The first one through the door
I return to find you drifting
Too far from the shore
I remember feeling this way
You can lose it without knowing
You wake up and you don't notice
Which way the wind is blowing
So don't fade
No, don't fade on me
You were the one who made things different
You were the one who took me in
You were the one thing I could count on
Above all you were my friend
So don't fade
Don't fade on me
Well your clothes hang on a wire
And the sun is overhead
But today you are too weary
To even leave your bed
Was it love that took you under?
Or did you know too much?
Was it something you could picture?
But never could quite touch?
Don't fade
No, don't fade on me
So don't fade
Don't fade on me
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the leader of the rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch and a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. He was also a successful solo artist.
Over the course of his career, Petty sold more than 80 million albums. His hit singles with the Heartbreakers include "American Girl" (1976), "Don't Do Me Like That" (1979), "Refugee" (1980), "The Waiting" (1981), "Don't Come Around Here No More" (1985) and "Learning to Fly" (1991). Petty's solo hits include "I Won't Back Down" (1989), "Free Fallin'" (1989), and "You Don't Know How It Feels" (1994).
Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Petty was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in February 2017 for his contributions to music and for his philanthropy. He also acted; he had a recurring role as the voice of Lucky Kleinschmidt in the animated comedy series King of the Hill from 2004 to the show's end in 2009.
Petty died of an accidental drug overdose in 2017 at the age of 66, one week after the end of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary Tour.
For some reason it faded quickly (no pun intended). Probably because it didn't have any "hits".
Too bad because it contains lots of tasty gems.
It may shock some people but TP was a dick. This album was no more than an attempt to lower the Heartbreakers share of the profits. TP did this to demonstrate he didn't need them to make money and appropriate a bigger share for himself. He also gave his drummer 24 hours notice for a show TP had booked in LA When the drummer objected to the lack of notice pointing out he lived in Florida TP replied" Fine. I'll get Ringo to do it." The drummer flew to LA, made the show and rocked the house.
TP fired him the next day. Typical cokehead.
Ah yes, all those common cokeheads that threaten to have Ringo show up and take someone's place
He very well may have been a dick and trying to get more money for himself, but if he can release an album like Wildflowers without attempting anything, it only highlights his value. Sadly I think we all know that talent and being a good person and being an addict aren't always aligned. At the very least he was an atypical cokehead, even if you want to devolve him to his addiction.
ETA: Apparently lyrics are by Tom. I wonder what this reminds me of...
ETAAgain: Consultation with my classic rock expert provided the following: the verse is highly reminiscent of Harry Chapin's "Taxi", and there's a bit of Fleetwood Mac's "World Turning" at the end of each chorus. Yessssss! "Taxi" is definitely what I was thinking of.
good call...I was listening to the Chapin tune today on another station...I can hear it too
Damn straight.