A former staff writer for PolyGram Publishing in Nashville, Pettis' musical career was started in 1979 when Joan Baez covered his song, "Song at the End of the Movie", on her album Honest Lullaby. Following that release, Pettis became heavily involved in the "Fast Folk movement" in New York in the 1980s alongside artists such as Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega.
In 1984, Pettis released his first independent solo album, Moments, followed by a string of releases for High Street Records; While the Serpent Lies Sleeping, Tinseltown and Chase the Buffalo. None of these releases have made Pettis a household name, but his music has become extremely popular with other artists. His songs have been covered by artists like Dar Williams ("Family" on Mortal City), Garth Brooks ("You Move Me" on Sevens), Dion & the Belmonts, Sara Groves, Randy Stonehill and others.
In the early 1990s, Pettis developed a working relationship with songwriter and producer Mark Heard. Pettis was performing with Heard at the Cornerstone Festival in July of 1992, when Heard had a heart attack on stage. Heard finished the show, but collapsed off-stage afterwards and died the following August. That loss led to the start of a tradition for Pettis, who has started off each of his albums with one of Heard's songs since 1993's Chase the Buffalo, where he recorded Heard's "Nod Over Coffee". Other Heard covers include "Satellite Sky" (1996's Making Light of It), "Tip of My Tongue" (1998's Everything Matters), "Rise from the Ruins" (2001's State of Grace) and "Another Day in Limbo" (2004's Great Big World.) Pettis also appeared on a 1994 tribute to Heard entitled Strong Hand of Love.
In 1996, Pettis signed on with Compass Records and released Making Light of It, produced by David Miner (T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello), and featuring Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong of The Choir.
Two years later Everything Matters was released, produced by Grammy award winning Gordon Kennedy (who is best known for co-writing Eric Clapton's "Change the World.") Pettis followed that release with State of Grace in 2001, which featured cover art by the late southern folk artist Howard Finster.
2001 saw Pettis' most regionally oriented album, State of Grace released. 2004's Great Big World record saw Pettis collaborating with a number of other songwriters. In 2009 That Kind of Love included less of a regional focus. 2013 saw Pettis, along with Tom Kimmel and Kate Campbell, form the New Agrarians and release a debut album on the independent Due South label.
2019 saw the release of his album "Father's Son".
Pettis tours frequently, alternating between solo shows, concerts with the New Agrarians, and a double bill with his daughter Grace Pettis.
Chase the Buffalo
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Followed after buffalo
They found a use for every part
Everything except his heart
I have wandered like those herds
Lost in music, lost in words
But the hunger leads me on
And I can put my ear right to the ground
Just to hear those motors humming
The pounding sound of hoofbeats
Like a thousand guitars strumming
And there is music in all this
It is all material
Before the beauty melts like snow
Chase the buffalo
People in these halls and bars
They wish on me like I'm a star
But I can never fill that hole
I am not their buffalo
And the gravity of the situation makes me start to fall
My guitar like a fire alarm is ringing off the wall
And there is music in all this
It is all material
Before the beauty melts like snow
Chase the buffalo
East of Eden, west of the night
The sun lies bleeding in a dying light
And the lady in the Cheyenne moon
Is singing out her mournful tune
So I chase the herds again
Smear the warpaint on my skin
Riding west with all my might
Where the sun is holding off the night
I cannot name this passion
Don't know where this stuff comes from
Maybe its a trail of tears
Or just a trail of crumbs
But there is music in all this
It is all material
Before the beauty melts like snow
Chase the buffalo
Pierce Pettis's "Chase the Buffalo" discusses the theme of human nature and the inherent desire to constantly chase something, be it buffalo, music, or passion. The song starts with an allusion to Native American traditions, citing the example of how the Indians of long ago followed after buffalo, utilizing every part of its body except its heart. This sets up the metaphor for the rest of the song, with Pettis comparing himself to the buffalo, and the various things he chases in life as the humans who followed after the ancient herds.
The first verse also mentions how Pettis has wandered like those herds, lost in music and lost in words. He describes the hunger that drives him forward, a temptation as seductive as a siren's song. This is a common theme in the world of music and art, where artists are often driven by an insatiable desire to create, to be heard, and to make an impact. The verses that follow further explore this theme, with Pettis acknowledging how people often look up to him as a star, but he is unable to fill the emotional void that they seek to satisfy.
There is a sense of desperation in the song, as Pettis seems to be trying to grasp at something intangible, something that is always just beyond his reach. He describes the pounding sound of hoofbeats, like a thousand guitars strumming, and the music that is present in all of it. The final verse is perhaps the most poignant, as Pettis describes himself "chasing the herds again," smearing warpaint on his skin and riding west with all his might. He does not know where this passion comes from, but music is his way of chasing the buffalo and capturing the beauty of life before it melts away like snow.
Line by Line Meaning
Indians of long ago
Native Americans from the distant past
Followed after buffalo
Tracked and hunted wild buffalo
They found a use for every part
They utilized every part of the animal
Everything except his heart
They did not use the buffalo's heart
I have wandered like those herds
I have roamed aimlessly like the buffalo herds
Lost in music, lost in words
I get lost in the power of music and language
But the hunger leads me on
My deep desire drives me forward
Seductive like a siren's song
Irresistibly alluring, like a mythical siren's song
And I can put my ear right to the ground
I can listen closely to the earth
Just to hear those motors humming
To hear the rumbling of engines
The pounding sound of hoofbeats
The powerful noise of running hooves
Like a thousand guitars strumming
Resembling the sound of many guitars playing in unison
And there is music in all this
There is beauty in all things, even loud or chaotic sounds
It is all material
All of this inspiration can be used to create art
Before the beauty melts like snow
Before the moment of inspiration passes
Chase the buffalo
Pursue and capture the fleeting beauty of the world
People in these halls and bars
The people around me in bars and music venues
They wish on me like I'm a star
They have high expectations of my musical talent
But I can never fill that hole
I will never be able to meet all of their needs and desires
I am not their buffalo
I cannot be everything to everyone
And the gravity of the situation makes me start to fall
The weight of expectations is overwhelming
My guitar like a fire alarm is ringing off the wall
My music is loud and powerful like a blaring warning signal
East of Eden, west of the night
Between paradise and darkness
The sun lies bleeding in a dying light
Sunset signals the end of day and the fading of light
And the lady in the Cheyenne moon
The mythical woman associated with the full moon in Cheyenne culture
Is singing out her mournful tune
Her voice echoes over nighttime landscapes with sadness
So I chase the herds again
I pursue creativity and inspiration like the buffalo hunters of old
Smear the warpaint on my skin
Become energized and inspired through creative expression
Riding west with all my might
Moving forward with full force
Where the sun is holding off the night
Where daylight lingers and night has not yet dominated
I cannot name this passion
I do not fully understand or have a name for this desire
Don't know where this stuff comes from
I do not know where my inspiration and drive originate
Maybe its a trail of tears
Perhaps my journey is marked by sadness and difficulty
Or just a trail of crumbs
Or, perhaps the path is unclear and only marked by small clues
Contributed by Nathan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Darren Zieger
An absolutely extraordinary, thoughtful, gorgeous song. Contemporary folk doesn't get any better than this.
Sonam Palmo
C'mon, folks...Listen and love him.
GHXSTEYEZ
as a native american sioux. Boy i really wanna chase a buffalo.. but i cant, it might chase me instead 😂🙏