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.
Swingin'
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In her boots and silver spurs
Gonna hitchhike to the yellow moon
When a Cadillac stopped for her
And she said, "Hey, nice to meet you, are you goin' my way?"
Yeah, that's when it happened
The world caught fire that day
Yeah, she went down swingin'
Well, she was over twenty-one
In trouble with the law
And it didn't faze her none
She called her mother-in-law
And said I need a little money
I knew I could count on you
After that night in Vegas
And the hell that we went through
We went down swingin'
Like Benny Goodman
Yeah, we went down swingin'
Moonlight on the interstate
She was 'cross the Georgia line
Looked out the window feeling great
Yeah, it had to come in time
And she said I'm never goin' back
She said at last I'm free
I wish ma could see me now, she'd be so proud of me
She went down swingin'
Like Glenn Miller
Yeah, she went down swingin'
Like Tommy Dorsey
Yeah, she went down swingin'
Like Sammy Davis
She went down swingin'
Like Sonny Liston
The song 'Swingin'' by Tom Petty tells the story of a woman who goes on a spontaneous adventure and leaves her troubles behind. The first verse describes how the woman is stranded on the highway and decides to hitchhike. While waiting, a Cadillac pulls over for her, and she asks the driver if he can take her where she needs to go. They hit it off, and the connection between them is so powerful that it feels like the world is on fire. The chorus, "she went down swingin'" is repeated multiple times, emphasizing the woman's rebellious and independent spirit.
The second verse continues to explore the woman's wildness. She's over the age of 21 and has had run-ins with the law, but none of that fazes her. She calls her mother-in-law for money and reminds her of a wild night they had in Vegas. The chorus is repeated, with the addition of the line "like Benny Goodman," evoking the image of a big band songstress.
The third verse paints a beautiful picture of the woman driving across state lines, feeling free and alive. She declares that she won't go back to her old life and wishes her mother could see her now. The chorus is once again repeated, this time with a list of famous musicians, emphasizing the woman's strength and character.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, she was standing by the highway
She was standing near the road.
In her boots and silver spurs
She was wearing boots and silver spurs.
Gonna hitchhike to the yellow moon
She wanted to hitchhike to the moon.
When a Cadillac stopped for her
A Cadillac stopped to pick her up.
And she said, "Hey, nice to meet you, are you goin' my way?"
She greeted the driver politely and asked if they were going in her direction.
Yeah, that's when it happened
Something significant occurred at that moment.
The world caught fire that day
The world seemed to ignite with excitement and possibility.
And she went down swingin'
This woman continued to fight and pursue her dreams even when faced with adversity.
Yeah, she went down swingin'
She never gave up or stopped trying, even when things got tough.
Well, she was over twenty-one
She was older than 21 years of age.
In trouble with the law
She had legal problems.
And it didn't faze her none
She was not bothered by this situation.
She called her mother-in-law
She contacted her mother-in-law for help.
And said I need a little money
She asked for some financial assistance.
I knew I could count on you
She trusted her mother-in-law to come through for her.
After that night in Vegas
There was a significant event that took place in Las Vegas.
And the hell that we went through
They experienced a difficult time together.
We went down swingin'
They faced their challenges with fortitude and resilience.
Like Benny Goodman
They faced their challenges with the same energy and spirit as jazz musician Benny Goodman.
Yeah, we went down swingin'
They never gave up even when things looked bleak.
Moonlight on the interstate
There was a serene atmosphere on the highway under the moonlight.
She was 'cross the Georgia line
She was crossing over into Georgia.
Looked out the window feeling great
She was feeling good and hopeful.
Yeah, it had to come in time
Things were finally looking up.
And she said I'm never goin' back
She vowed to never return to her past struggles.
She said at last I'm free
She felt liberated and unencumbered.
I wish ma could see me now, she'd be so proud of me
She wished her mother could witness her success and be proud of her.
Like Glenn Miller
She faced her battles with the same strength and determination as music icon Glenn Miller.
Yeah, she went down swingin'
She faced her struggles with the same tenacity and resilience as before.
Like Tommy Dorsey
She fought with the same vigor and spirit as musician Tommy Dorsey.
Yeah, she went down swingin'
She refused to be defeated and continued to fight.
Like Sammy Davis
She faced her difficulties with the same grace and determination as Sammy Davis.
She went down swingin'
She never gave up or backed down, she kept fighting until the end.
Like Sonny Liston
She pushed through her struggles with the same force as boxer Sonny Liston.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ProperZen
Tom Petty always was always there. 70’ radio when I was a kid in my dad’s truck with “Breakdown” and “Refugee”. And early MTV with “Stop Draggin My Heart Around” and “Don’t Come Around Here.”
Then MTV was huge and there was Petty as the cat in the hat, the Wilbury’s or on tour as Dylan’s band. Damn.
And it just kept going into the 90’s with the one two punch of “Full Moon Fever” and “Into the Great Wide Open” followed by the single “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.”
He was always there. Great music. So good live. That Souther drawl and easy smile. And the beautiful music: tight hooks and every song it’s own story.
I liked that he was there. I liked the world with Tom Petty in it; the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame sublime “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
This song with its melancholy shuffle and the video’s angles guts me. The hat is in a closet somewhere, his scarfs stashed away. I feel a knot in my stomach.
Tom Petty is not in the world any more. And I won’t ever see him live again or read about he’s newest album coming out.
I miss him. The world is a beautiful place. Truly beautiful. But it was a better place when he was here too.
@industrialdrama466
A Florida Boy becomes a national treasure. And he went down swinging.
@jimboloper1819
Several of um has brother. 😢😢😢😢
@dr.buzzvonjellar8862
National treasure and his legend will grow. What a writer
@SCBeatty1
The thing about Tom Petty is, unlike pretty much EVERYONE else who hangs onto their musical career for more than a decade, his music never lost it's raw, authentic quality. It never became formulaic, flat, safe, or lifeless. For the most part, the music from every stage of his career is as enjoyable as any other stage. Seriously, who else can you say that about?
@saspinks3001
SC Beatty - You hit the nail on the head. So true.
@joeruiz4010
Amen dude. Not only is it that, Tom Petty has influenced or had some kind of noted influence on nearly every rock and roll, hard rock, metal, heavy/thrash metal, and grunge band that formed from the 80's-Present. He's even influenced a massive amount of Country artists/bands as well.
@sameoldthing4037
Tom Petty was indeed great. You will get no argument from me there. However there are several others who have left behind( and who are still alive as well) a large body of work which did change with the times. I have broadened my taste in music quite a bit over the past few years and I have discovered many artists that I wish I had not been so close minded as to not discover them years ago! I like rock, I like country, I like some pop music Etc... But most of all I like any music where the poet / songwriter puts his / her heart and soul into their music and has a message in it. Or a Feeling in it that almost anyone can relate to in some way.
@evelynbaron2004
I wrote an article about this particular video which I thought was a masterpiece :). May get it recognized... not important. What pissed me off the most in the episode where the heroines lover is falling to his death is the utter, criminal spectator sport it was for the people around the pool below. Cheers, loved your post!
@evelynbaron2004
This particular video fascinated me for a vr long time, not because it was more moving emotionally than his other work but for its complexity. As a video it packs a big punch. I read something from a thoughtful poster who thought Jackson Browne was more cerebral -- watch this and that argument falls apart, as much as I respected the writer. I thought about it for days and days -- he could do anything, and yes, still wish he were still here with his love on his arm. The way of the world.
@alanlamb7062
This gentleman is one of the most important figures in all of American music, enough said.