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 Will Be Here
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But when you lose that money
A lot of those friendships end
When you lose that job
Lose that house
Lose that car
Lose that spouse
I will be here
You spend a lot of time
Till there's no time left
You become such a stranger
You don't even know yourself
You can never write
Never call
You can surround yourself with walls
But I will be here
I am the friend you cannot lose
I am the one you did not choose
I am the friend who loves you still
I am the one who always will be here
I will be here
It would take a lot of work
To drive me away
I can take a lot of hurt
I'm willing to share your pain
No, you don't impose
You don't intrude
I'll never turn my back on you, no no
I will be here
Eye for an eye
Such a bitter rule
It was only made to be obeyed by fools
There is no debt
There is no score
Forget it, that's what friends are for
I will be here
(CHORUS)
I will be here
The song "I Will Be Here" by Pierce Pettis talks about the importance of true friendship and loyalty. The lyrics describe how some people can be easily swayed by money or success, causing them to forget their real friends when they face difficult times. On the other hand, the singer reassures his friend that he will never desert him, no matter what happens to him in life. The chorus repeats the phrase "I will be here", emphasizing the singer's steadfastness and devotion to his friend.
The first stanza points out how some people judge their friends by their wealth or social status. The singer warns that such friendships are shallow and unreliable. He acknowledges that life can be cruel sometimes, and people can lose everything they have worked for. However, the singer offers a glimmer of hope by saying "I will be here" to help his friend through the tough times. In the second stanza, the singer admits that sometimes people can become so preoccupied with work and success that they neglect their personal relationships. He reminds his friend that he is always available, even if he feels disconnected from the world. The third stanza reveals that the singer is not the friend his companion chose but the one who stayed by his side regardless of the circumstances. He vows to be faithful to the end, even when others might give up on the friendship. The final stanza rejects the idea of revenge or payback, saying that true friends don't keep score. Instead, they support each other without any expectation of return. The song ends with the reassuring words "I will be here."
Line by Line Meaning
You make a lot of money
Despite the amount of money you make, the friendships you make along with it could end once you lose that wealth.
You make a lot of friends
Your financial success has attracted a lot of friends, but they could abandon you once you fall from that grace.
But when you lose that money
Once you lose that money you once had, you'll realize that a lot of your friends will disappear along with it.
A lot of those friendships end
You'll start scanning your contacts realizing that a lot of your friendships were solely based on your wealth and are thus irrelevant now.
When you lose that job
When you happen to lose that job that you were attached to, the relationship that you shared with fellow employees vanishes in a moment.
Lose that house
Losing the house you live in could separate friendships with neighbors and even family members.
Lose that car
Losing a car that you had could make losing contact with friends and professionals alike during your everyday errands.
Lose that spouse
Losing a spouse or partner could also mean losing friends that you shared with them, including mutual colleagues and other couples.
I will be here
The artist will be a constant friend no matter what situation you may face in life.
You spend a lot of time
You could find yourself so tied up in your daily routines, that you may not find time for your friends.
Till there's no time left
Your life could end up revolving around your routines, and you may never even have enough time left to observe other things in life.
You become such a stranger
You'll lose touch with yourself as you get involved in their day-to-day lives.
You don't even know yourself
You could have lost your identity and they won't recognize themselves as they are no longer self-aware.
You can never write
You could become so distant that you won't write to any of your friends anymore.
Never call
You might not be able to get in touch with your old friends because you're too busy and distant.
You can surround yourself with walls
In a state of avoiding your life's realities, you could isolate yourself from everyone else, even the closest of friends.
But I will be here
The artist of the song implies that they will always be there no matter the situation, even when no one else would.
I am the friend you cannot lose
The singer implies that they will always be a forever friend to the listener.
I am the one you did not choose
This friend has come through the divine timing of life, as they were not chosen by the listener but practically found them.
I am the friend who loves you still
The artist indicates that their love towards the listener will never fade even when there is distance or darkness in their life.
I am the one who always will be here
The artist will be there no matter what even if that means enduring their own suffering to be there.
It would take a lot of work
It would take a lot to push the artist or the bond with the listener apart, and they'll have to try very hard to do so.
To drive me away
It would be difficult to separate the singer and the listener since the singer would never give up on their friend.
I can take a lot of hurt
The artist could withstand a lot of adverse circumstances and even diffusing the same pain with the listener.
I'm willing to share your pain
The singer is willing to share their friend's pain and walk them through the hurt and obstacles in life.
No, you don't impose
The listener's problems won't push the singer away, even if those issues feel cumbersome at times.
You don't intrude
The singer indicates that the listeners won't disturb their life regardless of how big their problems get.
I'll never turn my back on you, no no
The artist will always be there no matter what, and even after everything.
Eye for an eye
The phrase “eye for an eye” includes a sense of entitlement and revenge for injustices, which is not reasonable when thinking about real friendships.
Such a bitter rule
The philosophy of revenge and retaliation is not desirable and actually creates toxicity in life.
It was only made to be obeyed by fools
The singer is saying that taking action based upon the philosophy of revenge makes you an intelligent person.
There is no debt
In friendships there is no accounting, at no point in time does anyone owe the other.
There is no score
The idea of “earning friendship” is not applicable in a true sense.
Forget it, that's what friends are for
The philosophy of friendship depends on an undemanding attitude when it comes to investing in the relationship.
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DrAlexVasquezICHNFM
I’ve been looking for this song for 20 years.
We used to sometimes listen to it at the end of our men’s meetings in Seattle.
@NishaManekMD
One friend we can count on no matter what.
@CJenkinsMusicLover
Says it all. What a friend we have....