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.
God
tom petty and the heartbreakers Lyrics
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He was the head of the class
She was a cute little thing
He liked the way she shook her glass
And they went off to Texas
And they bought some land yeah
And they settled in a hobo
Home by a taco stand
There was no way to explain it
She was god's gift to man
Well he got a promotion
And he bought himself a color T.V
Had the cable put in
And they watched a round of jeopardy
And they sat out in the evening
And they watched the sun go down
And everything they did
They were livin' on the outside of town
Well the time went by
That he didn't understand
She was god's gift to man
Yeah baby tell me, tell me real good
Don't you know that we're livin' just like a young boy should?
Well she went off to Houston
Where she was livin' in sin
Well he built an office building
But nobody moved in
She wound up in El Paso
On the streets again
It was hard to take it
But sometimes you just can't win
It was after a little way
That he didn't understand
And couldn't understand that
She was god's gift to man
Well I seen her on T.V just a couple of nights ago
She was a doin' a commercial
Smilin' with some ivory soap
Well I knew inside her heart was black as coal
There ain't no way to replace the amount of lovin' that little girl stole
Yeah one day she got it comin'
And she won't understand her niche
She's god's gift to man
Yeah I've been doin' things that I don't understand
Yeah she's god's gift to man
Yeah, yeah ,yeah
Alright, alright, alright
The lyrics of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers's song "God's Gift to Man" tell the story of a couple who met when the man was in the navy and the woman caught his eye with the way she shook her glass. They went off to Texas and settled in a humble home by a taco stand. While the man got a promotion and bought himself a color TV, the woman left him and wound up on the streets again. The lyrics imply that she was using the man and taking advantage of him, but he couldn't see it because he saw her as "god's gift to man."
The song carries a wistful and reflective quality in its storytelling, exploring a relationship that turned sour and ended in disappointment. The repetition of the line "She was god's gift to man" throughout the song suggests an obsession and fixation with the woman that the man could not shake even after their breakup. The lyrics also speak to the idea that sometimes we do things we don't understand, implying that the man may have been blinded by his love for the woman.
Overall, "God's Gift to Man" is a cautionary tale about the danger of putting someone on a pedestal and not seeing them for who they truly are.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I met him in the navy
Tom Petty met a man in the navy.
He was the head of the class
The man Petty met was a high-achiever.
She was a cute little thing
The man Petty met's love interest was attractive.
He liked the way she shook her glass
The man Petty met admired his love interest's movements while holding a glass.
And they went off to Texas
The couple went to live in Texas.
And they bought some land yeah
The couple purchased some property.
And they settled in a hobo
The couple lived in a makeshift home.
Home by a taco stand
The couple's home was located near a taco stand.
He was doin' things he didn't understand
The man Petty met was doing things he didn't comprehend.
There was no way to explain it
The man Petty met couldn't find a way to express his feelings about his situation.
She was god's gift to man
The man Petty met believed his love interest was the perfect woman for him.
Well he got a promotion
The man Petty met received a job promotion.
And he bought himself a color T.V
The man Petty met purchased a color television.
Had the cable put in
The man Petty met subscribed to cable television.
And they watched a round of jeopardy
The couple watched a game show called Jeopardy.
And they sat out in the evening
The couple spent time relaxing outside in the evening.
And they watched the sun go down
The couple watched the sunset.
And everything they did
Everything the couple did together.
They were livin' on the outside of town
The couple lived on the outskirts of the city.
Well the time went by
Time passed.
That he didn't understand
The man Petty met didn't fully comprehend his life experiences.
She was god's gift to man
The man Petty met still believed his love interest was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Yeah baby tell me, tell me real good
The singer is asking the listener to communicate effectively and honestly.
Don't you know that we're livin' just like a young boy should?
The artist is reflecting on his youth, asking the listener if they understand or can relate.
Well she went off to Houston
The man's love interest traveled to Houston.
Where she was livin' in sin
The man's love interest was morally corrupt in Houston.
Well he built an office building
The man built an office building.
But nobody moved in
No one rented the office space.
She wound up in El Paso
The man's love interest traveled to El Paso.
On the streets again
She was homeless again.
It was hard to take it
The situation was difficult for the man.
But sometimes you just can't win
There are situations where no one can come out on top.
It was after a little way
It was some time later.
That he didn't understand
The man still couldn't comprehend his circumstances.
And couldn't understand that
The man had trouble accepting the fact that things weren't going well.
She was god's gift to man
Despite everything that happened, the man still believed his love interest was the perfect woman for him.
Well I seen her on T.V just a couple of nights ago
The singer saw the woman on television recently.
She was a doin' a commercial
The woman was in a commercial.
Smilin' with some ivory soap
The commercial featured the woman smiling while holding Ivory soap.
Well I knew inside her heart was black as coal
The artist has inside knowledge that the woman is not as good as she appears on the surface.
There ain't no way to replace the amount of lovin' that little girl stole
The man believes that he will never be able to replace the love he lost from his former lover.
Yeah one day she got it comin'
The woman will eventually face consequences for her actions.
And she won't understand her niche
The woman will not understand her place in life or society.
She's god's gift to man
Despite her flaws, the woman still believes she is the perfect woman for any man.
Yeah I've been doin' things that I don't understand
The artist is still dealing with things he doesn't understand.
Yeah she's god's gift to man
The man still believes his former lover is the perfect woman for anyone.
Yeah, yeah ,yeah
Expressions of affirmation or excitement.
Alright, alright, alright
Expressions of affirmation or encouragement.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mariska Delaere
So so beautiful , a very tender and heartfelt song
reminds me of someone very special but so far away from me
Still one of my favorite Tom Petty songs
well quite a long list , every song by Tom Petty is one of his best songs
Something about Tom Petty songs just makes your heart warm
His songs always come sincere and put a smile on your face
Thru all stages of my life Tom Petty spoke to me thru his words
Still can't believe he's gone
My eyes are still full of tears and my heart aches over the loss of him so badly
I pray that when my life is over that I will see you on the other side Until then I'll be listening to your music everyday without fail
ahhh, Mr. Petty. It's been awhile, but I still wish you were here, still singing
You are sorely missed 😞
JBX Art Movement
I dreamed you, I saw your face
Caught my lifeline when drifting through space
I saw an angel, I saw my fate
I can only thank god it was not too late
Over mountains I floated away
Across an ocean I dreamed her name
I followed an angel down through the gates
I can only thank god it was not too late
Sing a little song of loneliness
Sing one to make me smile
Another round for everyone
I'm here for a little while
Now I'm walking this street on my own
But she's with me everywhere I go
Yeah I found an angel, I found my place
I can only thank god it was not too late
I can only thank god it was not too late
I can only thank god it was not too late
D Martin
One of the most beautiful songs ever written. A lovely gift from Tom to us. RIP.
Daggi cat
Yes, makes me disolve in puddles of tears every time i hear it, makes me think of my daughter who died in a car crash about the time it came out
Lisa Gregory
It was for Dana ❣️
Blooming Accents
Until Tom's passing I didn't know all of his beautiful songs like this one and certainly didn't know how gifted and intelligent he was. He is sorely missed.
lisa floyd
This song is quite transcendental...so grateful that he gifted us this music. From Mudcrutch to The Heartbreakers to his solo stuff to the Wilbury's, every song is special. Thanks, Tom.
Musicmovesme7 Nightgirl
theres something about this song its really special to me as well, well said
Glenn Danas
This was the first dance at my wedding. Sung by a professional musician friend of mine, with a full band. My wife and I were also at Tom's last ever concert, at the Hollywood Bowl. RIP, Tom.
michelle 2003
This is written about his wife Dana. He saw her in the audience at one of his concerts, they were both married at the time, and Tom dreamt about her several times. Then about 5 years later, they were both divorced, he saw her in the audience again, and thought 'she's not getting away this time' and they met and the rest is history.
So my sincere condolences to Dana, and all his family and friends. But for Dana, she will always have this heartfelt, beautiful song that he wrote for her. RIP Tom you left your wife knowing how much he loved you.
Jill ebeling
This a most beautiful song! I'm hearbroken and I'm just a fan! God bless and comfort his family ! He is so missed,! I thought he was a great person too!
Blooming Accents
michelle88960 Michelle how do you know this?