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.
Saving Grace
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fading by degrees
And believing all I see to be so
I'm flyin' over backyards
Country homes and ranches
Watching life between the branches below
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
I'm moving on alone
Over ground that no one owns
Past statues that atone for my sins
And there's a guard on every door
And a drink on every floor
Overflowing with a thousand amens
And it's hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby?
You're rolling up the carpet
Of your father's two-room mansion
No headroom for expansion no more
And there's a corner of the floor
They're telling you is yours
You're confident but not really sure
And it's hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby?
You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don't you baby
In Tom Petty's Saving Grace, the singer expresses feelings of confusion and unrest as he travels through different places and observes various aspects of life. He describes passing sleeping cities and fading by degrees, suggesting that his sense of self is also fading away. He mentions how he is flying over backyards, country homes, and ranches, giving him a different perspective on life. He feels that it's hard to say who he is these days, but he keeps running anyway. In this context, running suggests searching for a new purpose, a new identity, and a new way of life.
The chorus "you keep running for another place to find that saving grace" emphasizes the idea of constant search, implying that the singer is still searching for that one thing that will bring him inner peace and happiness. The song conveys a sense of abandonment, as if the singer has left everything behind for this quest, and he has become a wanderer aimlessly searching for something that will help him make sense of his life.
The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is moving forward, but he is not entirely certain of his destination. He describes himself as confident but not entirely sure, suggesting that although he is searching for a better life, he has doubts about his abilities to achieve it. The song Saving Grace is a reflection of the human condition, our restless nature, and our never-ending search for inner peace, purpose, and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm passing sleeping cities
As I travel, I see cities that appear to be asleep.
Fading by degrees
Gradually losing detail and becoming less clear.
And believing all I see to be so
Trusting that what I witness is real and true.
I'm flyin' over backyards
From my high vantage point, I'm observing people's private outdoor spaces.
Country homes and ranches
I'm passing by rural abodes and the land that surrounds them.
Watching life between the branches below
My view from above allows me to see the small details of life that occur beneath the trees.
And it's hard to say
It's difficult to articulate with certainty.
Who you are these days
Your identity and purpose are uncertain at present.
But you run on anyway
Despite the uncertainty, you continue to move forward.
Don't you baby?
A rhetorical question confirming the persistence and fortitude required to keep going.
You keep running for another place
You are seeking something better than where you currently are.
To find that saving grace
You are looking for something that will redeem and rescue you from your current struggles.
I'm moving on alone
I am continuing my journey by myself.
Over ground that no one owns
I am traveling over land that nobody has a claim to.
Past statues that atone for my sins
I pass by effigies that represent my need for forgiveness for my misdeeds.
And there's a guard on every door
Each entrance is heavily secured by an individual who is responsible for monitoring access.
And a drink on every floor
There are refreshments available for patrons on each level.
Overflowing with a thousand amens
The atmosphere is brimming with signs of agreement, affirmation, and support.
You're rolling up the carpet
You are dismantling the trappings of your past and readying yourself for a new beginning.
Of your father's two-room mansion
You are disassembling items that are symbolic of your heritage, possibly shedding traditional expectations.
No headroom for expansion no more
There is no longer any capacity for upward mobility and progress at this location.
And there's a corner of the floor
There is a small, unimpressive space available.
They're telling you is yours
Others are encouraging you to take ownership of this area.
You're confident but not really sure
You are self-assured but still somewhat unsure about what the future holds.
You keep running for another place
You are still striving to find something better.
To find that saving grace
You are searching for something that will provide redemption and deliverance from current struggles.
Don't you baby?
A rhetorical question that emphasises the persistence and endurance required to continue pursuing a brighter future.
You keep running for another place
You are driven to find a better situation.
To find that saving grace
You seek a force that will help you recover and attain closure.
Don't you baby?
Another rhetorical affirmation reinforcing the determination necessary to achieve a better outcome.
Lyrics Β© Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mathmusic1490
Sounds like it's in E minor. ........this man is incredible.............how many tunes
are still in him? How many great covers? Rock, rock and roll, blues,
some country, pop............GENIUS and the Breakers.......Proud to say
his boyhood home is 10 minutes away from me now............I'm a
musician, but this man is a huge gift of talent and all the emotions of
music. I go park in front of his boyhood home, to get the vibes, and to
thank him, thank him, thank him for giving my life invaluable person to
listen to , to play along with on my keyboards, to cry, to laugh, to
feel it all...................Hail TP and Breakers....Beatles of
today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@charliebortolin1688
i dont care what anyone says tom petty is one of the best songwriters and singers of all time
@jerridfosterfoltin8301
Amen!
@barbpence8784
Charlie Bortolin I know all the way π€ππ
@stevenclark924
Exactly!!
@chrisinsel1609
Tom Petty was an American enigma
@brendaatkins2450
They have no idea about true music!
@kennethdicrescenzo2441
I am 57 years old and have had a lot of artists die during my lifetime. None has affected me as much as Tom Petty's passing. I only got to see him once.
@ktgott7824
You got to see him! That's awesome. My friend regrets not going with me... she never saw him
@1960deek
@KT Gott. I feel the same way about Led Zeppelin.
@cindytroxler2838
Absolutely agree.