fragile' stands as a defining moment in her career, blending her signature acoustic storytelling with the atmospheric production of the era. Released on the album Flyer, the track exemplifies her ability to weave personal narrative with broader social commentary, characteristic of her work in the American roots and folk-rock genres. The song's lyrical focus on vulnerability and resilience resonates deeply within Griffith's discography, particularly when viewed alongside her later explorations of Texas history and urban life found in albums like The Loving Kind and Intersection. As a staple of her catalog, 'Fragile' captures the quiet intensity of her voice, offering a reflective listening experience that has cemented her status as a vital voice in contemporary folk music.