Tom Petty — It's Good To Be King
Album: WildflowersAvg rating:
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Length: 4:59
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It's good to be king, if just for a while
To be there in velvet, yeah, to give 'em a smile
It's good to get high, and never come down
It's good to be king of your own little town
Yeah, the world would swing if I were king
Can I help it if I still dream time to time
It's good to be king and have your own way
Get a feeling of peace at the end of the day
And when your bulldog barks and your canary sings
You're out there with winners, yeah, it's good to be king
Yeah I'll be king when dogs get wings
Can I help it if I still dream time to time
It's good to be king and have your own world
It helps to make friends, it's good to meet girls
A sweet little queen who can't run away
It's good to be king, whatever it pays
Excuse me if I have some place in my mind
Where I go time to time
To be there in velvet, yeah, to give 'em a smile
It's good to get high, and never come down
It's good to be king of your own little town
Yeah, the world would swing if I were king
Can I help it if I still dream time to time
It's good to be king and have your own way
Get a feeling of peace at the end of the day
And when your bulldog barks and your canary sings
You're out there with winners, yeah, it's good to be king
Yeah I'll be king when dogs get wings
Can I help it if I still dream time to time
It's good to be king and have your own world
It helps to make friends, it's good to meet girls
A sweet little queen who can't run away
It's good to be king, whatever it pays
Excuse me if I have some place in my mind
Where I go time to time
Comments (206)add comment
This whole album is a 10!
and the production crew! so great.
Nice segue again Bill, saw Dylan and Tom Petty Tokyo, almost beat my first concert ever Dylan and The Band '74, Hollywood, Florida/\
Lazarus wrote:
love this song...
Miss you and your many membered churches. Hope you are still dancing.
love this song...
Miss you and your many membered churches. Hope you are still dancing.
inmanart wrote:
In 1997 not long after I moved to San Francisco Tom Petty and The Heart Breakers did a residency, a series of shows at The Fillmore. I was a poor postdoc and didn't spring for a ticket. Now I have money but TP is gone.
vhttps://www.sfgate.com/news/ar...
heard him all my life and never saw him. A friend had an extra ticket to see him at the Hollywood Bowl and I went. Hearing all those songs I listened growing up played live by the Heartbreakers with a crowd at the Bowl was a religious experience. A couple of weeks later TP was gone forever. Glad I was able to see him live before he left us.... "Room At The Top" came on the day he passed away. I have a renewed appreciation for his music. Mike Campbell and the Heartbreakers are so very gifted.
In 1997 not long after I moved to San Francisco Tom Petty and The Heart Breakers did a residency, a series of shows at The Fillmore. I was a poor postdoc and didn't spring for a ticket. Now I have money but TP is gone.
vhttps://www.sfgate.com/news/ar...
a Mel Brooks inspired Rock n Roll song! Piss Boy!!!!
droos wrote:
yep.
yawn.
Such a boring song. RIP Tom but you wrote simple, boring songs. I'm glad I never saw him in concert. It would have been $80 spent for a nap.
yep.
yawn.
itsme_bygolly wrote:
Well somebody is clearly an "altogether dick", by golly.
I understand the impulse to elevate an artist's status after his death especially when you enjoyed the artist's work. This sentiment is squandered on an epic coke head, and altogether dick. But they don't have to be related. I enjoy the work, not the artist.
Well somebody is clearly an "altogether dick", by golly.
Growing up, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan were two artists I just could not listen to for some reason. Now that I’ve crossed that half-century mark, they are much more enjoyable to me for some reason. This is a good one.
I understand the impulse to elevate an artist's status after his death especially when you enjoyed the artist's work. This sentiment is squandered on an epic coke head, and altogether dick. But they don't have to be related. I enjoy the work, not the artist.
lyndonwatkins16 wrote:
No doubt about it. A central figure in The Traveling Wilburys, a so-called Supergroup and an album I never get tired of listening to.
Hey, this is one of the legends of our generation
No doubt about it. A central figure in The Traveling Wilburys, a so-called Supergroup and an album I never get tired of listening to.
