Rest Well Tom Petty

The news of Tom Petty’s death struck a chord with me.

He started his career as a teenager in Gainesville, Florida. He played bars and fraternity parties in the early 70’s at the same time I was in school there. Thus, we walked the same streets. I associate him with my more youthful days.

Because of his iconic rock star stature, maybe you know his music. But, accounting for the decades he performed, you may have missed him. Today would be a good day to download Petty on You Tube and take him in. Mudcrutch. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The Traveling Wilburys. All groups that benefited from his extreme talent.

Here are the lyrics of one of my favorites, “I Won’t Back Down.”

Well, I won’t back down
No, I won’t back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back down

No, I’ll stand my ground, won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won’t back down

(I won’t back down)
Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out
(I won’t back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground and I won’t back down

Well, I know what’s right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
But I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down

(I won’t back down)
Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out
(I won’t back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground
(I won’t back down)
And I won’t back down

(I won’t back down)
Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out
(I won’t back down)
Hey, I won’t back down

(I won’t back down)
Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out
(I won’t back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground
(I won’t back down)
And I won’t back down
(I won’t back down)
No, I won’t back down

Songwriters: JEFF LYNNE, TOM PETTY

© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

“Happening to the World” means not backing down. Rest well, Tom Petty. Rest well.