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.
It's Good to Be King
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be there in velvet, yeah, to give 'em a smile
It's good to get high and never come down
It's good to be king of your own little town
Yeah, the world would swing, oh, if I were king
Can I help it if I still dream time to time
Get a feeling of peace at the end of the day
And when your bulldog barks and your canary sings
You're out there with winners, it's good to be king
Yeah I'll be king when dogs get wings
Can I help it if I still dream time to time
It's good to be king and have your own world
It helps to make friends, it's good to meet girls
A sweet little queen who can't run away
It's good to be king, whatever it pays
Excuse me if I have some place in my mind
Where I go time to time
The song "It's Good to Be King" by Tom Petty is all about fantasy, indulgence and escapism. The chorus line "It's good to be king" is repeated several times throughout the song, referring to the feeling of having complete control over one's life and surroundings. The first verse talks about the pleasure of being able to give people a smile and wearing velvet. The second verse delves more into the things that money can buy, like drugs and the feeling of superiority one can get from being wealthy. The chorus repeats the sentiment of how good it feels to be the one calling the shots and to be surrounded by people willing to do one's bidding.
The bridge of the song deals with a more surreal idea of being king, as it talks about a world that would swing only if Petty were in charge. He admits to still having dreams of ruling the world. The final verse is perhaps the most interesting, as it touches on different aspects of why it's good to be king. Petty talks about being able to make friends and meet girls, though he also adds wistfully that it's important to have a "sweet little queen who can't run away." This suggests that even in the fantasy world of being king, there is still a sense of fear and insecurity.
Overall, "It's Good to Be King" is a song that indulges in the idea of being able to escape reality and have complete control over one's life. At the same time, it acknowledges the dark side of such a fantasy, including the fear of being alone and the insecurity that comes with the need for affirmation from others.
Line by Line Meaning
It's good to be king, if just for a while
Being in a position of power is desirable, even if it's temporary
To be there in velvet, yeah, to give 'em a smile
Being able to live luxuriously and make others feel good is a perk of being in power
It's good to get high and never come down
Having an escape from reality is enjoyable
It's good to be king of your own little town
Being in control of your own life and surroundings is satisfying
Yeah, the world would swing, oh, if I were king
Imagining the possibilities of being in power is exciting
Can I help it if I still dream time to time
It's natural to daydream about what it would be like to have power
It's good to be king and have your own way
Having control over your own decisions is fulfilling
Get a feeling of peace at the end of the day
Experiencing a sense of calm and accomplishment is rewarding
And when your bulldog barks and your canary sings
Being surrounded by loyal companions is a benefit of being in power
You're out there with winners, it's good to be king
Associating with successful people is a confidence booster
Yeah I'll be king when dogs get wings
Acknowledging that it's unlikely to become king, but still daydreaming about it
It's good to be king and have your own world
Creating your own universe is satisfying
It helps to make friends, it's good to meet girls
Having power attracts people to you
A sweet little queen who can't run away
Having a loyal partner who won't leave you is desirable
It's good to be king, whatever it pays
Being in power comes with benefits, both tangible and intangible
Excuse me if I have some place in my mind
Apologizing for daydreaming about being in power
Where I go time to time
A place in the mind where one can escape to imagine being in power
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Thomas Earl Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrKrille93
I'm not a sentimental guy what so ever, but I miss this man every day. The world is a worse place without him.
@marcosgomes7681
True
@jamesfinkley5030
Amen!!!
@robinharrington4086
It sure is.😢
@allisonmohon9662
He crossed my mind today,, that’s why I’m here ❤
@littleteethkeith
Amen
@jarihalonen9642
Every man has an "empty box" in their minds where they like to go from time to time. It's the place of absolute peace and quiet; it's the time when a man's eyes become sort of glazed and they're just absent from the moment and time. No woman has ever understood this and probably never will. I always feel, when listening to this song, that it's exactly what this song is all about. It's good to be king, if just for a while. Cheers, Tom Petty.
@austonsexton3161
Very well said. Perfect 👍
@gregorymullins8873
lol every woman has the same place my friend, where she is queen, and the king serves her.
And for some of us, well it's hard to say 😅
@sheilaherndon3808
❤❤❤😢My forever crush!!!