Cool 12-minute live version:
GoodToBeKing-Live
GoodToBeKing-Live
expatlar wrote:
Yes, the Wildflowers & All The Rest box set is one of the best I've ever run across. Still haven't got to the demos and alt versions yet but the main album is very well done and the live recordings are worth the price of admission. Side 4 of the live recordings (It's Good To Be King, You Wreck Me and Wildflowers) are so fine that my eyes even started getting kind of teary towards the end. So good that I bought a second one to sit sealed.
Cheers !
zinzarin wrote:
The new release of this album is very very good. The 'home recordings' and live versions of the original songs are all very well done, and I've never been enough of a fan boy of any artist to get in to the "All The Demos and Versions That Didn't Make the Album!" releases. This one is done right in my opinion.
Every single song from "Wildflowers" is an absolute banger. How many artists release a whole album of hits?
The new release of this album is very very good. The 'home recordings' and live versions of the original songs are all very well done, and I've never been enough of a fan boy of any artist to get in to the "All The Demos and Versions That Didn't Make the Album!" releases. This one is done right in my opinion.
Yes, the Wildflowers & All The Rest box set is one of the best I've ever run across. Still haven't got to the demos and alt versions yet but the main album is very well done and the live recordings are worth the price of admission. Side 4 of the live recordings (It's Good To Be King, You Wreck Me and Wildflowers) are so fine that my eyes even started getting kind of teary towards the end. So good that I bought a second one to sit sealed.
Cheers !
Trump's theme song.
zinzarin wrote:
And this is AFTER he released his Greatest Hits album! Tom Petty's genius knows no ends.
Every single song from "Wildflowers" is an absolute banger. How many artists release a whole album of hits?
And this is AFTER he released his Greatest Hits album! Tom Petty's genius knows no ends.
lizardking wrote:
Agreed, on my wife's behalf, she saw him play at (now Tmobile) Safeco field 2 weeks before he died, and said it was a great show. Then when he died, she was doubly glad she said yes to free tickets.
Gee, I really thought that story was about to end with "...she was "doubly glad" she saw him right before he died."
Agreed, on my wife's behalf, she saw him play at (now Tmobile) Safeco field 2 weeks before he died, and said it was a great show. Then when he died, she was doubly glad she said yes to free tickets.
Gee, I really thought that story was about to end with "...she was "doubly glad" she saw him right before he died."
zinzarin wrote:
The new release of this album is very very good. The 'home recordings' and live versions of the original songs are all very well done, and I've never been enough of a fan boy of any artist to get in to the "All The Demos and Versions That Didn't Make the Album!" releases. This one is done right in my opinion.
Every single song from "Wildflowers" is an absolute banger. How many artists release a whole album of hits?
The new release of this album is very very good. The 'home recordings' and live versions of the original songs are all very well done, and I've never been enough of a fan boy of any artist to get in to the "All The Demos and Versions That Didn't Make the Album!" releases. This one is done right in my opinion.
Thank for all the great music Tom🙏
I have no doubt Tom would've put out some new music for 2020 with all this craziness happening. Missing you Mr. Petty!
EagleAB wrote:
Does that make you cool, or just old?
saw him at the US festival. Bet you werent born yet.
Does that make you cool, or just old?
Every single song from "Wildflowers" is an absolute banger. How many artists release a whole album of hits?
Laptopdog wrote:
Wrong! Tom Petty was a genius at putting on a rocking show. Saw him several times live, and the crowd was always singing along with his songs. Sleep through that!
I don't know who droos hangs out with but Tom and his buddies (Wilburys) wrote some of the greatest songs ever, just look at the RP list. It was just a stupid post by some frustrated guy.
Wrong! Tom Petty was a genius at putting on a rocking show. Saw him several times live, and the crowd was always singing along with his songs. Sleep through that!
I don't know who droos hangs out with but Tom and his buddies (Wilburys) wrote some of the greatest songs ever, just look at the RP list. It was just a stupid post by some frustrated guy.
saw him at the US festival. Bet you werent born yet.
WonderLizard wrote:
Tom's last 2 albums with the Heartbreakers were as good as any of his earlier work. Just my opinion, but I'm not wrong....
And the deal is that his work, especially in the last 6-7 years, had only gotten better, harder, more inclusive. I have always admired his lack of respect for authority, his willingness to step back in time to resurrect Mudcrutch, and his distaste for rock stardom. R.I.P.
