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.
Museum
Gretchen Peters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll paint a picture of my heart
And hang it on a wall
It's my sweet release
It's my masterpiece
Hanging on a wall in a museum
I'll rearrange the shadows and the light
'Til the colors turn to black
'Til my broken heart
Is a work of art
Hanging on a wall in a museum
And I'll paint the golden summers
And I'll paint the starry nights
And I'll paint the bloody battles
And the refuse of the fight
Like a message in a bottle
Like a ghost beyond the grave
You're looking for some meaning
But it's my life I'm trying to save
I am a stranger to myself
Not living breathing flesh and blood
But dust upon a shelf
It's my joy and my strife
It's my lot in life
To be hanging on a wall in a museum
The lyrics to Gretchen Peters’s “Museum” explore the concept of using art as a form of resistance and self-expression, particularly in the face of pain and trauma. The singer, who identifies as an artist, uses painting as a way to visualize and externalize their emotions. They refuse to be submissive or vulnerable, insisting that they will fight back against anyone who tries to hurt them. They see their painting as a work of art, a masterpiece that represents their heart and soul. Ultimately, they see themselves as a living exhibit, a piece of art in the metaphorical museum of life.
As the singer describes the act of painting, they use vivid and powerful language to underscore the importance of art in their life. They see painting as a “sweet release,” a way to transform their pain into something beautiful. They compare their broken heart to a “work of art,” using the language of creativity to underscore the idea that art is a way to heal and overcome trauma. Through their painting, they seek to capture the variety of human experience, from the beauty of summer to the darkness of war. They suggest that art has the power to transcend time and space, acting as a message in a bottle that can offer insight and understanding to future generations.
One of the notable features of “Museum” is the way that Gretchen Peters uses language to suggest different layers of meaning. On one level, the song is simply about the power of art to heal and transform. However, there are deeper themes at play, such as the way that art can be used as a form of political resistance. By refusing to surrender to pain or trauma, the singer is positioning themselves as an agent of change. They are using painting as a way to resist the forces that seek to control and subjugate them.
Line by Line Meaning
I am an artist, I won't crawl
As an artist, I refuse to comply with societal norms and expectations.
I'll paint a picture of my heart
I will create a piece of art that reflects my deepest emotions and experiences.
And hang it on a wall
I will display my finished artwork for others to see.
It's my sweet release
Creating art is a cathartic and healing process for me.
It's my masterpiece
My artwork is a crowning achievement in my life's work.
Hanging on a wall in a museum
My artwork will be preserved and displayed in a place of cultural significance.
You can hurt me but I'll fight back
Despite adversity, I will persevere.
I'll rearrange the shadows and the light
Through artistic expression, I can transform pain into something beautiful.
'Til the colors turn to black
Even in darkness, there is beauty to be found.
'Til my broken heart
My deepest pain and struggles.
Is a work of art
Through creativity, I can find meaning and healing in my suffering.
And I'll paint the golden summers
I will capture the beauty of life's happiest moments.
And I'll paint the starry nights
I will create art that reflects the wonder and mystery of the cosmos.
And I'll paint the bloody battles
I will create art that reflects the darkest moments of human history.
And the refuse of the fight
I will show the aftermath of struggle and hardship.
Like a message in a bottle
My art is a form of communication from the depths of my soul.
Like a ghost beyond the grave
My art will outlast me and speak to future generations.
You're looking for some meaning
Viewers of my art seek to understand my message and my struggles.
But it's my life I'm trying to save
My art is a means of personal preservation and healing.
I am a stranger to myself
Through my art, I can explore and confront my own inner demons.
Not living breathing flesh and blood
I am a mere mortal, but my art will live on beyond my lifetime.
But dust upon a shelf
My physical body and existence are temporary, but my art will remain.
It's my joy and my strife
Creating art is both a source of delight and agony for me.
It's my lot in life
My purpose and destiny is tied to my identity as an artist.
To be hanging on a wall in a museum
My greatest aspiration is to have my artwork recognized and displayed as part of human history and culture.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind