Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was a rock band formed in 1976 from Gainesv… Read Full Bio ↴Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was a rock band formed in 1976 from Gainesville, Florida, USA and led by Tom Petty.

Petty was supported by his band, The Heartbreakers, for the majority of his career. He has occasionally released solo work, as was the case with his 2006 album Highway Companion on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation himself. However, members of The Heartbreakers have played on each of his solo albums and the band has always backed him when touring in support of those albums.

After the Petty's previous band Mudcrutch disbanded, Petty, never one to give up, enlisted Mudcrutch members Tench (keyboards) and Mike Campbell (guitar), along with Gainesville musicians Ron Blair (bass) and Stan Lynch (drums) to form the now famous lineup that was dubbed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They released their first album, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in November 1976. In 2006, the band celebrated the 30th anniversary of that release.

This lineup stayed intact for four records and was responsible for some of the most infectious songs ("American Girl", "Breakdown", "Listen To Her Heart", "Refugee", "I Need To Know", "Don't Do Me Like That") and one of the most critically acclaimed albums ("Damn the Torpedoes") of all time. Their tremendous success catapulted them from club band to arena rockers seemingly overnight.

Bassist Blair split the band in 1982 and was replaced by Howie Epstein, a protege of seminal rocker Del Shannon. Epstein's solid playing and soaring backing vocals further complemented the band's live attack. Without missing a beat, they headed back into the studio to record a string of successful albums, including the classic "Long After Dark". In 1994, Stan Lynch left the Heartbreakers to pursue other musical challenges and Steve Ferrone (well regarded for his work with the Average White Band and Eric Clapton) soon became the Heartbreakers' chosen drummer.

Most recently, at a time when many of their contemporaries have long since grown complacent, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have in 2002 released one of their finest and most controversial efforts - featuring some of Petty's most moving songs. Recorded both before and following the group's 2002 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, "The Last DJ", reflected Petty's strong views about the state of the music business and the culture generally. With the departure of Howie Epstein, "The Last DJ" marked another notable return: after two decades away, founding Heartbreaker Ron Blair returned to the band's rhythm section. In 2010, The Heartbreakers released the well received album "Mojo".

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.

Built to Last
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somewhere out my doorway
Somewhere down my block
I can hear her heartbeat
In rhythm with my clock
I want her more than diamonds
I want her more than gold
I want her more than anything anyone could hold

We were built to last
On until forever
The world is changing fast
But our love was built to last

She has followed me down
Along those empty streets
She has followed me where the rain would fall in sheets
And I know I been changing
Changing like the wind
I was feeling burned out
I got tired of it

We were built to last
On until forever
The world is changing fast
But our love was built to last

So come to me my darlin'
Hold me while I sleep
I know you feel lost
But you're not in too deep

We were built to last
On until forever

The world is changing fast
But our love was built to last

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ song “Built to Last” describe the singer’s deep affection and love for his significant other. The opening lines imply that the singer hears his lover’s heartbeat in sync with his clock, indicating the deep connection the two share. The lyrics then reveal that the singer values his lover more than anything precious or valuable, which suggests that he treasures her presence in his life. Throughout the song, the singer mentions the hardships he and his lover have faced and overcome, emphasizing their loyalty and commitment to each other. The chorus emphasizes the strength and endurance of their love, which was built to last till eternity.

The last stanza encourages the lover to hold onto the singer while he sleeps, promising her that even if she feels lost, she is not in too deep because they were built to last. The entire song conveys a message of love and commitment, highlighting the unbreakable bond between the two lovers. The lyrics reflect a sense of nostalgia as the singer reminisces about the past, ultimately emphasizing the power of true love.

Line by Line Meaning

Somewhere out my doorway
From beyond the threshold of my home

Somewhere down my block
Towards the end of my street

I can hear her heartbeat
I sense her presence

In rhythm with my clock
In sync with the rhythms of my life

I want her more than diamonds
She is more valuable than any gemstone

I want her more than gold
She is more precious than any metal

I want her more than anything anyone could hold
She is more valuable than anything tangible

We were built to last
Our relationship was made to endure

On until forever
For an infinite amount of time

The world is changing fast
The world is constantly evolving

But our love was built to last
Our love can withstand the changes