In 1999 she released her first album, Imaginaryland, consisting mostly of a capella covers. In 2000, Petra was struck by a car while crossing a street in Los Angeles; the resulting injuries forced her out of performance for several months. In 2005 she released the home-recorded album Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out (Bar/None), a complete a cappella rendition of The Who Sell Out. The project was suggested to Haden by longtime friend Mike Watt, who also gave her the eight-channel multi-track cassette recorder she used to make it. Funded in part by a Durfee grant and wanting to perform the work live, Haden created a new arrangement of The Who Sell Out for a ten woman a capella choir called Petra Haden & The Sellouts. The premier live performance of the full work occurred in July 2005 at the Ford Amphitheatre as a part of the "sound." concert series.
She has also released a self-titled collaboration with jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, and a collaboration with accordionist Miss Murgatroid (otherwise known as photographer Alicia J. Rose) entitled Bella Neurox.
She contributed to the recording of ØØ Void by drone metal band Sunn O))) and played on the debut and follow up album of Sunn o))) guitarist Greg Anderson's other doom metal band Goatsnake.
Of lately an acapella rendition of Let Your Love Shine is used in Prius commercials. The mp3 is available as a free download from the Toyota website.
TATTOO
Petra Haden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Bout what makes a man, a man
Was it brain or brawn, or the month you were born
We just couldn't understand
Our old man didn't like our appearance
He said that only women wear long hair
We knew what we had to do
We went downstairs, past the barber and gymnasium
And got our arms tattooed
Welcome to my life, tattoo
I'm a man now, thanks to you
I expect, I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die, tattoo
My dad beat me 'cause mine said "Mother"
But my mother naturally liked it and beat my brother
'Cause his tattoo was of a lady in the nude
And my mother thought that was extremely rude
Welcome to my life, tattoo
We've a long time together, me and you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die, tattoo
Now I'm older, I'm tattooed all over
My wife is tattooed too
A rooty-toot-toot, rooty-tooty-toot-toot
Rooty-toot-toot tattoo too
To you
Petra Haden's song "Tattoo" tells the story of two brothers who are discussing their understanding of what it means to be a man. They consider whether it's intelligence, physical strength, or the month of one's birth that defines masculinity. The addition of tattoos is seen as a rite of passage to prove their manhood, despite their father disapproving of their choice to try long hair and tattoos which he thinks are for women.
The young men borrow money from their mother, go past a barber and a gym to a tattoo parlor to get their arms tattooed. The singer acknowledges that they may come to regret the tattoos, but they will never be removed, even during post-mortem skin grafts.
The lyrics then reveal that the singer's dad beats him for his tattoo because it says "Mother," but the singer's mother beats his brother for having a tattoo of a nude lady. The singer mentions that now he's older and has tattoos all over his body, and his wife also has tattoos. The song ends with the repeated line, "A rooty-toot-toot, rooty-tooty-toot-toot, rooty-toot-toot tattoo too."
Line by Line Meaning
Me and my brother were talkin' to each other
The singer and their sibling were discussing what qualities make a man.
'Bout what makes a man, a man
The conversation topic between the singer and their sibling was about masculinity.
Was it brain or brawn, or the month you were born
They were wondering if it was intelligence, physical strength, or astrological sign that determines manhood.
We just couldn't understand
The artist and their sibling were puzzled by what defines a man.
Our old man didn't like our appearance
The father of the artist and their sibling disapproved of their looks or style.
He said that only women wear long hair
The father thought long hair is a feminine trait and was therefore not appropriate for men.
So me and my brother borrowed money from mother
The singer and their sibling asked their mother for money.
We knew what we had to do
The siblings had a plan in mind to handle the situation.
We went downstairs, past the barber and gymnasium
The brothers went down to another floor of the building where a tattoo parlor was likely located.
And got our arms tattooed
The two of them got tattoos on their arms.
Welcome to my life, tattoo
The singer is addressing their tattoo, welcoming it into their life.
I'm a man now, thanks to you
The artist feels more masculine or mature now because of their tattoo.
I expect, I'll regret you
The singer knows that at some point in the future they will likely regret getting the tattoo.
But the skin graft man won't get you
Even though the singer may change their mind about the tattoo, it will remain on their body and cannot be removed by a surgeon.
You'll be there when I die, tattoo
The singer's tattoo is a permanent part of their life and will stay with them until their death.
My dad beat me 'cause mine said "Mother"
The artist's father became angry and physically punished them because of a tattoo that reads 'Mother.'
But my mother naturally liked it and beat my brother
On the other hand, the artist's mother approved of the 'Mother' tattoo, and punished their sibling instead for a different tattoo of a naked woman.
'Cause his tattoo was of a lady in the nude
The sibling's tattoo was of a naked woman, which the mother thought was inappropriate.
And my mother thought that was extremely rude
The singer's mother considered the naked woman tattoo vulgar or inappropriate.
Now I'm older, I'm tattooed all over
The artist has multiple tattoos covering much of their body.
My wife is tattooed too
The artist's partner also has tattoos.
A rooty-toot-toot, rooty-tooty-toot-toot
This phrase is likely meant as a fun or playful sound effect rather than any specific meaning.
Rooty-toot-toot tattoo too
The singer's wife also has a tattoo.
To you
The song is ending or transitioning, and the singer is acknowledging their audience by saying 'to you.'
Lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc.,
Written by: PETER DENNIS BLANDFOR TOWNSHEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind