After working with his early bands The Sundowners, The Epics, and Mudcrutch (which also included future Heartbreakers members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench) he began his recording career with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers when the band broke onto the national music scene with their 1976 self-titled debut album. Still, it took America a full year to catch up to the album. "Breakdown" was re-released to radio and became a Top 40 hit in 1977 after word filtered back the band was creating a firestorm in England.
He was also a member of The Traveling Wilburys, along with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. Petty and the Heartbreakers also toured as a backing band for Bob Dylan.
Petty is a vocal critic of the modern recording industry, including the disintegration of independent radio stations.
Petty has been supported by his band, The Heartbreakers, for the majority of his career. He has occasionally released solo work, as is the case with his 2006 effort, Highway Companion, on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation himself. Examples of other solo albums include Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers
Petty died on 2 October 2017 following a cardiac episode earlier that day at his home in Malibu, California. Although some media outlets incorrectly reported his death following an erroneous police report, his death was confirmed later that day by his publicist and manager.
Break Down
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's alright if you don't
I'm not afraid of you runnin' away, honey
I get the feeling you won't
There is no sense in pretending
Your eyes give you away
Something inside you is feeling like I do
Baby, breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night (baby, baby, breakdown)
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see?
Breakdown, it's all right
It's all right
It's all right
Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night (baby, baby, breakdown)
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see?
Breakdown, it's all right
It's all right
It's all right
Tom Petty's "Breakdown" is a song that delves into the insecurities and uncertainties of a romantic relationship. The singer presents two potential scenarios - that the person he is addressing loves him or doesn't love him. He expresses that he is not afraid of the person leaving him, but he also has a feeling that they won't. The lyrics are meant to depict the emotional back-and-forth that often exists in a relationship where one person is unsure of their partner's feelings.
The chorus of the song, "Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me," describes the singer's willingness and readiness to handle any emotional outburst from the person he is addressing. He is urging them to let go of any emotional baggage they may be carrying and to share it with him. The repeated refrain of "It's all right" is meant to convey a sense of calm and reassure the person that no matter what, everything will be okay.
The song's simple yet catchy melody adds to the overall feeling of uncertainty that the lyrics convey. The repeated chorus emphasizes the searching, restless nature of the relationship. It serves as a reminder that sometimes the most important thing in a relationship is to be honest with one another and to express one's true feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
It's alright if you love me
It's acceptable if you have affection towards me
It's alright if you don't
It's acceptable if you don't have affection towards me
I'm not afraid of you runnin' away, honey
I am not scared of you leaving
I get the feeling you won't
I believe you won't leave
There is no sense in pretending
It is useless to act like everything is okay when it is not
Your eyes give you away
Your eyes reveal your true emotions
Something inside you is feeling like I do
You are experiencing the same emotions as me
We said all there is to say
We have discussed everything that needs to be discussed
Baby, breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
My dear, let yourself go and release all your emotions to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night (baby, baby, breakdown)
Express your feelings and let me comfort you throughout the night
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see?
Let it all out, and I am here waiting for you
Breakdown, it's all right
Don't worry about having an emotional breakdown, it's okay
It's all right
Everything is going to be fine
It's all right
Everything is going to be fine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind