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.
Something Big
Tom Petty Lyrics
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It didn't feel like June
When he met his silent partner
In that lonely corner room
That overlooked the marquee
Of the plaza all-adult
And he was not lookin' for romance
Just someone he could trust
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
Speed ball rang the night desk
Said "send me up a drink"
The night clerk said "It's Sunday man...
Wait a minute, let me think
There' a little place outside of town
Might still have some wine"
Speed ball said "forget it man
Can I have an outside line?"
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
It was Monday when the day maids
Found the still made bed
All except the pillows
That lay stacked up
At the head
And one said "I know
I've seen his face
I wonder who he is"
The other said "probably
Just another clown
Working on something big"
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
Tom Petty's song "Something Big" tells the story of a man whose daily life is uneventful and mundane until he meets his silent partner in a lonely room overlooking an adult plaza. The man is not interested in romance, but he is searching for someone he can trust. He is working on a big project, and he seems to be putting all his energy into it. It is apparent that the man isn't living a life that he enjoys, but he is determined to work hard to achieve his goals. The lyrics describe the man's struggles and how he endures the loneliness and monotony of his routine by focusing on his goals.
The song's chorus makes it clear that the man is unhappy and isn't living the way he wants to. "It wasn't no way to carry on, it wasn't no way to live," he reflects, but he carries on because he is "working on something big." The man is driven to succeed, and he doesn't want anything to hinder his progress, even if that means sacrificing his happiness in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
It didn't feel like Sunday
Sunday didn't feel normal or regular
It didn't feel like June
The month of June didn't feel ordinary or typical
When he met his silent partner
He encountered someone who would aid him without speaking
In that lonely corner room
The meeting took place in a secluded and desolate space
That overlooked the marquee
The room had a view of the illuminated sign above the movie theater
Of the plaza all-adult
The theater showing adult films was part of a large commercial complex
And he was not lookin' for romance
He had no interest in finding a love interest
Just someone he could trust
He was seeking a reliable and trustworthy partner
And it wasn't no way to carry on
His current behavior was unsustainable
It wasn't no way to live
His way of living was not viable in the long term
But he could up with it for a little while
He could manage it temporarily
He was workin' on something big
He had a significant project in progress
Speed ball rang the night desk
Speedball called the hotel front desk
Said 'send me up a drink'
He requested a beverage be brought to his room
The night clerk said 'It's Sunday man...Wait a minute, let me think
The clerk reminded him it was Sunday and had to think of another option
'There' a little place outside of town
There's a small establishment located beyond the city
Might still have some wine'
That place may have wine still available
Speed ball said 'forget it man
Speedball decided to abandon the initial request
Can I have an outside line?'
He asked for access to an external phone line
It was Monday when the day maids
The following day- after Sunday
Found the still made bed
The maids found the bed still fully made
All except the pillows
The only thing missing from the tidy bed were the pillows
That lay stacked up
The pillows were piled and arranged
At the head
Atop the area where a person's head would lay
And one said 'I know
One maid expressed familiarity
I've seen his face
She recognized his appearance
I wonder who he is'
She questioned his identity
The other said 'probably
The other maid offered a plausible answer
Just another clown
He's likely just another eccentric character
Working on something big'
Engaged in a significant project
And it wasn't no way to carry on
The current behavior was unsustainable
It wasn't no way to live
The current way of living was not viable in the long term
But he could up with it for a little while
He could tolerate it for a brief period
He was workin' on something big
He was occupied with a significant project
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TOM PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind