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.
Words Said in the Dark
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Show me that you are listening with an open heart,
Tell me you will remember these words said in the dark.
If I make my confession, promise never to tell,
Let your lips be silent as a broken mission bell,
Like a heart-shaped locket, if we're ever apart, slip it into your pocket: these words said in the dark.
Hold tight to this moment, these words said in the dark.
See the candle flicker down to just a spark,
Hold tight to this moment, these words said in the dark.
When the sun comes climbing like a bandit into your bed,
Dogs outside are barking the cobwebs from your head,
In the harsh light of morning, don't you take it too hard,
Darling, nothing will change these words said in the dark.
See the candle flicker down to just a spark,
Hold tight to this moment, these words said in the dark,
Oh, hold tight to this moment, these words said in the dark.
The lyrics of Pierce Pettis's song Words Said in the Dark are about the vulnerability and intimacy that comes with confessing one's love. The singer asks their significant other to listen with an open heart and to promise to remember the words said in the dark. The darkness represents a safe space where the singer can open up and be honest about their feelings without fear of judgement. The candle in the room is a metaphor for the fragility of the moment and how it can easily be extinguished like a spark. However, the singer urges their lover to hold tight to the moment and the words said, even when the harsh light of morning comes.
The second verse continues the theme of secrecy and protection by asking their lover to promise to never reveal the singer's confession. The broken mission bell represents the silence that must be kept in order to protect the singer's vulnerability. The heart-shaped locket represents the love that is being shared and the reminder to hold onto it, even when physical separation may occur.
Overall, the song highlights the importance of trust, openness, and vulnerability in a relationship. The darkness represents a safe space for honesty and the promise to hold onto the moment and the words said in it represents a commitment to the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
If I tell you I love you, let the words that I say ring as true tomorrow as they do today,
If I express my love to you, I hope those words will remain genuine even in the coming days.
Show me that you are listening with an open heart,
Please listen attentively with an open heart.
Tell me you will remember these words said in the dark.
Promise me that you will remember these words spoken in private.
If I make my confession, promise never to tell,
If I confess something, please promise me to keep it confidential.
Let your lips be silent as a broken mission bell,
Your silence should be as consistent as a broken mission bell.
Like a heart-shaped locket, if we're ever apart, slip it into your pocket: these words said in the dark.
Like a heart-shaped locket, keep these words close to your heart even when we are apart.
See the candle flicker down to just a spark,
Watch the candle slowly burning out and turning into a tiny spark.
Hold tight to this moment, these words said in the dark.
Embrace this moment of intimacy when these words were spoken in secrecy.
When the sun comes climbing like a bandit into your bed,
When the bright morning sun intrudes your bedroom like a robber,
Dogs outside are barking the cobwebs from your head,
The dogs barking outside force you to wake up and come out of your drowsiness.
In the harsh light of morning, don't you take it too hard,
When you face the reality in the bright morning, don't be too upset.
Darling, nothing will change these words said in the dark.
My dear, these words we shared in secrecy will remain unchanged and unaffected by the daylight.
Oh, hold tight to this moment, these words said in the dark.
Hold on tight to this moment when our hearts were open and honest in the darkness.
Contributed by Carter G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.