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.
Mickey LeLand
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From black kids dressed in clown suits, happy just to have a job,
While the ghost-like TV flickers scenes from far away,
African children dying, it was more than Mickey could take.
Bird-like shadow running fast over the desert like a fox,
Saw Mickey's plane go down and my heart fell like a rock,
With wings stretched out like a cross out to resurrect the dawn,
His name was Mickey Leland,
His name was not Mickey Mouse,
And he never did deceive you like the white man in the Whitehouse,
Some idiots get elected like Icarus in flight,
Some mount with wings of angels,
Sometimes they fall from the sky, whoa.
The wind was up that day and song was in the breeze,
I got it tangled in my mind, like a kite in a tree,
And I pulled its broken body down, examined it like a dead bird,
So beautiful, so perfect, yet so useless and absurd.
His name was Mickey Leland,
His name was not Mickey Mouse,
And he never did deceive you like the white man in the Whitehouse,
Some idiots get elected like Icarus in flight,
Some mount with wings of angels,
The they fall like diamonds from the sky.
So let those gulf winds blow, let those white caps roll,
All the way to Houston, all the way to the Alamo,
And flood the halls of Congress,
Come wash these urban slums,
My body lies over the ocean,
Carry me home.
His name was Mickey Leland,
His name was not Mickey Mouse,
And he never did deceive you like the old man in the Whitehouse,
Some idiots get elected like Icarus in flight,
Some mount with wings of angels,
Sometimes they fall from the sky.
Ooh, why?
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
The song "Mickey Leland" by Pierce Pettis is an emotional tribute to the late politician and civil rights activist, Mickey Leland, who died in a plane crash in Ethiopia in 1989. The lyrics of the song paint a vivid picture of the stark contrasts and injustices in society, with images of fast-food drive-ins run by young African American workers, ghostly television screens depicting the tragedy of African children dying, and the vast expanse of the desert with its fleeting shadows of birds. The singer's heart sinks upon hearing the news of Mickey Leland's plane crash, and he compares the fallen politician's fate to that of Icarus, the Greek mythological figure who flew too close to the sun and fell to his death. The mournful chorus repeats the sentiment that Mickey Leland, unlike some elected officials, did not deceive or disappoint the people he served.
The song's final verses call for change, urging the winds and waves to bring renewal to the nation's capital, eradicating urban inequality and poverty. The song is a poignant reminder of the importance of integrity in public service, and the ways that one individual's dedication and compassion can impact the lives of so many others.
Line by Line Meaning
Station wagons order burgers through the drive-in intercom,
Cars of the suburban middle class are served fast food by African American teenagers working low-wage jobs at a drive-in restaurant.
From black kids dressed in clown suits, happy just to have a job,
The workers at the drive-in restaurant are dressed in clown suits, reflecting the absurdity of their working conditions. Despite their limited opportunities, they are happy to have employment.
While the ghost-like TV flickers scenes from far away, African children dying, it was more than Mickey could take.
As Mickey watches television, he sees the suffering and dying of African children. He is deeply troubled by these images and feels a sense of helplessness.
Bird-like shadow running fast over the desert like a fox,
An image of a bird-like shadow moving quickly across the desert landscape.
Saw Mickey's plane go down and my heart fell like a rock,
The artist witnesses the plane carrying Mickey Leland crash, and is deeply affected by the tragedy.
With wings stretched out like a cross out to resurrect the dawn,
The fallen plane is described as having wings outstretched in a cruciform shape, as if trying to bring new life to the dawning day.
Falls like a single drop of rain in the barren hills below.
The plane falls to the ground, like a single drop of rain in a landscape that is otherwise barren and desolate.
His name was Mickey Leland,
The subject of the song is identified as Mickey Leland.
His name was not Mickey Mouse,
The singer emphasizes that the subject of the song is not a cartoon character, but a real person who made a significant impact on the world.
And he never did deceive you like the white man in the Whitehouse,
Mickey Leland is contrasted with politicians in the White House who are seen as untrustworthy and deceitful.
Some idiots get elected like Icarus in flight,
The singer reflects on the danger of electing people who are unprepared for positions of power, using the myth of Icarus who flew too close to the sun and fell to his death as a metaphor.
Some mount with wings of angels,
Some people who are elected to positions of power seem to have the best intentions and qualities of character, like angels with wings.
Sometimes they fall from the sky, whoa.
Even those with the best intentions can fail or fall from grace.
The wind was up that day and song was in the breeze,
The day of the plane crash was windy and a song seemed to be carried on the air.
I got it tangled in my mind, like a kite in a tree,
The singer becomes preoccupied with the idea of the lost potential represented by Mickey Leland's death, feeling the weight of this idea in his thoughts like a kite caught in a tree.
And I pulled its broken body down, examined it like a dead bird,
The singer examines the idea of a life cut short like a bird whose body he holds in his hands, broken and lifeless.
So beautiful, so perfect, yet so useless and absurd.
The idea of lost potential is acknowledged as something that is both beautiful and perfect, but ultimately meaningless in the face of death.
Let those gulf winds blow, let those white caps roll,
The singer urges nature to act, letting the winds and waves of the Gulf of Mexico carry a message to those in power.
All the way to Houston, all the way to the Alamo,
The message is intended for those in power in Texas, specifically in Houston where Mickey Leland was from, and at the Alamo, a symbol of Texas independence.
And flood the halls of Congress, come wash these urban slums,
The message is intended to reach the halls of power in Congress, with the hope of addressing issues of poverty in urban areas.
My body lies over the ocean, carry me home.
The reference to the folk song 'My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean' is used to express a longing for the return of Mickey Leland's body to Houston, his home.
Ooh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?
The repeated phrase expresses a sense of questioning or mourning for the loss of Mickey Leland and the senselessness of his death.
Contributed by Matthew I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.