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.
Mary Jane's Last Dance
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had a good lookin' mama who never was around
But she grew up tall and she grew up right
With them Indiana boys on an Indiana night
Well, she moved down here at the age of eighteen
She blew the boys away, it was more than they'd seen
I was introduced and we both started groovin'
Last dance with Mary Jane
One more time to kill the pain
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again
Well, I don't know but I've been told
You never slow down, you never grow old
I'm tired of screwing up, tired of goin' down
Tired of myself, tired of this town
Oh, my, my, oh, hell yes
Honey, put on that party dress
Buy me a drink, sing me a song
Take me as I come 'cause I can't stay long
Last dance with Mary Jane
One more time to kill the pain
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again
There's pigeons down on Market Square
She's standin' in her underwear
Lookin' down from a hotel room
The nightfall will be comin' soon
Oh, my, my, oh, hell yes
You've got to put on that party dress
It was too cold to cry when I woke up alone
I hit the last number, I walked to the road
Last dance with Mary Jane
One more time to kill the pain
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again
The lyrics to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' song "Mary Jane's Last Dance" narrate the story of a strong and independent young woman who grew up in Indiana and moved to a new place at the age of eighteen. Despite her unsettled childhood with an absent mother, she grew up to be a tall and confident woman who attracted many men. The singer was one of them, and they began to groove together. However, despite liking him, she tells him that she has to keep moving on. With the chorus, the singer laments his growing weariness and conflict with his town and himself.
The singer describes his intense longing for an escape from his life's monotony and his city's environment. In the final verse, he recalls a scene that reminds him of Mary Jane while strolling and seeing pigeons in Market Square. This scene reminds him of Mary Jane standing in her underwear to see the nightfall soon. He requests that Mary Jane wears her party dress for one last time, and they dance together. However, the lyrics indicate that Mary Jane has taken her final dance as the singer wakes up alone and walks down the road, symbolizing new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
She grew up in an Indiana town
Mary Jane was raised in a small town in Indiana
Had a good lookin' mama who never was around
Her mother was attractive but not present in her upbringing
But she grew up tall and she grew up right
With them Indiana boys on an Indiana night
Despite her mother's absence, Mary Jane grew up admirably with the boys in her town
Well, she moved down here at the age of eighteen
She blew the boys away, it was more than they'd seen
I was introduced and we both started groovin'
She said, "I dig you, baby, but I got to keep movin' on, keep movin' on"
When Mary Jane moved to a new town, she caught the attention of many men, but she couldn't settle down with any one of them
Last dance with Mary Jane
One more time to kill the pain
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again
Mary Jane wants one last moment of pleasure before she leaves the town once again
Well, I don't know but I've been told
You never slow down, you never grow old
I'm tired of screwing up, tired of goin' down
Tired of myself, tired of this town
Oh, my, my, oh, hell yes
Honey, put on that party dress
Buy me a drink, sing me a song
Take me as I come 'cause I can't stay long
Mary Jane is weary of her current lifestyle and wants to let loose and have one more wild night before moving on again
There's pigeons down on Market Square
She's standin' in her underwear
Lookin' down from a hotel room
The nightfall will be comin' soon
Mary Jane is in a hotel room in town, reflecting on her past and preparing to leave
Oh, my, my, oh, hell yes
You've got to put on that party dress
It was too cold to cry when I woke up alone
I hit the last number, I walked to the road
Mary Jane is determined to enjoy herself and leave her troubles behind, even when they catch up with her and she is alone again
Last dance with Mary Jane
One more time to kill the pain
I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again
Mary Jane is desperate for one last thrill before she moves on to a new chapter in her life
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@groovymovie3213
Kim Basinger (the actress playing the corpse of Tom’s affections in this video) said that she had a lot of fun on this shoot! She said that Tom was really a very shy man, which was fine by her because she was also fairly shy herself. They broke down giggling more times than either could count and she said he was incredibly sweet to work with. That made me happy.
@annettestobb2847
Awwwww...
So sweet!
That also helps me feel better about being quiet and shy through various parts of my life as well. #TomPetty
@Godisalwaysgracious
😊
@FiveKnuckleShufflah
Tom was a great guy from all accounts.
@berndthiel613
very nice Story , thank you groovymovie ;-)
@MrGenexxx
I'm sad you had to explain who Kim Basinger was😞
@oldben1800
The idea of this track is so genius, this is exactly the way people feel when they have to leave something they have loved forever, it basically describes nostalgia in the best way possible visually.
@duncan3998
https://youtu.be/JguiIuC3IX8
@Matt-hw9tg
is the implication he sexed the body? actually unsure please tell me
@therock-a-roller
@@Matt-hw9tg no, I can see why you'd think that, but the whole idea is he is giving one last night of life to this woman who had an untimely death.