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 Need a Love
Pierce Pettis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too much guilt and other self-inflicted wounds,
You suffer so much, your heart is black and blue,
I think I know what is wrong with you.
You need a love – yes, you do,
You need a love, I'm telling you,
Oh, you need a love – yes, you do,
Someone to pull you through, oh yeah.
Oh,
Oh yeah.
I'm not your mother, I'm not your fool,
I've got your number, so don't act so cool,
Who are you fooling? – oh, It sure ain't me,
Better listen: there's something missing.
You need a love – yes, you do,
You need a love, I'm telling you,
You need a love – yes, you do,
To be your best friend, bring out the best in you,
Bring out the best in you, oh.
Oh yeah.
It's so obvious, it's so true,
Nothing else can make you feel so good.
Get on your good dress, fix up your hair,
Oh, get on your good side and get out there,
Don't be an island, oh, don't he alone,
You better grab your chance before it's gone, yeah.
You need a love – yes, you do,
You need a love, I'm telling you,
Oh, you need a love – yes, you do,
Someone to hold you, someone to pull you through.
Oh, you need a…
You need a love – yes, you do,
Be your best friend, bring out the best in you.
You need a love,
You need a love,
You need a love,
You need a love,
You need a love,
You need a love,
You need a love, whoa,
(ad lib, fade)
In "You Need a Love," Pierce Pettis sings about a person with a bad attitude and self-inflicted wounds who is in need of love. Throughout the song, Pettis suggests that the person's negative attitude and emotional pain stems from a lack of love and connection in their life. He encourages them to find someone to hold them and pull them through, to be their best friend and bring out the best in them. The song is a reminder that everyone needs love and connection in their life, and without it, we can fall into a negative and lonely state.
The lyrics are straightforward and emotive, touching on universal themes of the need for love and the negative consequences of loneliness and emotional pain. Pettis sings with conviction and empathy, making the listener feel seen and understood. The song's melody is simple and catchy, with a driving beat and singable chorus that makes it memorable.
Line by Line Meaning
You got such a bad attitude,
Your negative stance and outlook on life is unparalleled.
Too much guilt and other self-inflicted wounds,
You wallow in regrets and self-punishment, and that's causing you great pain.
You suffer so much, your heart is black and blue,
You're in so much emotional distress that it has manifested physically, and it's visible to everyone.
I think I know what is wrong with you.
I've observed your behavior and your reactions closely, and I have a pretty good idea of what's troubling you.
You need a love – yes, you do,
What you need in your life is a deep and meaningful connection with someone that can help ease your worries.
You need a love, I'm telling you,
I'm not just suggesting this, I'm telling you straight up that this is what you require to find happiness.
Someone to hold you, someone to pull you through,
You need someone that can offer you comfort and support, and help guide you through the difficult times.
Someone to pull you through, oh yeah.
A strong and caring companion can be the saving grace that gets you through the worst of times.
I'm not your mother, I'm not your fool,
I'm not going to coddle you or let you get away with any nonsense; you need to take responsibility for your own life.
I've got your number, so don't act so cool,
I can see right through your facade, so don't try to play it off like everything is fine when it's clear that it's not.
Who are you fooling? – oh, It sure ain't me,
You're not going to be able to trick me into believing that you don't need a positive and empowering relationship in your life.
Better listen: there's something missing.
You may not realize it yet, but there's a void in your life that can only be filled by a loving and supportive partner.
To be your best friend, bring out the best in you,
In addition to providing emotional support, a true partner can also be a best friend that can help you reach your full potential.
It's so obvious, it's so true,
The need for love in your life is self-evident and undeniable.
Nothing else can make you feel so good.
There's simply no substitute for the feeling of being truly loved and cherished by someone else.
Get on your good dress, fix up your hair,
It's time to present your best self and prepare for the possibility of finding that special someone.
Oh, get on your good side and get out there,
You need to put yourself out there and be open to finding someone new, even if it's uncomfortable at first.
Don't be an island, oh, don't be alone,
Isolating yourself from others and shutting yourself off from the world will only worsen your situation; it's time to reach out and connect with others.
You better grab your chance before it's gone, yeah.
You need to act now and make the most of your opportunities, because time is of the essence and you don't want to miss out.
Be your best friend, bring out the best in you.
A true partner will not only be your closest confidant but will also help you become the best version of yourself.
You need a love,
The crux of the song: you need a loving companion in your life to help you overcome your troubles and find happiness.
whoa,
An exclamation of emphasis or emotion, signifying how important the message of the song is.
(ad lib, fade)
The song fades out, leaving the listener with the message to take to heart.
Contributed by Natalie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.