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.
Great Big World
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got to find the bear and the tiger that sleep beside your head
This love that I feel is ferocious as a lion
So brave and so gentle that I almost feel like crying
It's a great big world
It's a great big moon
It's a great big sky
It's a great big world
It's a great big moon
It's a great big sky
It's a great big love for you
Then I tell you a story of a lion who's your best friend
He gets you into trouble but he brings you home safe in the end
Someday all these stories may come to life as true
When a child of your own can wake that lion in you
It's a great big world
It's a great big moon
It's a great big sky
It's a great big love for you
It's a great big world
It's a great big moon
It's a great big sky
It's a great big love for you
It's a great big love for you
The opening lines of Pierce Pettis's song Great Big World project a sense of vulnerability and love from a parent to their child. The singer is tired but still reaches down to tuck their child into bed, while mentioning their animals, a bear and tiger, that sleep beside their head. The singer's love is compared to that of a lion - ferocious, brave, but gentle enough to make them cry.
The chorus focuses on the importance of the child's place in the world. The repetition of "It's a great big world, it's a great big moon, it's a great big sky, it's a great big love for you" highlights the profound scale of the world and the limitless possibilities that await the child. The singer wants the child to understand that there is so much out there for them to explore, to grow and to thrive.
The final verse shifts to the singer telling their child stories about a lion, their best friend. Like the lion, the child may encounter challenges and get into trouble, but through it all, the lion will bring them home safe. The final message of the song is for the child to someday "wake that lion in you" when they have a child of their own. It's a beautiful tribute to the power of love and the importance of passing it on to future generations.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm more tired than you as I reach down to tuck you into bed
Despite my exhaustion, I lovingly tuck you into bed
I've got to find the bear and the tiger that sleep beside your head
I search for the stuffed animals that comfort you as you sleep
This love that I feel is ferocious as a lion
My love for you is powerful and protective like a lion's love for its cubs
So brave and so gentle that I almost feel like crying
My love for you is both courageous and tender, almost moving me to tears
Then I tell you a story of a lion who's your best friend
I share a tale about a lion who becomes your loyal companion
He gets you into trouble but he brings you home safe in the end
Despite leading you astray, the lion always ensures your safety
Someday all these stories may come to life as true
One day, your imaginary tales may become real-life experiences
When a child of your own can wake that lion in you
When someday you have your own child, you may tap into your own inner lion and pass on the love and protection I've given to you
It's a great big world
The world is vast and full of possibilities
It's a great big moon
The moon is a wondrous large presence in the night sky
It's a great big sky
The sky is infinite and limitless
It's a great big love for you
I have an immense, boundless love for you
It's a great big love for you
My love for you is indescribably immense and all-encompassing
Lyrics © SOROKA MUSIC LTD., BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID WILCOX, PIERCE PETTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind