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.
Candy
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't go for them turnip greens
I sure like that candy
I don't go for them turnip greens
So when you put it on the table
Oh mama think about me
Well I don't drink Coca Cola
Well I don't drink Coca Cola
But I sure like the ol' moonshine
Yeah we drink it from a fruit jar
With my little baby by my side
Well I don't much like walkin'
But I love my Eldorado ride
I ain't never cared a thing about walkin'
But I love my Eldorado ride
Yeah we run it round the cornfield
With my little baby by my side
I sure like that candy
I don't go for them turnip greens
I sure like that candy
I don't go for them turnip greens
So when you put it on the table
Oh mama think about me
I sure like that candy
I sure like that candy
I sure like that candy
Oh mama think about me
Mama think about me
The lyrics to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers "Candy" are a reflection of Petty's love for the simple pleasures in life. In the first verse, he sings about his preference for candy over vegetables, and urges his mother to remember his sweet tooth when preparing meals. The second verse mentions his love for moonshine over Coca Cola, and his enjoyment of drinking it with his partner by his side. In the third verse, he expresses his preference for driving a fancy car (Eldorado) over walking, and again emphasizes the pleasure he derives from spending time with his loved ones.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I sure like that candy" several times, emphasizing how much Petty enjoys the sweet things in life. The song overall has a playful and carefree tone, reflecting Petty's laid-back attitude towards life. While the lyrics may seem simple, they convey the message that sometimes, it's the little things that bring us the most joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Candy sure like that candy
The singer really likes candy and is emphasizing this fact.
I don't go for them turnip greens
The singer does not like turnip greens or any other vegetable as much as they like candy.
I sure like that candy
The singer really likes candy and is emphasizing this fact again.
I don't go for them turnip greens
The artist still does not like turnip greens or any other vegetable as much as they like candy.
So when you put it on the table
The artist is addressing someone who is putting candy on a table and asking them to consider their love for candy.
Oh mama think about me
The singer is calling out to their mother to think about them and their love for candy.
Well I don't drink Coca Cola
The singer does not like Coca Cola that much and is differentiating it from something they do like.
But I sure like the ol' moonshine
The artist really enjoys moonshine, a type of homemade alcohol.
Yeah we drink it from a fruit jar
The artist is describing how they drink moonshine out of a fruit jar or a glass jar used for storing food.
With my little baby by my side
The artist is describing being with their significant other while drinking moonshine.
Well I don't much like walkin'
The singer does not like walking and is differentiating it from something they do like.
But I love my Eldorado ride
The artist really enjoys driving their Eldorado, a type of car.
I ain't never cared a thing about walkin'
The singer does not care about walking at all and really only likes driving their Eldorado.
Yeah we run it round the cornfield
The singer is describing driving their Eldorado around a cornfield.
With my little baby by my side
The singer is describing being with their significant other while driving their Eldorado around a cornfield.
I sure like that candy
The artist really likes candy and is emphasizing this fact again.
I don't go for them turnip greens
The artist still does not like turnip greens or any other vegetable as much as they like candy.
I sure like that candy
The singer really likes candy and is emphasizing this fact again.
I don't go for them turnip greens
The singer still does not like turnip greens or any other vegetable as much as they like candy.
So when you put it on the table
The artist is addressing someone who is putting candy on a table and asking them to consider their love for candy once more.
Oh mama think about me
The artist is calling out to their mother to think about them and their love for candy one last time.
Mama think about me
The artist repeats their request for their mother to think about them and their love for candy.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Thomas Earl Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind