Tom Petty is too great of a man for words to really describe but I can only give it my best since I’ve been listening to him on and off since I was a kid. Each and every song I’ve ever heard from him has lit up each nerve in a way that is electrifying and doesn’t allow me to ever forget the feeling. So many fans were devastated when Petty passed away just days ago that it’s been a blow to rock and roll and the millions that have enjoyed listening to him for decades now. The caliber of singer and songwriter that he was doesn’t come around often and when it’s necessary to say goodbye the world seems to pull together just a little closer.
The contributions that he made to music, and to film, are not endless, but they are memorable. Here are five that we think are amazing.
5. We Bought A Zoo-Don’t Come Around Here No More
Imagine what it must be like to realize that you just bought a zoo, even if it is for a reasonable price. If you wanted a big change in your life this would be it, but it would be absolutely necessary to understand just what you were taking on in order to really make it work. Of course your kids would be stoked until they figured out the kind of chores you’d be having them do.
4. Jerry Maguire-Free Fallin’
Sometimes a song hits you in a way that just makes so much sense that you can’t help but go with it. It doesn’t matter what the lyrics to the song really mean, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a diehard Petty fan or not, this song simply liberates the soul in a way that is so completely wonderful that singing along isn’t mandatory but it certainly seems like a good idea.
3. Mr. Deeds-You Don’t Know How It Feels
I’ve loved the opening to this song before I ever knew what the words meant, as it gives a feeling of being back down home in a simpler place where the rush and the pomp and circumstance doesn’t mean as much. It’s that feeling of being able to just kick back and breathe rather than hold your breath as you wade into the morass of humanity once again.
2. Silence of the Lambs-American Girl
Some of Petty’s songs have that easygoing, laid back feel that you can just slip into like a pair of old sneakers, while others like this one have that kind of energy that just fires you up and keeps you moving forward without stopping for breath. Really he had a way of getting to a person no matter what kind of mood they were in and inspiring people to just keep on going.
1. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers-I Won’t Back Down
This is my number one pick for any of Petty’s music since it’s one of the songs I grew up on and can remember the most vividly. The song is one that I can’t help but feel is personal for each person that listens to it and is an inspiration unlike any other. If not for the words of this song and how I applied them to my life I might not be where I’m at right now.
Thank you Mr. Petty, your words inspired many and gave a lot of people something to look up to. You will be sorely missed. Rest in peace sir.
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