Breakdown: A look inside Tom Petty's 7 best lyrics of all time

Celebrate Tom Petty's birthday with the lyrics that continue to inspire us to this day
Tom Petty
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By , Audacy

The late Tom Petty would have turned 71 years old on October 20, 2021 making today as good of a day as any to cue up his music.

As we honor the life and legacy of the iconic songwriter, revisit his vast contributions right now on Audacy’s Tom Petty Radio Exclusive Station where you’ll find his hits, deep cuts, cover songs, and music from numerous artists that he inspired.

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As a virtuosic songwriter, Petty had an uncanny way with words that enabled him to deliver powerful messages through song. His lyrics continue to connect with listeners new and old, oftentimes providing valuable life lessons along the way.

With hundreds of songs to choose from, there’s many avenues you can go down to find inspiration. Here are seven of Tom Petty’s best lyrics of all time.

“And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down/Gonna stand my ground/And I won’t back down”

You can find inspiration in almost any line from “I Won’t Back Down,” but this lyric hits the hardest as it serves as a great reminder to keep on pushing, especially during tough times.

“The waiting is the hardest part/Every day you get one more yard/You take it on faith, you take it to the heart/The waiting is the hardest part”

Petty delivers a great line about the values of patience and how difficult the journey is before you reach your end goal.