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Tom Petty
Artist profile

Tom Petty

Tom Petty formed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1976. Their self-titled debut came out that same year, but it was the 1978 follow-up "You're Gonna Get...

album163 lyric pages photo_library4 photos groups9 listeners here now Editor's note live
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
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Don't do Me Like That Video on page · 3 visits arrow_forward Learning To Fly Video on page · 3 visits arrow_forward A Higher Place 2 visits arrow_forward A Mind With a Heart Of Its Own Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward A Thing About You Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward About To Give Out Video on page · 2 visits arrow_forward
Editor's note

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' American rock

A songwriter with a nasal delivery and a band that lasted four decades.

For the early years, "American Girl" still has that opening guitar rush. Later, something like "Learning To Fly" shows how the writing settled into a steadier groove.

Petty's songs became classic rock radio staples, from the early urgency of "American Girl" to the late-career drive of "Learning To Fly." His legal battle with MCA Records in the late 1980s became part of the story, and his work with Dylan, Harrison, and Nicks showed his place in a wider circle. The Heartbreakers' sound, built around Petty's voice and Mike Campbell's guitar, just kept working.

The band formed in 1976, with their self-titled debut that year. Wider attention came with the 1978 follow-up "You're Gonna Get It!" and the 1979 album "Damn the Torpedoes." They released more than a dozen studio albums, with the last one, "Hypnotic Eye," arriving in 2014.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 19
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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163 lyric pages live 4 photos available Editor's note live Video on page
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Background notes

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Tom Petty formed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1976. Their self-titled debut came out that same year, but it was the 1978 follow-up "You're Gonna Get It!" that brought wider attention with songs like "American Girl" and "Breakdown." The band's sound, built around Petty's nasal delivery and Mike Campbell's guitar work, found its footing on albums like "Damn the Torpedoes" from 1979.

In the late 1980s, Petty got into a legal dispute with his label MCA Records. That record included the title track and songs like "Free Fallin'" and "Runnin' Down a Dream," which became staples of classic rock radio. He also played with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Stevie Nicks at different points.

The Heartbreakers' core of Petty, Campbell, and keyboardist Benmont Tench stayed consistent across more than a dozen studio albums. Their last one, "Hypnotic Eye," arrived in 2014. Petty died in 2017.

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Where should I start with Tom Petty on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with Don't do Me Like That, Learning To Fly, and A Higher Place so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Tom Petty?

LyroVerse currently has 163 visible lyric pages for Tom Petty.

Does Tom Petty have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 4 photos available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Tom Petty?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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