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.
Yer So Bad
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Took him for all he was worth
Now she's a swinger dating a singer
I can't decide which is worse
But not me baby, I've got you to save me
Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had
In a world gone mad, yer so bad
My sister's ex-husband can't get no lovin'
Walks around dog-faced and hurt
Now he's got nothin', head in the oven
I can't decide which is worse
But not me baby, I've got you to save me
Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had
In a world gone mad, yer so bad
Ah but not me baby, I've got you to save me
Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had
In a world gone mad, yer so bad
Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had
In a world gone mad, yer so bad
The lyrics to Tom Petty's song "Yer So Bad" are about two different relationships. The first relationship is between the singer's sister and her yuppie ex-husband. The singer implies that his sister married him for his money and took him for all he was worth before leaving him. The ex-husband is now unable to find love and is depressed, with his head in the oven. The singer struggles to decide which is worse: his sister's current lifestyle as a swinger dating a singer or her ex-husband's current state of misery. The second relationship is between the singer and his lover. He expresses that she is the best thing that ever happened to him and she saves him from the "world gone mad." Despite her being "so bad," she is the one who makes his life better.
The song touches on themes of love, money, and societal norms. The singer seems to criticize his sister for marrying for money and for her current lifestyle. He implies that it is not a good way to live and that it is worse than being depressed and alone like her ex-husband. However, the singer also celebrates his own relationship and how his partner saves him from the "world gone mad." He suggests that true love is the only thing that can make life worthwhile amidst all of life's chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
My sister got lucky, married a yuppie
My sister married someone for their wealth and status
Took him for all he was worth
She took all his money and possessions
Now she's a swinger dating a singer
She is now in an open relationship and seeing a musician
I can't decide which is worse
I am not sure which is more undesirable
But not me baby, I've got you to save me
I am not in a bad relationship because I have you to protect and care for me
Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had
Despite your flaws, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me
In a world gone mad, yer so bad
In a chaotic and unpredictable world, you are my comfort and stability
My sister's ex-husband can't get no lovin'
My sister's former spouse is unable to find affection
Walks around dog-faced and hurt
He looks sad and defeated
Now he's got nothin', head in the oven
He has lost everything and may be contemplating suicide
Ah but not me baby, I've got you to save me
I am grateful for having you to support me emotionally and mentally
Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had
Despite your flaws, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me
In a world gone mad, yer so bad
In a chaotic and unpredictable world, you are my comfort and stability
Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had
Despite your flaws, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me
In a world gone mad, yer so bad
In a chaotic and unpredictable world, you are my comfort and stability
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mynameistehalex7899
Don’t cry because he is gone. Smile because he was here. R.I.P legend
@shawnaalexander4357
One of the best ♥️
@KelseyyRachel
Well said ❤️
@rachelbabcock3626
I8y
@frgwyn3760
More like don’t be happy he gone, be sad he was here
@kerryblackburn7850
Smile because he left this world so many great tunes, that we can treasure for the rest of our days
@pattigibson959
I can listen to Tom sing this over and over. He is truly missed.
@taur1966
RIP Legend........1950-2017 "the best we ever had"
@briantrend1812
Tom was born two weeks before me . the HEARTBREAKERS were the most 'special band' in the world their songs were great AMERICAN CLASSICS. Tom petty and Heartbreakers were AMERICA RESPECT from the UK
@songsthatarecatchy
God bless you...