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.
Should I Stay or Should I Go
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I shoulda seen
Leave it to you
To treat me mean
Every promise, was just a runaround
I shoulda known it
Yeah you're gonna let me down
It's the last time you're gonna hurt me
I shoulda known it
Hard to believe
It was all right there
In front of me
Sold down the river
Left for dead
Yeah you're puttin' ideas
In another man's head
And it's over now you see
It's the last time you're gonna hurt me
Thanks for nothin'
Yeah thanks a lot
Go ahead baby
Take all I got
And it's over now ya see
It's the last time you're gonna hurt me
It's the last time you're gonna hurt me
It's the last time you're gonna hurt me
"I Should Have Known It" is a song that talks about the singer's realization that their love interest's promises were just a runaround. The singer acknowledges that the signs of this mistreatment were there from the beginning, but they chose to overlook them. The lyrics reflect a sense of self-blame and regret for not recognizing their love interest's true nature sooner. The song suggests that the singer has finally come to terms with their relationship's reality and has decided to move on.
The chorus repeatedly asserts, "It's the last time you're gonna hurt me," indicating the singer's resolve to end the toxic relationship. The use of negative language throughout the song, such as "treat me mean" and "sold down the river," evokes a sense of betrayal and hurt. The line, "putting ideas in another man's head," suggests that the love interest was unfaithful, adding to the singer's pain.
Overall, "I Should Have Known It" is a poignant song about recognizing one's mistakes in a relationship and coming to terms with the fact that it is time to move on. The lyrics are relatable and sincere, and they convey a sense of empowerment through the singer's decision to end the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I shoulda known it
I should have been aware of your true intentions, actions, and behaviors.
I shoulda seen
I should have noticed the warning signs and realized what was truly happening.
Leave it to you
It is common for you to behave in such a selfish, hurtful manner.
To treat me mean
To show disrespect, cruelty, and unkindness towards me.
Every promise, was just a runaround
All of your assurances and guarantees were just empty words and dishonest excuses.
Yeah you're gonna let me down
You are going to disappoint, fail, and betray my trust.
Well it's over now you see
The relationship we had is now finished and ended permanently, and you can finally see how your actions affected me.
It's the last time you're gonna hurt me
This is the final time that you will be able to cause me pain, harm, or suffering.
Hard to believe
It is tough for me to accept and comprehend the reality of the situation.
It was all right there
All of the evidence, clues, and indications of your behavior were right in front of me, but I was unable to see them clearly.
In front of me
Present and visible, yet I was unable to fully comprehend or discern the meaning behind it.
Sold down the river
You betrayed me and left me vulnerable and defenseless, in a situation that could have dire consequences for me.
Left for dead
You disregarded my needs, desires, and feelings, and abandoned me without concern for my well-being.
Yeah you're puttin' ideas
You are manipulating and influencing another person with your lies and deceit, causing harm to both them and me.
In another man's head
You are causing another man to doubt, mistrust, and harm me, by whispering lies and rumors about me.
Thanks for nothin'
You gave me nothing, and I received nothing positive or beneficial from our relationship.
Yeah thanks a lot
Sarcastic gratitude, as I have not benefited from this experience and feel deeply hurt and wronged.
Go ahead baby
Go ahead and do what you want, as your actions have caused me to lose faith in you and our relationship.
Take all I got
Take everything I have left, including my love, trust, and respect for you.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL CAMPBELL, TOM PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind