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.
License To Kill
Tom Petty Lyrics
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And if things don't change soon, he will
Oh, man has invented his doom
First step was touching the moon
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
Now, they take him and they teach him and they groom him for life
And they set him on a path where he's bound to get ill
Then they bury him with stars
Sell his body like they do used cars
Now, there's a woman on my block,
She just sit there facin' the hill
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
Now, he's hell-bent for destruction, he's afraid and confused
And his brain has been mismanaged with great skill
All he believes are his eyes
And his eyes, they just tell him lies
But there's a woman on my block
Sitting there in a cold chill
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
Ya may be a noisemaker, spirit maker
Heartbreaker, backbreaker,
Leave no stone unturned
May be an actor in a plot
That might be all that you got
'Till your error you clearly learn
Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool
And when he sees his reflection, he's fulfilled
Oh, man is opposed to fair play
He wants it all and he wants it his way
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
The song "License to Kill" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers is a poignant commentary on the destructive and self-serving nature of humanity. The lyrics reveal the singer's frustration and despair at the state of the world, where man has become the ruler of the earth and believes he can do with it as he pleases. The first step in man's journey towards this self-destruction was touching the moon, a symbol of power and pride that has led to the deterioration of the environment and the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The song also explores the idea that man is groomed and taught to pursue a path of destruction from early on in life. They bury him with stars and sell his body like used cars, emphasizing the idea that man is consumed and commodified by his own greed and desire for control. The final verse of the song suggests that man has lost all sense of morality and fair play, and seeks only to fulfill his own desires regardless of the cost.
The woman on the block who questions who will take away man's "license to kill" serves as a symbol of hope and resistance against this destructive path that man has chosen. She represents the voice of reason and morality that stands against the prevailing ideology of greed and self-interest.
Line by Line Meaning
Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please
Some people have delusions of grandeur and believe they can do whatever they want because they are in charge of the planet.
And if things don't change soon, he will
If humanity continues to mistreat the earth and each other, there will be devastating consequences.
Oh, man has invented his doom
Humans have created their own demise through their actions and neglect of the environment.
First step was touching the moon
Even though humans have done great things like landing on the moon, it doesn't change the fact that they are also causing harm to the earth.
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
There is a woman in the song who is asking who will prevent those who cause harm and destruction from continuing to do so, as they seem to have a 'license to kill.'
Now, they take him and they teach him and they groom him for life
And they set him on a path where he's bound to get ill
Then they bury him with stars
Sell his body like they do used cars
The systems and institutions in place in society often perpetuate negative behaviors and attitudes, leading to harm and exploitation of individuals for profit.
Now, he's hell-bent for destruction, he's afraid and confused
And his brain has been mismanaged with great skill
All he believes are his eyes
And his eyes, they just tell him lies
People who cause harm to the earth and others are often driven by fear and confusion, and their perception of reality is often distorted and misguided.
But there's a woman on my block
Sitting there in a cold chill
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
The woman in the song is expressing concern about who will stop those who cause harm and destruction, as they seem to be allowed to continue unchecked.
Ya may be a noisemaker, spirit maker
Heartbreaker, backbreaker,
Leave no stone unturned
May be an actor in a plot
That might be all that you got
'Till your error you clearly learn
The song suggests that individuals have the power to make a difference and take action to prevent harm and destruction, even if it means going against the norm and being a disruptor.
Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool
And when he sees his reflection, he's fulfilled
Oh, man is opposed to fair play
He wants it all and he wants it his way
People who cause harm and destruction are often fixated on their own desires and are opposed to fairness and equality, leading to disastrous consequences for the world and its inhabitants.
Now, there's a woman on my block
She just sit there as the night grows still
She say who gonna take away his license to kill?
The song ends with the woman still questioning who will put a stop to those who continue to cause harm to the world, as they seem to have a 'license to kill.'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind