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.
I've got a hope
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the days of his life
As the sparks fly upward
From bonfires at night
They fill up the heavens
With pinpoints of light
And I've got a hope
That is not in this world
Time, it is turning
Like a plow in the field
It roots up the earth
And what's hidden is revealed
Sewing the future
While the past, it is sealed
I've got a hope
That is not in this world
Half of the battle
Is only with myself
While the other half
Is something I can't help
Lest I should stumble
I try not to forget
That every hair is numbered
Every footstep, every breath
And this life that I'm living
It will not end in death
I've got a hope
That is not in this world
I've got a hope
That is not in this world
Pierce Pettis's song "I've got a hope" is a song that speaks of the struggles and trials in life and how to find hope amidst them. The song talks about the fact that man is born to trouble and that troubles and trials are a part of life, but amidst these trials, there is hope that is not found in the world we live in. The sparks that fly upward from bonfires at night, fill up the heavens with pinpoints of light which represent the hope that can be found in the midst of the darkness and trials of life.
The song goes on to describe how time is turning like a plow in the field, rooting up the earth and revealing what is hidden. Time also sews the future and seals the past. This means that the future is uncertain, but hope can be found in the fact that we can create a better future for ourselves if we stay hopeful, no matter how bleak the present may seem. The song also describes the battle that we face, which is often with ourselves. We may feel helpless to do anything about certain situations, but the half of the battle that is within ourselves can be won with hope.
The last verse of the song speaks of the importance of not forgetting that every step we take, every breath we take, and every hair on our head is numbered. We are reminded that the life we live will not end in death, and that there is hope beyond this world.
Overall, the song is an uplifting message about hope and how it can help us get through the struggles and challenges of life. It reminds listeners that hope is not found in the world we live in but in something greater beyond ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Man is born to trouble
From the moment we're born, we are destined to struggle and face difficulties throughout our lives
All the days of his life
These struggles will be present every day for as long as we live
As the sparks fly upward
Just as sparks from a fire naturally rise upward, we tend to be drawn towards things that are harmful to us
From bonfires at night
The source of these sparks is typically from fires that occur at night when we are most vulnerable and least able to see clearly
They fill up the heavens
The sparks, like our troubles, seem to permeate every aspect of our lives, as if even the skies above us are filled with our struggles
With pinpoints of light
However, even in the midst of darkness and trouble, there can be small glimmers of hope or light that can give us direction and guidance
And I've got a hope
The singer has found hope that goes beyond the struggles and hardships of this world
That is not in this world
This hope comes from beyond this physical existence and holds a promise of something better
Time, it is turning
As time passes, it brings with it changes, both positive and negative
Like a plow in the field
Just like a plow can uproot grass and dirt, revealing what's underneath, time has a way of revealing hidden truths and shaping the future
It roots up the earth
Time has the power to uproot what was once firmly planted, both physically and metaphorically
And what's hidden is revealed
Secrets and truths that were long buried have a way of coming to light over time
Sewing the future
We're constantly creating the future through the choices and actions we make in the present
While the past, it is sealed
Although we may learn from the past, we cannot change it or undo its effects
Half of the battle
A significant portion of our struggles come from within ourselves
Is only with myself
Our own thoughts, beliefs, and actions can either help or harm us in our fight against turmoil
While the other half
However, external factors also play a role in creating struggles in our lives
Is something I can't help
Some things are beyond our control and must be dealt with as they come
Lest I should stumble
The singer recognizes their own potential to fall or fail, but strives to avoid it by staying mindful and aware
I try not to forget
The artist actively works to remember and keep in mind the following truths
That every hair is numbered
Everything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is accounted for and has a purpose
Every footstep, every breath
All of our actions and experiences, no matter how big or small, matter and contribute to our overall journey
And this life that I'm living
The singer acknowledges the reality of their present existence
It will not end in death
However, they maintain their hopeful outlook that there is something beyond this life that is greater and more enduring
I've got a hope
The singer is reinforcing their commitment to this hope
That is not in this world
This hope comes from something greater than what we can see or experience in this physical world
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.