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.
I Need To Know
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Says you might go solo
A good friend of mine
Saw you leavin' by the back door
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
If you think you're gonna leave
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
Because I don't know how long
I can hold on
If your makin' me wait
If you're leadin' me on
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
Who woulda thought
That you'd fall for his line
All of a sudden it's
Me on the outside
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
If you think you're gonna leave
Then you better say so
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
Because I don't know how long
I can hold on
If your makin' me wait
If you're leadin' me on
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know), waah
Baby, I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
If you think you're gonna leave
Then you better say so
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
Because I don't know how long
I can hold on
If your makin' me wait
If you're leadin' me on
I need to know(I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
Baby I need to know
"I Need To Know" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers is a song about a man who suspects his partner might be leaving him. It seems that she is going solo, a rumor that has been going around town, and a good friend of his claims to have seen her leaving through the back door of their home. Petty sings about needing to know the truth because he doesn't know how much longer he can wait around for her to make up her mind. He's questioning if she's leading him on or if she's genuinely planning to leave him.
The song features a fast-paced rhythm, packed with catchy guitar riffs, a prominent bassline, and lively percussion. The chorus is particularly memorable, with its repetitive, chant-like structure that effectively emphasizes Petty's need for answers. Overall, "I Need To Know" has a raw and gritty sound that complements the song's lyrics and themes of desperation and uncertainty.
Interestingly, "I Need To Know" wasn't a huge commercial success when it was first released in 1978, but it gained popularity over time and became a staple of Tom Petty's discography. It's now considered one of his most iconic songs, and it showcases his signature music style and powerful vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the talk on the street
There are rumors going around about you and I want to address them.
Says you might go solo
The rumors are that you might be leaving me and our band to pursue a solo career.
A good friend of mine
Someone I trust has confirmed that they saw you leaving through the back door.
Saw you leavin' by the back door
My friend witnessed you sneaking out and it's making me worry.
I need to know (I need to know)
I am desperate for answers and need to know the truth.
If you think you're gonna leave
If you are planning on leaving me, you need to tell me.
Then you better say so
It is important that you communicate your intentions with me so that I can prepare for any changes.
Because I don't know how long
I am uncertain of how much longer I can hang on without knowing where we stand.
I can hold on
My patience is wearing thin and I don't know how much more I can handle.
If your makin' me wait
If you are deliberately delaying giving me an answer, I need to know why.
If you're leadin' me on
If you are giving me false hope or leading me to think that things are okay, that's not fair to me and I need to know the truth.
Who woulda thought
I never imagined that you would be swayed by someone else's words or actions.
That you'd fall for his line
I am shocked that you have been influenced by someone else to consider a solo career.
All of a sudden it's
It seems as though everything changed very suddenly and I am struggling to keep up.
Me on the outside
I feel like I am not in the loop and am being excluded from important decisions that will affect our future.
Baby, I need to know (I need to know)
I am pleading with you to be honest with me and to let me in on what's going on.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Merin
So blessed to have lived during the time Tom Petty was on this Earth. One of the last of the true storytellers....❤️Even though he’s gone now, he helps me through my life.
evelyn baron
This song was actually about Stan Lynch and the band letting him down and Tom's sheer exuberance camoflaged all that. I don't whether to laugh or cry it's amazing.
Marc G
How did Stan let him down? This song was from around 15 years before tom fired stan
Chris Sharkey
I don’t get it
Kathy Stuhrenberg
Didn’t know that 🤔
Oldie Classic Rock
Literally me too
K G
Love Tom Petty, how adorable was he blasting on the scene with his earlier music. He left us way to soon!
Viktoriya Gereluk
@Joseph ERIC Fisk No way,
Joseph ERIC Fisk
Fentanyl
Ivana Notyers
"too"