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.
The Same Old You
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
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With your David Bowie hair and your platform shoes
A part-time job, sellin' fast food
But out on the street you were nobody's fool
Baby way down deep it's the same old you
Way down deep you ain't hiding the truth
Just for a minute you had me fooled
Well you can walk through the city on fire
You can try and turn away from the truth
Living life like a young politician
Sure of yourself and bullet-proof
But baby,
Way down deep it's the same old you
Way down deep you ain't hiding the truth
Just for a minute you had me confused
Baby way down deep it's the same old you
We could buy a '62 Cadillac
Put a Fender amplifier in the back
Drive straight to the heart of America
Turn up to ten, let that sucker blast
Baby way down deep it's the same old you
Way down deep you ain't hiding the truth
Just for a minute you had me fooled
Baby way down deep it's the same old you
The song "The Same Old You" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers talks about a person who tries to hide their true self behind a facade of confidence and success. The first verse reminisces about the past, specifically 1972, where the person in question had a unique style but only worked part-time at a fast-food restaurant. However, they were able to display street smarts and confidence that garnered admiration from others. The chorus then states that despite any image they project, the person's true self will eventually show, and they cannot hide from the truth. The second verse talks about how the person can try to distract themselves or others from their true selves, but again, it is futile since they are only hiding from themselves.
Overall, the song portrays a message of authenticity and being true to oneself. It suggests that attempting to hide who you truly are will eventually catch up to you, and it's important to embrace your true self instead of trying to run from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah I remember you back in '72
I have a memory of you from the year 1972
With your David Bowie hair and your platform shoes
You had a hairstyle inspired by David Bowie and were wearing shoes with elevated soles
A part-time job, sellin' fast food
You had a job that required you to sell fast food, but it was not full-time
But out on the street you were nobody's fool
You were very street-savvy and could handle yourself well
Baby way down deep it's the same old you
Despite any superficial changes or improvements, your true self has remained unchanged
Way down deep you ain't hiding the truth
You cannot conceal your true identity or nature
Just for a minute you had me fooled
For a short period of time, you were able to deceive or mislead me
Well you can walk through the city on fire
You are capable of navigating through extremely dangerous or difficult situations
You can try and turn away from the truth
You may attempt to ignore or deny the facts, but they will always be there
Living life like a young politician
You conduct yourself with the confidence and calculated manner of a politician who is just starting out
Sure of yourself and bullet-proof
You are very confident in yourself and feel invincible
But baby,
However,
We could buy a '62 Cadillac
It is possible for us to purchase a 1962 Cadillac
Put a Fender amplifier in the back
We could install a Fender brand amplifier in the trunk of the car
Drive straight to the heart of America
We could travel directly to the center or core of the United States
Turn up to ten, let that sucker blast
We could increase the volume setting to the maximum level and let the music play loudly
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL W. CAMPBELL, TOM PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind