he had a mind with a heart of its own welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 Tom Petty songs
Tom Petty songs
Tom Petty songs [Music]
[Music]
[Music] before we begin we publish new videos
before we begin we publish new videos
before we begin we publish new videos every day so be sure to subscribe for
every day so be sure to subscribe for
every day so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list will
more great content for this list will
more great content for this list will only be looking at material released by
only be looking at material released by
only be looking at material released by petit as a solo artist or with the
petit as a solo artist or with the
petit as a solo artist or with the Heartbreakers though they produced some
Heartbreakers though they produced some
Heartbreakers though they produced some undeniably great songs we are excluding
undeniably great songs we are excluding
undeniably great songs we are excluding offerings from mud crutch or the
offerings from mud crutch or the
offerings from mud crutch or the Traveling Wilburys
Traveling Wilburys
Traveling Wilburys [Music]
number ten breakdown it’s a we start our
number ten breakdown it’s a we start our list with the tune that put Petty and
list with the tune that put Petty and
list with the tune that put Petty and company on the musical map sounding
company on the musical map sounding
company on the musical map sounding unlike anything that had come before it
unlike anything that had come before it
unlike anything that had come before it this single stood out in an era of prog
this single stood out in an era of prog
this single stood out in an era of prog rock Zeppelin and disco more importantly
rock Zeppelin and disco more importantly
rock Zeppelin and disco more importantly however it had that special quality man
however it had that special quality man
however it had that special quality man that catchiness necessary to make it an
that catchiness necessary to make it an
that catchiness necessary to make it an enduring classic
enduring classic
enduring classic [Music]
in fact to this day breakdown still gets
in fact to this day breakdown still gets regular rotation on rock radio stations
regular rotation on rock radio stations
regular rotation on rock radio stations written by the singer during a short
written by the singer during a short
written by the singer during a short recording break the Looney tune wasn’t a
recording break the Looney tune wasn’t a
recording break the Looney tune wasn’t a hit when it was first released but it
hit when it was first released but it
hit when it was first released but it went on to be a top 40 hit in North
went on to be a top 40 hit in North
went on to be a top 40 hit in North America and a concert regular you can
America and a concert regular you can
America and a concert regular you can walk out that door I can stand and I can
walk out that door I can stand and I can
walk out that door I can stand and I can face it I can live with it every day of
face it I can live with it every day of
face it I can live with it every day of my life you don’t make any difference at
my life you don’t make any difference at
my life you don’t make any difference at all to me because it’s
[Music]
[Music] number nine you don’t know how it feels
[Music]
[Music] rife with Neil Young style harmonica
rife with Neil Young style harmonica
rife with Neil Young style harmonica fills electric piano and stripped-down
fills electric piano and stripped-down
fills electric piano and stripped-down drums this hit from petty second solo
drums this hit from petty second solo
drums this hit from petty second solo album is the perfect song for cruising
album is the perfect song for cruising
album is the perfect song for cruising along on a summer day notable for
along on a summer day notable for
along on a summer day notable for featuring Steve Ferrone II who would
featuring Steve Ferrone II who would
featuring Steve Ferrone II who would soon become the drummer for Petty’s main
soon become the drummer for Petty’s main
soon become the drummer for Petty’s main outlet the Heartbreakers this was the
outlet the Heartbreakers this was the
outlet the Heartbreakers this was the biggest hit off the album wild flowers
biggest hit off the album wild flowers
biggest hit off the album wild flowers however because of a passing reference
however because of a passing reference
however because of a passing reference to drug use it actually caused a stir
to drug use it actually caused a stir
to drug use it actually caused a stir with radio stations in the end many
with radio stations in the end many
with radio stations in the end many outlets played a censored version of the
outlets played a censored version of the
outlets played a censored version of the song replacing the word roll with hitch
song replacing the word roll with hitch
song replacing the word roll with hitch or a version with the offending line
or a version with the offending line
or a version with the offending line distorted altogether
distorted altogether
distorted altogether [Music]
number eight learning to fly
number eight learning to fly [Music]
[Music]
[Music] proving once again that uh I really need
proving once again that uh I really need
proving once again that uh I really need is for chords and something to say this
is for chords and something to say this
is for chords and something to say this song co-written with fellow Wilbury and
song co-written with fellow Wilbury and
song co-written with fellow Wilbury and ELO frontman jeff flynn topped the
ELO frontman jeff flynn topped the
ELO frontman jeff flynn topped the Billboard album Rock Tracks chart in
Billboard album Rock Tracks chart in
Billboard album Rock Tracks chart in 1991 becoming the band’s longest-running
1991 becoming the band’s longest-running
1991 becoming the band’s longest-running number-one and achieved the extremely
number-one and achieved the extremely
number-one and achieved the extremely respectable position of number 28 on the
respectable position of number 28 on the
respectable position of number 28 on the Hot 100
Hot 100
Hot 100 [Music]
[Music]
[Music] although not immediately apparent in the
although not immediately apparent in the
although not immediately apparent in the lyrics petit has said the song was
lyrics petit has said the song was
lyrics petit has said the song was inspired by the Gulf War once you have
inspired by the Gulf War once you have
inspired by the Gulf War once you have that in mind you can see how the rock
that in mind you can see how the rock
that in mind you can see how the rock melting and sky burning psychedelic
melting and sky burning psychedelic
melting and sky burning psychedelic imagery came from news coverage of the
imagery came from news coverage of the
imagery came from news coverage of the time
time
time [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number seven runnin down a dream
number seven runnin down a dream
number seven runnin down a dream [Music]
co-written with heartbreaker guitarist
co-written with heartbreaker guitarist Mike Campbell and yellows Jeff Lynn this
Mike Campbell and yellows Jeff Lynn this
Mike Campbell and yellows Jeff Lynn this riff rocker hit the top of the Billboard
riff rocker hit the top of the Billboard
riff rocker hit the top of the Billboard album Rock Tracks chart and landed at
album Rock Tracks chart and landed at
album Rock Tracks chart and landed at number 23 on Canadian and American
number 23 on Canadian and American
number 23 on Canadian and American singles charts the song not only
singles charts the song not only
singles charts the song not only showcases Petty’s unique gifts as a
showcases Petty’s unique gifts as a
showcases Petty’s unique gifts as a lyricist but also proves that Campbell
lyricist but also proves that Campbell
lyricist but also proves that Campbell has guitar chops to rival the best of
has guitar chops to rival the best of
has guitar chops to rival the best of them with its tight rhythm track and
them with its tight rhythm track and
them with its tight rhythm track and scorching guitar work dream is
scorching guitar work dream is
scorching guitar work dream is unsurprisingly a live favorite with only
unsurprisingly a live favorite with only
unsurprisingly a live favorite with only refugee and American girl receiving more
refugee and American girl receiving more
refugee and American girl receiving more plays
plays
plays [Music]
[Music]
[Music] even decades later it continues to show
even decades later it continues to show
even decades later it continues to show up in film video games and television I
up in film video games and television I
up in film video games and television I never want to lose this feeling
never want to lose this feeling
never want to lose this feeling [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number six into the great wide open this
number six into the great wide open this
number six into the great wide open this title track from the album of the same
title track from the album of the same
title track from the album of the same name features the Beatles ask production
name features the Beatles ask production
name features the Beatles ask production style of Els Jeff Lynne fool once again
style of Els Jeff Lynne fool once again
style of Els Jeff Lynne fool once again also co-wrote the track with petty in
also co-wrote the track with petty in
also co-wrote the track with petty in addition to being labeled as quote a
addition to being labeled as quote a
addition to being labeled as quote a return to form for the band and reaching
return to form for the band and reaching
return to form for the band and reaching the number four spot on Billboard’s
the number four spot on Billboard’s
the number four spot on Billboard’s album Rock Tracks chart this single also
album Rock Tracks chart this single also
album Rock Tracks chart this single also prompted one of the singers best-known
prompted one of the singers best-known
prompted one of the singers best-known videos thanks in no small part to the
videos thanks in no small part to the
videos thanks in no small part to the fact that Johnny Depp took the lead role
fact that Johnny Depp took the lead role
fact that Johnny Depp took the lead role said I don’t ever sing
