Though born in New York, Peter's was raised in Boulder, Colorado, and then moved to Nashville in the late 1980s. There, she found work as a songwriter, composing hits for Martina McBride, Etta James, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Anne Murray, as well as for Neil Diamond and co-writing songs with Bryan Adams. She has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song, in 1995 and 1996, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 2003.
Peters has released a string of studio albums of her own. The title track of her 1996 debut album The Secret of Life was later recorded by Faith Hill in 1999.
In the case of her new album, 'Blackbirds,' "juice" is certainly understatement. Recorded in Nashville, the album features a who's who of modern American roots music: Jerry Douglas, Jason Isbell, Jimmy LaFave, Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey, Suzy Bogguss and more. But it's not the guests that make 'Blackbirds' the most poignant and moving album of Peters' storied career; it’s the impeccable craftsmanship, her ability to capture the kind of complex, conflicting, and overwhelming emotional moments we might otherwise try to hide and instead shine a light of truth and understanding onto them.
'Blackbirds' is, in many ways, an album that is unafraid to face down mortality. But rather than dwell on the pain of loss, the music finds a new appreciation for the life we're given.
If anyone can open up that conversation, it's Peters. Inducted into the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, she has long been one of Music City's most beloved and respected artists, known never to shy away from darkness and struggle in her writing. Martina McBride's recording of her stirring "Independence Day," a song that deals with domestic abuse, was nominated for a Grammy and took home Song of the Year honors at the CMAs, and her work has been performed by everyone from Etta James and Neil Diamond to George Strait and Trisha Yearwood. "If Peters never delivers another tune as achingly beautiful as 'On A Bus To St. Cloud,'" People Magazine wrote, "she has already earned herself a spot among country's upper echelon of contemporary composers."
'Blackbirds' follows Peters' 2012 album 'Hello Cruel World,' which NPR called "the album of her career" and Uncut said "establishes her as the natural successor to Lucinda Williams." If anything, though, 'Blackbirds' truly establishes Peters as a one-of-a-kind singer and songwriter, one in possession of a fearless and endlessly creative voice.
Like Water Into Wine
Gretchen Peters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come and lay down by my side
I don't have no special reason
Just this ache I feel inside
I wanna lose my inhibitions
I wanna lose those words we said
I wanna drink my fill of you, babe
Tonight I want to hold you
I wanna look into your eyes
I wanna watch these broken dreams turn into memories
Just like water, baby, just like water into wine
Don't wanna think about tomorrow
Don't wanna count my last regrets
I can't hate you anymore, babe
And I can't love you any less
Sometimes I've been ungrateful
Sometimes you've been unkind
But all the pain and sorrow and all the bitter tears
They're just water, baby, just water into wine
So baby, open up that bottle
Come and lay down by my side
I can't think of one good reason
We should not be satisfied
Jesus walked upon the water
Healed the sick, the lame, the blind
We are miracles of science, we are accidents divine
We're just like water, baby, just like water into wine
Just like water, like water into wine
In Gretchen Peters's song "Like Water Into Wine," the singer is asking her partner to forget their past misunderstandings and mistakes and to spend a night together. She wants to let go of her inhibitions and just "drink" her partner in, leaving all of her worries behind. She wants to look into her partner's eyes and forget about everything, making only good memories. The singer doesn't want to think about tomorrow or the pain they've caused each other in the past, but instead just be satisfied with the present moment.
The comparison between water and wine is a religious metaphor. The song references Jesus walking on water and turning water into wine, which are both miracles that signify a change in circumstances. The singer is saying that they can change their relationship, just like how water can be transformed into something better.
Overall, the song is about forgiveness, letting go of the past, and enjoying the present moment with someone you care for. The religious metaphor of water and wine elevates the song's message and emphasizes the transformative power of love and forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, open up that bottle
Asking the partner to open a bottle of something to drink, setting the mood for a romantic moment
Come and lay down by my side
Inviting the partner to cuddle and be intimate with each other
I don't have no special reason
Admitting to having no particular motive for the sudden romantic inclination
Just this ache I feel inside
Acknowledging a deep emotional longing for the partner
I wanna lose my inhibitions
Wishing to be uninhibited and free from social constructs and norms
I wanna lose those words we said
Desiring to shed any past negativity or conflict and start afresh
I wanna drink my fill of you, babe
Yearning to completely indulge in the partner, both physically and emotionally
And let it go right to my head
Allowing oneself to experience the high and blissful feeling of being in love
Tonight I want to hold you
Expressing the desire to embrace and be close to the partner on this particular night
I wanna look into your eyes
Eager to stare deeply into the eyes of the partner, symbolizing intimacy and connection
I wanna watch these broken dreams turn into memories
Overcoming past disappointments and heartbreaks, and cherishing new, happy memories with the partner
Just like water, baby, just like water into wine
Referencing the biblical miracle of Jesus turning water into wine, implying the transforming power of love
Don't wanna think about tomorrow
Preferring to stay in the present moment instead of worrying about the future
Don't wanna count my last regrets
Not wanting to dwell on past mistakes or missed opportunities
I can't hate you anymore, babe
Acknowledging that any angry or negative feelings towards the partner have dissipated
And I can't love you any less
Proclaiming that the love for the partner is unchanging and constant
Sometimes I've been ungrateful
Reflecting on personal faults, and admitting to not always being appreciative of the partner
Sometimes you've been unkind
Acknowledging that the partner has made mistakes as well, leading to disagreements or hurt feelings
But all the pain and sorrow and all the bitter tears
Recognizing that past emotional pain and sadness have contributed to personal growth and resilience
They're just water, baby, just water into wine
Emphasizing the transformative power of love, and how it can change the negative into the positive
So baby, open up that bottle
Repeating the earlier request, encouraging the partner to relax and enjoy the moment of intimacy
Come and lay down by my side
Repeating the earlier invitation, asking the partner to be close and affectionate
I can't think of one good reason
Reiterating that there is nothing that should prevent them from enjoying each other's company
We should not be satisfied
Concluding that they should revel in the intimate moment and not settle for anything less
Jesus walked upon the water
Referencing a famous bible story that symbolizes the power of faith
Healed the sick, the lame, the blind
Further referencing the miracles of Jesus that demonstrate the transformative nature of his teachings
We are miracles of science, we are accidents divine
Acknowledging the scientific and evolutionary origins of human beings, but also emphasizing the miraculous, unpredictable nature of love
We're just like water, baby, just like water into wine
Concluding that love has the ability to transform ordinary things into extraordinary, full of joy and wonder
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind