Pretty Things

Album: Blackbirds (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Gretchen Peters wrote this haunting song with her friend Ben Glover (Colton Dixon's "Love Has Come for Me," Lee Brice's "Hard To Love"). She told Billboard magazine the story of the tune: "I had this idea, which essentially became the first verse, about this woman talking about aging and needing her stock, or her looks," she said. "I felt it was something I wanted to tackle, but it wasn't something I wanted to do head-on."

    "I ended up playing it for Ben when we were writing songs for this album. It ended up being more about all the things we lose along the way," Peters continued. "There was a mention about the Nashville flood [of 2010] in the second verse. That experience is still with me -- the fact that you can lose so much in such a seemingly non-dramatic kind of way. The sun was out, and the worst damage had actually taken place while the sun was shining. I'm happy we were able to take it in more of a metaphorical territory."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."