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.
Refugee
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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)
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)
Now baby, you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee) No
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, you 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)
Oh, oh, oh
The lyrics of Tom Petty's song "Refugee" speak to the theme of personal struggle, resilience, and the desire for freedom. The song analyzes the struggles of people who have experienced adversity, and emphasizes that their struggles do not define their lives. The first stanza talks about something that has happened between two people, which they don't talk about much, but it isn't a big secret either. The singer tells the other person that they don't have to live like a refugee, meaning they don't have to live a life of hardship or struggle, and if they want to believe that, they can.
The second stanza speaks directly to the person, asking them why they are choosing to revel in their sadness and misfortune. The singer tries to make them see that everyone has had to fight to be free, and they are no exception. The third stanza speaks to the idea that tough situations are not unique to the person, but rather a shared experience. Petty writes that we "ain't the first," and that there have been countless others who have experienced pain and heartbreak, but that it takes truly feeling those emotions to recognize their truth. Overall, the song serves as a reminder to those who have struggled that they can break free from their past and move forward into a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
We did somethin' we both know it
We committed a shared act that we are aware of
We don't talk too much about it
We avoid discussing it in great detail
Ain't no real big secret all the same
It was not a crucial secret anyway
Somehow we get around it
We find a way to cope with it
Listen it don't really matter to me baby
My opinion is that it does not make a significant impact, my dear
You believe what you want to believe
You can have your own version of what happened
You see you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
You don't need to suffer and live like a displaced person
Somewhere, somehow somebody
At some point, someone, somewhere
Must have kicked you around some
Perhaps someone had mistreated you before
Tell me why you want to lay there
Explain why you choose to stay passive and unresponsive
Revel in your abandon
Enjoy your loneliness and detachment
Honey, it don't make no difference to me baby
Darling, it doesn't matter to me either way
Everybody's had to fight to be free
Everyone has struggled to gain their independence
Now baby you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee) No
Dearest, you don't have to live like an alienated person, I promise
Baby we ain't the first
We are not the initial ones to experience this
I'm sure a lot of other lover's been burned
I am sure that many other people have been hurt as well
Right now this seems real to you
At this very moment, this situation appears authentic to you
But it's one of those things
However, it is one of those things...
You gotta feel to be true
...you must experience it to accept its validity
Who knows, maybe you were kidnapped
Who knows, perhaps you were abducted
Tied up, taken away and held for ransom, honey
Held captive and demanded a payment, my love
No you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
You are not obligated to reside like a person without a home
You don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
You are entitled to living without feeling like a castaway
Oh, oh, oh
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael W. Campbell, Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-qs4pw9jg9p
@shermanhiggins6806 " Satan take back cardi b, take back sticky-eye chick whats-her-name. Take back artificial un-intelligent drum machines! 😆 😮
Can't beat the skins like Ginger did! Wow!
Gimme some good ol' Ringo Starr
Ya' Good Job Kanye! shoulda kept yo big mouth shut!
We stuck with faky Perry and
Lost sweet Matthew boy damn!
{Now if that don't get me a suspension of My Right To Freedom of Speech 💬
I don't know what will}
Ain't No Peace When You
Don't Have Freedom
Know Freedom= Know Peace ✌🏼
@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!
@Anymous253
2024 anyone?
@junkyardhero5202
Yep.
@user-lp6rp5gd3n
Here I am.
@vaperadehaterade
It's on my regular Playlist lol damn straight
@MarcusS298
Yup
@andrewcortez8629
Yep
@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