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.
He Burns For Her
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blooming like the flowers of Eden,
It's like lying on the bottom of a swimming pool,
A busted saint or just a fool,
He's thinking all this while the serpent lies sleeping,
He lies there and listens to the hissing of his lover's steady breathing,
Like ocean waves that touch shore and retreat,
On her own little island in this vast empty sea,
And he burns for her,
Just a comfort creature, she's not even a friend, oh no,
He burns for her,
This technicolor double-feature, another night of unoriginal sin,
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.
Flowers on the wall blooming after the fall,
Like paradise lost just to spite him,
Giving so little to want so much,
So little feeling for all that touch,
Says he's looking for love, or something that feels just like it,
That's what he told his wife,
He wants the deed back to his life,
She could no longer hold him,
And the wind's moving over the face of the deep,
And the face of this stranger in oblivious sleep,
The wages of sin is death, and in this moment he knows it.
He burns for her,
Burning all his bridges, choking on the fumes, yeah,
He burns for her,
Ashes to ashes, he is totally consumed,
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah,
And he burns for her,
Just a comfort creature, she's not even a friend, (ashes to ashes)
Oh, he burns for her,
Technicolor double-feature, ashes to ashes, whoa.
He burns for her, he burns for her.
He burns for her, whoa,
He burns for her, whoa,
He burns for her, whoa,
He burns for her, whoa,
Oh, he burns for her,
(fade)
In Pierce Pettis's song "He Burns For Her," the lyrics describe a man who is completely consumed by his infatuation with a woman who is not even his friend. The imagery in the song is rich and vivid, starting with "Flowers on the wall after the fall, blooming like the flowers of Eden." This line could be interpreted in a few different ways, but one possibility is that the "fall" refers to the biblical story of Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden. In this interpretation, the flowers represent hope or beauty that remains even after a great loss or downfall. The man is lying at the bottom of a swimming pool, perhaps representing his feeling of being submerged in his desires or emotions.
The lyrics also mention the man's wife, whom he has left behind, and his realization that the "wages of sin is death, and in this moment he knows it." This line suggests that he realizes the consequences of his actions and the harm they are causing to himself and others. However, he continues to burn for this woman even as he is choking on the fumes of his own bridges burning behind him.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on obsession, infidelity, and the consequences of our actions. The use of biblical imagery and vivid descriptions of nature help to underscore the weight of these themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Flowers on the wall after the fall,
Describing the aftermath of his downfall or failure, with the flowers blooming like the ones in the garden of Eden.
Blooming like the flowers of Eden,
Comparing the flowers on the wall to the flowers in the famous biblical garden of Eden.
It's like lying on the bottom of a swimming pool,
Feeling submerged in sadness, like being at the bottom of a pool and looking up at the surface.
A busted saint or just a fool,
Describing himself as someone who is either a failure despite their good intentions, or simply foolish.
He's thinking all this while the serpent lies sleeping,
Reflecting on his situation and the danger he may be in while his lover is still sleeping.
He lies there and listens to the hissing of his lover's steady breathing,
Being comforted by the rhythmic breathing of his lover as he lays there.
Like ocean waves that touch shore and retreat,
Comparing the ebb and flow of his lover's breathing to the waves of the ocean washing over the shore.
On her own little island in this vast empty sea,
Describing his lover as someone who may be unreachable or distant, surrounded by the vast emptiness of the world.
All covered in her crazy quilt of dreams.
Describing his lover as someone who is lost in her own world, with many dreams and desires that may be difficult to understand.
And he burns for her,
Expressing the intense desire he has for his lover.
Just a comfort creature, she's not even a friend, oh no,
Describing his lover as someone who provides comfort and familiarity, but not necessarily friendship or love.
This technicolor double-feature, another night of unoriginal sin,
Comparing his relationship with his lover to a colorful, dramatic movie, but also acknowledging the sinfulness and lack of originality in their situation.
Flowers on the wall blooming after the fall,
Repeating the earlier line to reinforce the idea of new growth and beginnings after a downfall.
Like paradise lost just to spite him,
Comparing his downfall or suffering to the loss of a paradise or heavenly state, with the implication that it was done to punish him.
Giving so little to want so much,
Being unsatisfied with the little he's getting from his relationship and wanting more.
So little feeling for all that touch,
Expressing disappointment that his lover does not seem to have strong feelings or emotions for him.
Says he's looking for love, or something that feels just like it,
Admitting that he wants to find true love or something that simulates it.
That's what he told his wife,
Revealing that he is married, and may be seeking something that he's not getting in his current relationship.
He wants the deed back to his life,
Desiring to regain control of his life, perhaps indicating a feeling of being trapped or helpless in his current situation.
She could no longer hold him,
Suggesting that his lover was the reason he felt trapped or unable to move on.
And the wind's moving over the face of the deep,
Using biblical language to describe the movement or turmoil in his life.
And the face of this stranger in oblivious sleep,
Picturing his lover as a stranger, and him being aware of her sleep while he is awake and restless.
The wages of sin is death, and in this moment he knows it.
Reflecting on the consequences of his actions, and realizing that it may lead to his demise in some way.
Burning all his bridges, choking on the fumes, yeah,
Describing the danger or risk he's taking, and the suffocation he feels from his own actions.
Ashes to ashes, he is totally consumed,
Describing himself as figuratively burning to the ground, with nothing left behind but ashes.
He burns for her, whoa,
Repeating the central idea of the song - his intense desire and passion for his lover.
Oh, he burns for her,
Reinforcing his burning desire for his lover even as the song comes to a close.
(fade)
Denoting the final moments of the song, as the music fades out and the ideas within it linger on.
Contributed by Mia A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.