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.
The Longing
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Longing,
Flipping out on this dock with a wide-eyed gaze,
Longing.
All that I want, I want it so much,
To swallow my pride, drown in your love,
Swan dive into the ocean above.
Into the ocean, oh,
Oh.
Surprised by the joy I feel in my dreams,
Longing,
Homesick for a home that I've never seen,
Longing,
The blood red sunset, it moves something in me.
Oh, it is the longing,
And something is moving behind the scenes,
Yeah, it is the longing.
All that I feel, I feel it so much,
Your presence is real,
Your unmistakable touch drawing me into the ocean above.
Oh, into the ocean,
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I am a vessel, you fill me with song,
Longing,
Someday we will drink so deep and so long,
Longing.
And all that I want, I want it all,
Tremble like a leaf,
I want to shake loose and fall forever into the ocean above.
Yeah, into the ocean,
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
The song "The Longing" by Pierce Pettis starts with the lyrics "I'm a fish out of water upon this stage, Longing, Flipping out on this dock with a wide-eyed gaze, Longing." The singer of the song feels out of place in the situation they are in, and they are acknowledging their longing for something more. As the song progresses, the singer continues to express their desire to be consumed by love and fully dive into it. They also mention feeling homesick for a place they have never been and how the beauty of the sunset triggers something inside of them, which they call "the longing". The lyrics suggest that the singer is yearning for a deeper connection with someone or something and is willing to give themselves entirely to achieve it.
The imagery used in the song is powerful and adds to the emotions conveyed through the lyrics. The image of a fish out of water struggling on a dock creates a vivid picture of the singer's discomfort and unease. The swan dive into the "ocean above" suggests a transcendence beyond the physical realm, evoking a sense of surrender and release. When the singer says they are a "vessel" being filled with song, it can be interpreted as a metaphor for being filled with love or a higher power. The mention of drinking "so deep and so long" suggests a desire to fully immerse oneself in something, to experience it to its fullest extent.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a fish out of water upon this stage,
Feeling out of place and uneasy being in the public limelight on this stage.
Longing,
Expressing a deep desire or yearning for something more.
Flipping out on this dock with a wide-eyed gaze,
Feeling restless and actively seeking out new experiences with an open and curious mind.
All that I want, I want it so much,
The intense longing for something desired, to the point of desperation and obsession.
To swallow my pride, drown in your love,
Desiring a deep connection and vulnerability with someone, regardless of personal ego.
Swan dive into the ocean above.
Taking a leap of faith and fully immersing oneself in the unknown or divine.
Into the ocean, oh,
A continuation of the metaphorical longing and desire for full immersion in something greater.
Surprised by the joy I feel in my dreams,
Finding unexpected happiness and contentment in the subconscious mind during sleep.
Homesick for a home that I've never seen,
Feeling a sense of nostalgia or longing for a place or experience that is unfamiliar or unknown.
The blood red sunset, it moves something in me.
An external experience or observation that stirs up deep emotions and longings within oneself.
Oh, it is the longing,
Reaffirming the overarching theme of the song, the intense yearning and desire for something more meaningful or fulfilling.
And something is moving behind the scenes,
Suggesting that there is something greater at work, beyond what can be seen or understood, leading to this sense of longing.
Yeah, it is the longing.
Reiterating the emotional and psychological state that the singer is in, and the central idea of the song.
All that I feel, I feel it so much,
Expressing intense emotions and how they deeply impact one's being.
Your presence is real,
Acknowledging the existence and impact of a particular person's influence in one's life.
Your unmistakable touch drawing me into the ocean above.
Being pulled towards an all-encompassing, spiritual experience by a significant other or outside force.
I am a vessel, you fill me with song,
Feeling like an instrument or conduit for someone else's creative or emotional expression.
Someday we will drink so deep and so long,
Anticipating a future time of complete immersion and deep engagement in something meaningful or fulfilling.
All that I want, I want it all,
Expressing an intense, all-consuming desire for something that is not yet attainable.
Tremble like a leaf,
Feeling physically and emotionally vulnerable, like a literal leaf shaken by the wind.
I want to shake loose and fall forever into the ocean above.
The ultimate desire to let go of control and fully immerse oneself in a transcendent or divine experience, with no intention of ever returning to the previous state of being.
Yeah, into the ocean,
Repeating the central metaphor for the strong desire and longing for transcendence or spiritual fulfillment.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Expressing a sense of excitement and anticipation towards the fulfillment of one's longing and desires.
Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.