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.
Too Much Ain't Enough
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
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Now a little more at stake
I see you've had a hard time
Livin' with the change
You've got me up in line
Now tryin' to call your bluff
But you just won't be satisfied
Too much ain't enough
You're standing by the telephone
Waitin' for the word
And ever since that bathroom scene
There's been a slight concern
I'm trying' to make this easy baby
You seem to like things rough
You just can't be satisfied
Too much ain't enough
It ain't enough, it ain't enough.
Too much baby ain't enough no way
Too much baby ain't enough no way
Come on baby I'm down on my knees
Guess some little girls just can't be pleased
Little miss queen of hear ts you're a strange thing
Why you want to stay so vague
I'm wanderin' through this mess you made
To see what I can save
I'm livin' on the line now
Tryin' to call your bluff
But you just won't be satisfied
Too much ain't enough.
The lyrics of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers's song "Too Much Ain't Enough" tell the story of a relationship in turmoil. The singer is trying to please his partner, who seems to be unable to find satisfaction. The lines "Looks like you got a little more to lose/Now a little more at stake/I see you've had a hard time/Livin' with the change" hint at the idea that the couple may be going through some personal or external struggles that are affecting their relationship. The mention of a "bathroom scene" also suggests that something unpleasant may have happened between them, causing tension and mistrust.
The chorus "Too much ain't enough/It ain't enough, it ain't enough" conveys the frustration of the singer in trying to meet his partner's demands, only to realize that nothing seems to be enough for her. He is "livin' on the line now/Tryin' to call your bluff" but his partner is not satisfied. The last verse, addressed to the "little miss queen of hearts," portrays her as a mysterious and complicated person, who is not easy to please, and who has caused a mess that the singer is trying to fix.
Overall, the lyrics of "Too Much Ain't Enough" describe the difficult and sometimes exasperating experience of being in a relationship with someone who seems to constantly need more, and who is not easily satisfied.
Line by Line Meaning
Looks like you got a little more to lose
Seems like you've gained a bit more than what you can afford to lose now.
Now a little more at stake
You have a little more to risk now.
I see you've had a hard time
I can tell you're having a difficult time.
Livin' with the change
Adapting to the new situation has been tough for you.
You've got me up in line
You have put me in a position where I must act or make a decision.
Now tryin' to call your bluff
Now I'm trying to expose your deception.
But you just won't be satisfied
You cannot seem to be content with what you have.
Too much ain't enough
You always want more, even when you have a lot.
You're standing by the telephone
You are waiting for a phone call.
Waitin' for the word
You are waiting for some specific information.
And ever since that bathroom scene
Things have not been the same since the unpleasant incident in the bathroom.
There's been a slight concern
I am a little worried about something.
I'm trying' to make this easy baby
I'm attempting to make things less difficult for you.
You seem to like things rough
You appear to enjoy challenging situations.
Too much baby ain't enough no way
You always need more, which is never satisfied.
Come on baby I'm down on my knees
I'm begging and pleading with you.
Guess some little girls just can't be pleased
Maybe some people will never be content regardless of what they have in life.
Little miss queen of hearts you're a strange thing
You, the girl who thinks she's the ruler of hearts, are a very unusual person.
Why you want to stay so vague
Why do you want to keep things unclear and uncertain?
I'm wanderin' through this mess you made
I'm trying to navigate through the situation that you have created.
To see what I can save
To figure out what I can salvage from this situation.
I'm livin' on the line now
I'm putting everything I have on the line now.
But you just won't be satisfied
However, you still cannot be content despite my efforts.
Too much ain't enough
Your insatiable desire for more things or experiences is never-ending.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind