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.
You Did That For Me
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't have to worry about what's in store,
Walk that road exhausted and poor,
Oh, I don't have to cry anymore.
Don't have to know it all,
Don't have to be so proud, stand so tall,
Climb that mountain only to fall,
You did that for me,
Yeah, you did that for me,
You wore the chains so I could be free, yeah,
You did that for me.
Don't have to be ashamed,
Don't have to hang my head, shoulder the blame,
Wondering if my life's been in vain,
Oh, I don't have to be ashamed.
You did that for me,
Hey, you did that for me,
You wore the chains so I could be free, yeah,
You did that for me.
Man of sorrows, well-acquainted with grief,
Dragged to the city dump, spread-eagle on a cross beam,
Propped up like a scarecrow and nailed like a thief,
There for all the world to see.
You did that for me,
Yeah, you did that for me,
Oh, you wore the chains so I could be free, yeah,
You did that for me,
Oh, you did that for me,
Ooh, oh.
The lyrics of Pierce Pettis's song You Did That For Me is a tribute to the sacrifice made by someone for the singer's benefit. The song presents an almost confessional tone as the singer acknowledges his past mistakes and laments his previous state of mind where he had to face the harsh realities of life alone. However, the singer then reveals that everything changed when someone else sacrificed themselves so that he wouldn't have to suffer anymore.
The first verse speaks about how the singer doesn't have to cry or worry anymore because someone else "walked that road exhausted and poor" for him, possibly referring to the biblical story of Jesus Christ carrying the cross. The second verse acknowledges the singer's own vulnerability and fallibility, and how he doesn't have to be perfect thanks to the sacrifice made for him.
The chorus repeats the phrase "You did that for me" to emphasize the enormity of the sacrifice made for the singer's benefit. The final verse mentions the passion of the Christ with vivid imagery of him being "dragged to the city dump" and "spread-eagle on a crossbeam." The singer declares that this sacrifice was made so that he could be free.
Overall, the song portrays a message of gratitude and humility, recognizing the immense sacrifice made for the singer and acknowledging the ways it has changed his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't have to cry anymore,
I do not need to sob again.
Don't have to worry about what's in store,
I need not have concerns about the future.
Walk that road exhausted and poor,
I can move ahead, drained and broken financially.
Oh, I don't have to cry anymore.
Oh, I am grateful that I do not have to weep anymore.
Don't have to know it all,
I am not required to be an expert in everything.
Don't have to be so proud, stand so tall,
I do not have to be haughty or desire attention.
Climb that mountain only to fall,
I do not have to struggle and then go through setbacks.
Oh, I don't have to know it all.
Oh, I am thankful that I do not need to understand everything.
You did that for me,
You accomplished that for me.
Yeah, you did that for me,
Yes, you accomplished that for me.
You wore the chains so I could be free, yeah,
You carried the burdens for me, so that I could be released.
You did that for me.
You accomplished that for me.
Don't have to be ashamed,
I do not need to feel embarrassed or regretful.
Don't have to hang my head, shoulder the blame,
I need not bow down with guilt and accept the responsibility.
Wondering if my life's been in vain,
I do not have to second-guess if my existence has been useless.
Oh, I don't have to be ashamed.
Oh, I am grateful that I do not have to feel ashamed.
Man of sorrows, well-acquainted with grief,
A man who has experienced deep pain and sorrow, very familiar with woe.
Dragged to the city dump, spread-eagle on a cross beam,
Hauled to the landfill, made to lie on a crossbeam.
Propped up like a scarecrow and nailed like a thief,
Positioned like a scarecrow and crucified like a criminal.
There for all the world to see.
Exposed for all people to look at.
You did that for me,
You accomplished that for me.
Yeah, you did that for me,
Yes, you accomplished that for me.
Oh, you wore the chains so I could be free, yeah,
Oh, you carried the burdens for me, allowing me to be set free.
You did that for me,
You accomplished that for me.
Oh, you did that for me,
Oh, you accomplished that for me.
Contributed by Jordan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fred First
Doubt this reaches you Pierce but you replied to a letter from my wife and I, worried parents of a teenage musician that, in 1996, thought he wanted to quit school and write and play music. You replied to our letter and your words were so wise and kind. Our son still plays and sings and has written and copyrighted dozen of songs, but is a social worker working soon on his PhD with music enriching his (and our) life. So thanks for your kindness so long ago. I have only recently revisited your music and am so pleased to hear your voice --your music, your intellect and your spirit.
rustynic1
I love your music Pierce and often recall seeing you at the Bound for Glory show!
KA Ward
great tune, Pierce... thanks...
A. Clayton Vandiver, M.Ed.
Let's start a campaign to get KLOVE to start playing this nationally. Really. We can do this!