said I don’t ever sing
said I don’t ever sing beauty was
beauty was
beauty was while it’s far more common in the rock
while it’s far more common in the rock
while it’s far more common in the rock genre for a song to get shortened for
genre for a song to get shortened for
genre for a song to get shortened for radio or music videos into the Great
radio or music videos into the Great
radio or music videos into the Great Wide Open was actually extended in
Wide Open was actually extended in
Wide Open was actually extended in length to accommodate the julian temple
length to accommodate the julian temple
length to accommodate the julian temple short epic the more the better
number five Mary Jane’s last dance
number five Mary Jane’s last dance [Music]
although the roots of this song go back
although the roots of this song go back to the full moon fever album the song
to the full moon fever album the song
to the full moon fever album the song was finally completed and recorded for
was finally completed and recorded for
was finally completed and recorded for inclusion on Tom Petty and the
inclusion on Tom Petty and the
inclusion on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers greatest hits album it
Heartbreakers greatest hits album it
Heartbreakers greatest hits album it earned its right to be there soon after
earned its right to be there soon after
earned its right to be there soon after hitting number one on the album Rock
hitting number one on the album Rock
hitting number one on the album Rock Tracks chart and a solid 14 on the Hot
Tracks chart and a solid 14 on the Hot
Tracks chart and a solid 14 on the Hot 100 when released as a single the last
100 when released as a single the last
100 when released as a single the last Heartbreakers recording to feature
Heartbreakers recording to feature
Heartbreakers recording to feature drummer Stan Lynch who left the group in
drummer Stan Lynch who left the group in
drummer Stan Lynch who left the group in 1994 this is another Tom Petty song that
1994 this is another Tom Petty song that
1994 this is another Tom Petty song that prompted a memorable video featuring a
prompted a memorable video featuring a
prompted a memorable video featuring a Hollywood star however despite rumours
Hollywood star however despite rumours
Hollywood star however despite rumours the song is not a reference to marijuana
the song is not a reference to marijuana
the song is not a reference to marijuana use and was written with the working
use and was written with the working
use and was written with the working title Indiana girl
[Music]
[Music] number four I won’t back down
number four I won’t back down
number four I won’t back down [Music]
[Music]
[Music] protip any musicians looking to make it
protip any musicians looking to make it
protip any musicians looking to make it in the music industry should attempt to
in the music industry should attempt to
in the music industry should attempt to befriend Jeff Lynne Petty’s frequent
befriend Jeff Lynne Petty’s frequent
befriend Jeff Lynne Petty’s frequent collaborators in the sand
collaborators in the sand
collaborators in the sand the Wilbury co-write hit number one on
the Wilbury co-write hit number one on
the Wilbury co-write hit number one on the Billboard album Rock Tracks chart 12
the Billboard album Rock Tracks chart 12
the Billboard album Rock Tracks chart 12 on the hot 100 and 29 on the modern Rock
on the hot 100 and 29 on the modern Rock
on the hot 100 and 29 on the modern Rock chart
chart
chart [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
far cooler though it features a genuine
far cooler though it features a genuine beetle in a form of George Harrison and
beetle in a form of George Harrison and
beetle in a form of George Harrison and yes while Ringo does man the traps in
yes while Ringo does man the traps in
yes while Ringo does man the traps in the video star does not in fact play on
the video star does not in fact play on
the video star does not in fact play on the track although he would appear on
the track although he would appear on
the track although he would appear on later petty songs
later petty songs
later petty songs [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number three refugee as the story goes
number three refugee as the story goes
number three refugee as the story goes this song was originally written by Mike
this song was originally written by Mike
this song was originally written by Mike Campbell as a simple jam track to
Campbell as a simple jam track to
Campbell as a simple jam track to practice blues licks over but the
practice blues licks over but the
practice blues licks over but the guitarist soon realized he was onto
guitarist soon realized he was onto
guitarist soon realized he was onto something bigger
something bigger
something bigger once the tune was presented to petty the
once the tune was presented to petty the
once the tune was presented to petty the singer wrote a set of lyrics in a matter
singer wrote a set of lyrics in a matter
singer wrote a set of lyrics in a matter of minutes with the overall feel of the
