Refugee
Tom & Heartbreakers Petty Lyrics


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We did somethin' we both know it
We don't talk too much about it
Ain't no real big secret all the same
Somehow we get around it
Listen it don't really matter to me baby
You believe what you want to believe
You see you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
Somewhere, somehow somebody
Must have kicked you around some
Tell me why you want to lay there
And revel in your abandon
Honey, it don't make no difference to me baby
Everybody's had to fight to be free
You see you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
Now baby you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)

Baby we ain't the first
I'm sure a lot of other lover's been burned
Right now this seems real to you
But it's one of those things
You gotta feel to be true

Somewhere, somehow somebody
Must have kicked you around some
Who knows, maybe you were kidnapped
Tied up, taken away and held for ransom
It don't really matter to me
Everybody's had to fight to be free
You see you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)




I said you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
You don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee), ah, ah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tom Petty and Heartbreakers' song "Refugee" speak to an intense emotional experience of feeling trapped, helpless, and ostracized. The song begins by acknowledging that both the singer and the person being addressed in the lyrics are aware of a situation they have both been through, but they don't discuss it much. Petty affirms that it's not a big secret but tries to convey that they have somehow gotten around it. The focus then shifts to the person being addressed, whom the singer is trying to persuade to believe that they don't have to live in misery like a refugee. Petty suggests that there may be some trauma or abuse in the person's past that is causing them to feel this way, and that they need to fight to be free from it. He implies that the only way to truly understand the situation is to have experienced it firsthand.


The song is ultimately an empowering anthem of self-determination and the will to overcome adversity. It's not entirely clear who the "you" being addressed in the lyrics is meant to represent; it could be a lover, a friend, or anyone who is struggling to escape from marginalized or oppressive circumstances. Whatever the case may be, Petty is imploring them to rise above their difficulties and not to give up hope. Overall, "Refugee" is a powerful declaration of resilience and the human spirit's capacity to endure and triumph over hardship.


Line by Line Meaning

We did somethin' we both know it
There was something we did, and we both know what it is.


We don't talk too much about it
We don't discuss it very often.


Ain't no real big secret all the same
It's not a huge secret though.


Somehow we get around it
We manage to deal with it.


Listen it don't really matter to me baby
I don't care about it that much.


You believe what you want to believe
You can believe what you like.


You see you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
You don't have to live a lifestyle of a refugee.


Somewhere, somehow somebody
At some point, someone, somewhere...


Must have kicked you around some
Mistreated or hurt you.


Tell me why you want to lay there
Why do you want to be stagnant?


And revel in your abandon
Enjoying the loneliness or giving up.


Honey, it don't make no difference to me baby
It doesn't matter to me, darling.


Everybody's had to fight to be free
Everyone had to struggle to gain freedom.


Now baby you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
You don't have to live as a refugee, dear.


Baby we ain't the first
We are not the only ones to experience this.


I'm sure a lot of other lover's been burned
I'm sure other couples have been hurt.


Right now this seems real to you
At the moment, it feels like reality to you.


But it's one of those things
However, it's one of those situations


You gotta feel to be true
That you have to experience to believe.


Who knows, maybe you were kidnapped
Perhaps you were abducted.


Tied up, taken away and held for ransom
Restricted, abducted, and detained for payment.


It don't really matter to me
It doesn't concern or bother me that much.


You see you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
You don't have to suffer like a refugee, you know.


I said you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
I repeat, you don't have to lead a refugee lifestyle.


You don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee), ah, ah
You don't have to live as a refugee, ah, ah.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL W. CAMPBELL, TOM PETTY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@thedragongamer5698

here's the lyrics :


We got somethin', we both know it, we don't talk too much about it
Ain't no real big secret, all the same, somehow we get around it
Listen, it don't really matter to me baby
You believe what you want to believe, you see

You don't have to live like a refugee
(Don't have to live like a refugee)

Somewhere, somehow, somebody must have kicked you around some
Tell me why you want to lay there, revel in your abandon
Honey, it don't make no difference to me, baby
Everybody's had to fight to be free, you see

You don't have to live like a refugee
(Don't have to live like a refugee)
No baby you don't have to live like a refugee
(Don't have to live like a refugee)

Baby we ain't the first
I'm sure a lot of other lovers been burned
Right now this seems real to you, but it's
One of those things you gotta feel to be true

Somewhere, somehow, somebody must have kicked you around some
Who knows maybe you were kidnapped, tied up
Taken away and held for ransom
Honey, it don't really matter to me, baby
Everybody's had to fight to be free, you see

Don't have to live like a refugee
(Don't have to live like a refugee)
No you don't have to live like a refugee
(Don't have to live like a refugee)
You don't have to live like a refugee
(Don't have to live like a refugee)


like if this comment is usefull!



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@Anymous253

2024 anyone?

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Yep.

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Here I am.

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It's on my regular Playlist lol damn straight

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Yup

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@shermanhiggins6806

Dear God, could we please have Tom Petty back? You could have Justin Bieber instead.

@charlottecomfort2446

Ah shit 😞 his music is so transcendent - you just reminded me he’s gone 💔

@evera1505

...plus sooooo many others...just to have TP back!?

@Nuggettha80sguy

Take Taylor swift also as part of the deal

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