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.
Lion's Eye
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A streetlamp shines on a winter scene frozen in time,
Something is drawing you that can melt all the ice and the gloom and will set the whole world right,
There's a flame burning steady and bright in the lion's eye,
In the lion's eye.
To see his face, catch a glimpse of the golden mane, is never safe,
But you know that he's good just the same,
Burning through what is frozen in your soul,
Feel the streams begin to flow in the lion's eye,
In the lion's eye.
Deeper magic from long before,
At the sound of his roar death itself will be working backwards now,
Turning everything around in the lion's eye,
In the lion's eye, in the lion's eye,
In the lion's eye.
The lyrics of Pierce Pettis's song "Lion's Eye" describe a journey through a winter night into a magical world. The imagery of a wardrobe and a streetlamp create a sense of mystery and enchantment, echoing the world of C.S. Lewis's "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." The singer is drawn to a powerful force that can "melt all the ice and the gloom and will set the whole world right." This force is embodied in the lion, whose golden mane and burning gaze suggest strength and goodness.
The lion's eye is the central symbol of the song, evoking both the fierceness and the wisdom of this mythical creature. The lion's roar is itself a source of "deeper magic," capable of reversing death and turning everything around. The song describes a profound transformation in the soul of the singer as he or she feels "streams begin to flow" in the lion's eye. The lion represents a kind of spiritual guide, leading the way to a world beyond the frozen landscape of the winter night.
Overall, "Lion's Eye" is a thoughtful and poetic exploration of themes of magic, transformation, and spiritual growth. The vivid imagery and mystical language of the lyrics suggest a connection to the world of mythology and fairy tales.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking blind through the wardrobe and into the night,
Starting a journey without knowing what's ahead, but feeling drawn to it.
A streetlamp shines on a winter scene frozen in time,
The surroundings are lifeless and stuck in the past.
Something is drawing you that can melt all the ice and the gloom and will set the whole world right,
A force is pulling you towards something that can bring warmth and happiness to the world.
There's a flame burning steady and bright in the lion's eye,
The lion represents a powerful and steady force that can guide you towards that warmth and happiness.
In the lion's eye.
To see his face, catch a glimpse of the golden mane, is never safe,
Looking directly at the lion's power and beauty can be dangerous.
But you know that he's good just the same,
Despite the danger, you trust that the lion's intentions are good.
You can't help but look away from the strength of his gaze,
The lion's power is overwhelming and hard to face directly.
Burning through what is frozen in your soul,
The lion's power can help break through emotional blockages.
Feel the streams begin to flow in the lion's eye,
As you connect with the lion's power, you start to feel emotions and energy flow again.
In the lion's eye.
Deeper magic from long before,
The power of the lion represents a magical force that existed long before us.
At the sound of his roar death itself will be working backwards now,
The lion's power can even reverse death itself.
Turning everything around in the lion's eye,
All aspects of life can be transformed by connecting with the lion's power.
In the lion's eye, in the lion's eye,
In the lion's eye.
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.