of minutes with the overall feel of the
of minutes with the overall feel of the song reflecting the troubles the band
song reflecting the troubles the band
song reflecting the troubles the band was having with their record company at
was having with their record company at
was having with their record company at the time
the time
the time [Music]
when released as a single it hit number
when released as a single it hit number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cemented
15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cemented
15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cemented Tom Petty and his crew firmly in the
Tom Petty and his crew firmly in the
Tom Petty and his crew firmly in the public eye talk about 10 minutes of work
public eye talk about 10 minutes of work
public eye talk about 10 minutes of work very well spent
very well spent
very well spent [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number two American Girl
pop quiz who plays the 12 string guitar
pop quiz who plays the 12 string guitar on this one answer
on this one answer
on this one answer no one channeling Bo Diddley and
no one channeling Bo Diddley and
no one channeling Bo Diddley and sounding so much like the birds that one
sounding so much like the birds that one
sounding so much like the birds that one might have thought they wrote it this
might have thought they wrote it this
might have thought they wrote it this original was an instant classic and
original was an instant classic and
original was an instant classic and remains Petty’s most played live songs
bird guitarist roger McGuinn himself
bird guitarist roger McGuinn himself became the first of a long list of
became the first of a long list of
became the first of a long list of people to cover the track with even the
people to cover the track with even the
people to cover the track with even the strokes confessing to lifting the riff
strokes confessing to lifting the riff
strokes confessing to lifting the riff for their hit last night the story
for their hit last night the story
for their hit last night the story behind the song’s lyrics meanwhile has
behind the song’s lyrics meanwhile has
behind the song’s lyrics meanwhile has morphed into an oft-repeated
morphed into an oft-repeated
morphed into an oft-repeated but untrue urban legend about a teen
but untrue urban legend about a teen
but untrue urban legend about a teen suicide whatever it’s about it’s an
suicide whatever it’s about it’s an
suicide whatever it’s about it’s an unforgettably frenetic track and a petty
unforgettably frenetic track and a petty
unforgettably frenetic track and a petty staples
[Applause]
[Applause] before we unveil our number one pick
before we unveil our number one pick
before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable mentions
here are some honorable mentions
here are some honorable mentions [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number one free fall ins
number one free fall ins
number one free fall ins [Music]
taking our top spot is Tom Petty’s
taking our top spot is Tom Petty’s signature solo hit once again this track
signature solo hit once again this track
signature solo hit once again this track was written with the help of Jeff Lynn
was written with the help of Jeff Lynn
was written with the help of Jeff Lynn and petty cited the creative process
and petty cited the creative process
and petty cited the creative process behind it as a relaxed and casual one
behind it as a relaxed and casual one
behind it as a relaxed and casual one [Music]
many of the verse lyrics were ad-libbed
many of the verse lyrics were ad-libbed in the demoing stage while linn supplied
in the demoing stage while linn supplied
in the demoing stage while linn supplied the hook and title an ode to california
the hook and title an ode to california
the hook and title an ode to california life and the pursuit of freedom this
life and the pursuit of freedom this
life and the pursuit of freedom this song paints a picture like few others
song paints a picture like few others
song paints a picture like few others it’s certainly connected with fans as
it’s certainly connected with fans as
it’s certainly connected with fans as the tune hit number seven on the
the tune hit number seven on the
the tune hit number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990 and has also
Billboard Hot 100 in 1990 and has also
Billboard Hot 100 in 1990 and has also been covered by a variety of artists
been covered by a variety of artists
been covered by a variety of artists including Keith Urban and John Mayer not
including Keith Urban and John Mayer not
including Keith Urban and John Mayer not bad for a song and an album recorded in
bad for a song and an album recorded in
bad for a song and an album recorded in a garage
a garage
a garage [Music]
[Music]
[Music] do you agree with our picks check out
do you agree with our picks check out
do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips from watch mojo
these other great clips from watch mojo
these other great clips from watch mojo and subscribe for new videos every day
”
Be First to Comment