(This first appeared in July of 2019. I was taken by this song yet again and wanted to share it one more time. I was also shocked to see only two comments on the original post.)
I didn't realize how much I missed Tom Petty until this one popped up on shuffle.
Put down your things and rest awhile
We both know where to go
Yeah, daddy had to crash
He was always halfway there you know
We both know where to go
Yeah, daddy had to crash
He was always halfway there you know
And no, I don't pretend there's any more of that
They say one day, you'll look up and laugh
And hear the same sad echo when you walk
Yeah, the same sad echo when you talk, loud and clear
It's the same, as the same sad echo around here
I promise you this winter
I will worship you like gold
And ride your train forever
Electric fortunes to be told
And I don't want to question or even celebrate
All the joy you took and then gave back too late
It's the same sad echo when you lie
It's the same sad echo when you try to be clear
It's the same as the same sad echo, around here
Well, I woke up right here
In a pool of sweat
With a box of pills and you
Yeah, and I'm gonna keep my head
I'm gonna keep my cool
'Cause I'm so in love with you
Yes and in another world nothing was like this
There may have been a girl
There never was a kiss
The poison came in liquid
She was naked all the time
And no one could explain it
It was all between the lines
And I don't seem to trust anyone no more
It could be faith, but now I'm not quite sure
It's the same sad echo every day
Yeah the same sad echo another way
It's the same sad echo when you call
It's the same, as the same sad echo, most of all
Well you just got tired
You just gave in
You took it hard
Then you just quit
You let me down
You dropped the ball
You fell on your face most of all
And I don't want to mean anything to you
I don't want to tempt you to be true
It's the same sad echo comin' down
It's the same sad echo all around in my ears
It's the same, as the same sad echo around here
14 comments:
I've been listening to Echo and Highway Companion a lot recently, and almost always have a copy of Wildflowers within reach. Out of all of the musical losses we have had in the past 5-10 years, this one probably was the toughest gut-punch to me personally. I have been a fan since the very first time I heard the kick-start drums and opening chords to Refugee. I quickly picked up the first two albums and have been with him (or he with me) ever since. Great selection today, Sal.
Such a fabulous song. I still listen to it all the time. Happy that I am not alone doing it :-)
I know what you mean, Troy -- when I heard the news of Petty's passing on the radio I actually started crying.
I've always been annoyed at Tom Petty and Jimmy Buffett. I went to the University of Florida and Buffett famously gave a free concert every year and Petty and the Heartbreakers swung by every year, local boys that they were. Then I go to school there for seven lovely, relaxed years (I was in no rush) and...nothing! No free Jimmy Buffett concert (It was getting out of control apparently) and no Petty. Not once! Was it something I said? Always bummed I never saw Petty live, but I kind of blame him! :)
Forgive me if I've posted this story here before but it's a true story and I remember it so clearly... the day TP died I'd been feeling so sad all day that I decided to watch a stand-up comedy set before going to bed. I picked a Marc Maron show (yeah, maybe not the best option to get cheered up but whatever) on Netflix. He comes out, sits on the stool, tells a few intro jokes and then launches into this back-and-forth about conservatives versus liberals. Red states like this, blue states like that, red people say X, blue folks say Y, etc. He goes on like this for about a minute and then winds up the bit with: "The only thing we all agree on is that everyone loves Tom Petty."
I think this song and this album are some of his best work. I know from the documentary and Warren Zanes' book (one of the great rock biographies in my opinion) that he and the band were coming out of dark times and this album is not their favorite, but my goodness it packs a punch and still resonates with me.
It's a favorite for me as well.
Heavy words, beautiful song, and I never realized how much I miss him either!
Those first two albums were my initiation, and are still my faves due to their idiosyncratic songs, before TP&H settled into their groove. His death was def the loss I felt most, of the losses in the last decade, partly due to his relative youth, the shittiness of the death, the consistent perception of him as a good guy with integrity, and the fact he was still a productive artist.
I saw him live with Dylan (I was there for TP, my Dylan epiphany still being a couple years away) and again in the 2005, and he was a master at making a big show feel intimate.
C in California
When Petty died I was really torn up. I played nothing but his albums for a month or more. I was totally depressed. And angry. He backslid.
He is generally acknowledged as one of the greats, but I don't think people have even begun to fathom the significance of his contribution.
When he came through, I never missed a show. From the time he opened for Blondie at the Whisky to the final run at the Hollywood Bowl.
During those final shows I sensed something wasn't right. For the 3-night run they did the same set every night. Usually, he varied it a bit, especially on a multi-night run at the same venue. To me, Tom didn't seem very into it. Maybe he was tired, maybe in pain, maybe doped up. Perhaps all of the above.
It was the first time I came out of a Petty show somewhat disappointed. Not that they were bad, but it just didn't seem to have that inspirational spark. The setlist being so rigid didn't help my perspective.
A few days later he was dead. At the time I found out, I was sipping some wine and watching the boob news. It was all about the Las Vegas shooter and O.J. getting out of jail. They cut in saying that Tom Petty died. I phoned a couple of friends. I played Wildflowers and wept. I got pretty reclusive for the next few months.
VR
Echo is a great album and gets even better over time.
I pretty much stopped following Petty after Let Me Up. Later I got a chance to hear Mojo, and I remember liking it. I listened to Echo (the album) today. The record sounds sad to me, not in a bad way, but a long way from those first three records of his. Echo is a beautiful sad song, I can see why it means a, lot to you.
No love for "Wildflowers" or "Highway Companion?"
I don't like this song but I do Miss him.
I don’t think I’ve heard either. So much music so little time. CJ
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