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.
Rodeo Around the World
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunlight through an open window all around your angel face,
Swear I see a halo,
Long hair and your dress undone,
You're innocent and shameless,
More fun than a loaded gun, every bit as dangerous.
Oh, what I want to know is: will you be my girl?
Go west, young man,
Go west, young woman,
Let's follow the sunset down just to see where it is going,
Just pack one change of clothes,
Don't give your folks no warning,
Nodding off to the radio,
We'll be in Texas by morning.
Oh, what I want to know: will you be my girl?
Oh baby, we can rodeo…rodeo around the world.
Baby, every true romance is a wild and risky business,
There's danger in the dance. that's why we can't resist it,
So are you in or out?
No time for hesitation,
It's reckless love, no doubt, but I'm fed up with patience.
And, oh, what I want to know is: will you be my girl?
Oh baby, we can rodeo…rodeo around the world,
Oh, what I want to know: will you be my girl?
Oh baby, we can rodeo…rodeo around the world.
In "Rodeo Around the World," Pierce Pettis sings about a wild romance that is both innocent and dangerous. The song begins with him describing the object of his affection as having an angelic face and a wicked laugh. He sees her as both innocent and shameless, and just as dangerous as a loaded gun. He then asks her to join him on a journey of reckless love, to "rodeo around the world." He implores her to leave her old life behind and follow the sunset with him, packing only one change of clothes and nodding off to the radio along the way. Pettis acknowledges that their romance is a wild and risky business but insists that it is worth the danger.
The song's title, "Rodeo Around the World," is a metaphor for the couple's journey through their relationship. Like a rodeo, it is wild and unpredictable, with the potential for danger lurking around every corner. However, just as a rodeo is exciting and a rush of adrenaline, so too is their love. The song's message is that sometimes it is worth taking risks for the ones we love.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear your wicked laugh,
I can hear you laugh in a way that's both sinister and enticing.
Sunlight through an open window all around your angel face,
The light shining on your face makes you look like an innocent angel.
Swear I see a halo,
I'm almost convinced I can see a ring of light around your head like a saint or angel.
Long hair and your dress undone,
You look like you've been disheveled from doing something scandalous.
You're innocent and shameless,
You seem innocent and yet unashamed of being caught in a compromising situation.
More fun than a loaded gun, every bit as dangerous.
You're exciting and unpredictable, like a loaded gun. You're alluring but also risky to be with.
Oh, what I want to know is: will you be my girl?
I want to know if you'll be my partner and lover on this wild journey.
Oh baby, we can rodeo…rodeo around the world.
We can explore the world in our own daring, unconventional way.
Go west, young man,
Let's head westward boldly, like many adventurers before us.
Go west, young woman,
You too can head out west, boldly defying the expectations of society.
Let's follow the sunset down just to see where it is going,
Let's chase after the sun as it sets, because wherever it's headed must be worth discovering.
Just pack one change of clothes,
We'll simplify our lives and travel light, without being bogged down by material possessions.
Don't give your folks no warning,
We'll leave without telling anyone, to avoid being held back or given unsolicited advice.
Nodding off to the radio,
We'll be so carefree and relaxed that we might even doze off while driving, with the music on.
We'll be in Texas by morning.
Our adventurous spirit will take us to Texas by the time the sun rises.
Baby, every true romance is a wild and risky business,
Real love is exciting and often dangerous, not tame and predictable.
There's danger in the dance. that's why we can't resist it,
Like dancing on the edge of a cliff, we're compelled to indulge in something thrilling and possibly perilous.
So are you in or out?
Are you ready to join me in this intense and risky venture, or will you play it safe?
No time for hesitation,
We must act now, without delaying or second-guessing ourselves.
It's reckless love, no doubt, but I'm fed up with patience.
Our love may seem reckless and foolish to some, but I'm tired of being cautious and waiting for the 'right' time.
Oh, what I want to know is: will you be my girl?
Again, I'm curious to know if you'll be my partner and lover on this adventure, no matter how intense or uncertain it may be.
Oh baby, we can rodeo…rodeo around the world.
We can experience the world like cowboys and cowgirls, taking on any challenge and embracing every opportunity that comes our way.
Oh, what I want to know: will you be my girl?
Once more, I'm asking if you'll join me on this wild ride, with all its thrills and perils.
Oh baby, we can rodeo…rodeo around the world.
Together, we can be more than just travelers--we can be daring cowboys and cowgirls on a global journey.
Contributed by Addison N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.