From a Distance (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Bette Midler. Atlantic Records. 1990. 7-87820. {{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link)

Griffith suffered health problems. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996 and thyroid cancer in 1998. A case of Dupuytren’s contracture caused her to lose flexibility in her fingers.Riemann, Hannsjörg (January 1991). "Platten-News: Singles". Bravo (in German). p.64 . Retrieved January 14, 2023.

She recorded four more albums, the last of them being Intersection, recorded at her Nashville home with Pete and Maura Kennedy and the percussionist Pat McInerney. Two of its songs Come On Up Mississippi and Bethlehem Steel reflected some of Griffith’s social and political concerns. In 1994, Griffith teamed up with Jimmy Webb to contribute the song "If These Old Walls Could Speak" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization. Griffith was a survivor of breast cancer which was diagnosed in 1996, and thyroid cancer in 1998. [11] [12] Julie Gold has stated that she believes in an immanent and beneficent God, and also thinks that people have a right to interpret the song any way they want, as with all art. [3] She has stated that the song is about the difference between how things appear to be and how they really are. [3] Original Nanci Griffith version [ edit ] "From a Distance" Not to put too much philosophical weight on the lyrics of a pop song but it's just something that popped into my head when I first heard the song. Sweeting, Adam (August 15, 2021). "Nanci Griffith obituary". The Guardian . Retrieved August 15, 2021.a b "American single certifications – Bette Midler – From a Distance". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 11, 2019.

Sandbloom, Gene (September 21, 1990). "Top 40: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p.28 . Retrieved March 21, 2020. In 1985, just before my 30th birthday, my parents sent me the piano I grew up playing. I had just served as a juror on an emotionally trying case, my brother had just married, and I was questioning my life to date, wondering what my future could possibly hold. Not Ready to Make Nice" – Emily Burns Erwin, Martha Maguire, Natalie Maines Pasdar& Dan Wilson (songwriters) (2006)That's What I Like" – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip (songwriters) (2017) Noble, Richard E. (2009). Number No. 1: the story of the original Highwaymen. Denver: Outskirts Press. pp.265–267. ISBN 9781432738099. OCLC 426388468. From a Distance (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Bette Midler. Atlantic Records. 1990. A 7820, 7567-87820-7. {{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) The Griffith version charted only in Ireland, where her version became a sleeper hit, spending 17 non-consecutive weeks in the Irish Top 30 during 1988, peaking at number nine in April. VH1.com: Shows: 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs...Ever: Countdown". June 7, 2004. Archived from the original on June 7, 2004 . Retrieved April 24, 2021.

The Irish Charts – Search Results – From a Distance". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 11, 2019. Dansby, Andrew (August 13, 2021). "Texas legend and Grammy-winning folk singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith dies". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved December 30, 2022. Diane from Sunset, ScI love this song & it is the Perfect song for these days of social distancing!

From that point on, Griffith named every band she fronted, big or small, the Blue Moon Orchestra. The clear desire, I assume, was to honor and recall that album's familial spirit. The core of the band stayed with her for the long haul." in: "Music Remembrance: Singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith (1953-2021)", by Daniel Gewertz, artsfuse.org, September 14, 2021 From a Distance (UK CD single liner notes). Bette Midler. Atlantic Records. 1990. A7820CD, 7567-78611-2. {{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) Even with all this glory, however, I was still a secretary. I still lived in one little dark room. I still barely made enough money to survive. Believe it or not, I was depressed and despondent. I remember crying on the phone to both my parents (who, incidentally, were never anything short of supportive, encouraging and fully loving with regard to my dream). On this occasion, I remember my desperation and how they tried to console me with a stereo pep talk. It didn’t work. Finally, they asked what they do to help me feel better. For the first and only time in my life, I asked them to please pay my rent for six months. They agreed, and July 7, 1989 was my last day of work at HBO. I walked down Sixth Avenue, crying all the way. Free at last.