Tom's last 2 albums with the Heartbreakers were as good as any of his earlier work. Just my opinion, but I'm not wrong....
heard him all my life and never saw him. A friend had an extra ticket to see him at the Hollywood Bowl and I went. Hearing all those songs I listened growing up played live by the Heartbreakers with a crowd at the Bowl was a religious experience. A couple of weeks later TP was gone forever. Glad I was able to see him live before he left us.... "Room At The Top" came on the day he passed away. I have a renewed appreciation for his music. Mike Campbell and the Heartbreakers are so very gifted.
This song does a great job of taking you to a specific place, based solely on how it sounds. Sometimes, it's not about the lyrics, the story, or even the instrumentation. It's just simply about how it can make you stop in your tracks.
And my god....the outro is one of the best. Ever.
And my god....the outro is one of the best. Ever.
Laptopdog wrote:
Wrong! Tom Petty was a genius at putting on a rocking show. Saw him several times live, and the crowd was always singing along with his songs. Sleep through that!
Agreed, on my wife's behalf, she saw him play at (now Tmobile) Safeco field 2 weeks before he died, and said it was a great show. Then when he died, she was doubly glad she said yes to free tickets.
Wrong! Tom Petty was a genius at putting on a rocking show. Saw him several times live, and the crowd was always singing along with his songs. Sleep through that!
Agreed, on my wife's behalf, she saw him play at (now Tmobile) Safeco field 2 weeks before he died, and said it was a great show. Then when he died, she was doubly glad she said yes to free tickets.
I love the piano & guitar playing the line together towards the end.
And must agree with those who've seen Tom - he put on a great show. Even though I've never been a huge fan I saw him a few times and it was always a great time.
And must agree with those who've seen Tom - he put on a great show. Even though I've never been a huge fan I saw him a few times and it was always a great time.
droos wrote:
Wrong! Tom Petty was a genius at putting on a rocking show. Saw him several times live, and the crowd was always singing along with his songs. Sleep through that!
Such a boring song. RIP Tom but you wrote simple, boring songs. I'm glad I never saw him in concert. It would have been $80 spent for a nap.
Wrong! Tom Petty was a genius at putting on a rocking show. Saw him several times live, and the crowd was always singing along with his songs. Sleep through that!
Wow, for 80$ you would have seen and heard an amazing show. droos wrote:
Such a boring song. RIP Tom but you wrote simple, boring songs. I'm glad I never saw him in concert. It would have been $80 spent for a nap.
If this doesn't make your heart break, nothing will
Whenever this song gets to the last minute I wish it would just go on forever....so nice...
Hey, this is one of the legends of our generation
On_The_Beach wrote:
Tom put on great live shows.
Luckily none of the fans whined about how "boring" it was; they were too busy having a great time.
I saw him in his last British live show in Hyde Park London in 2016... Stevie Nicks sup[porting... AWESOME.
Tom put on great live shows.
Luckily none of the fans whined about how "boring" it was; they were too busy having a great time.
I saw him in his last British live show in Hyde Park London in 2016... Stevie Nicks sup[porting... AWESOME.
On_The_Beach wrote:
Tom put on great live shows.
Luckily none of the fans whined about how "boring" it was; they were too busy having a great time.
Tom put on great live shows.
Luckily none of the fans whined about how "boring" it was; they were too busy having a great time.
droos wrote:
Tom put on great live shows.
Luckily none of the fans whined about how "boring" it was; they were too busy having a great time.
Such a boring song. RIP Tom but you wrote simple, boring songs. I'm glad I never saw him in concert. It would have been $80 spent for a nap.
Tom put on great live shows.
Luckily none of the fans whined about how "boring" it was; they were too busy having a great time.
Such a boring song. RIP Tom but you wrote simple, boring songs. I'm glad I never saw him in concert. It would have been $80 spent for a nap.
thewiseking wrote:
LOL. Good call thewiseking.
Mel Brooks was a yuuuuuuge influence on Rock and Roll. Who knew?
LOL. Good call thewiseking.
This song is so perfect, had to stop working and comment (probably again).
Tench's piano.
Ferrone's drums.
Campell's subtle work and perfect solo.
Kamen's strings, especially in the chorus and the outro.
And the sly lyrics.
So good.
Tench's piano.
Ferrone's drums.
Campell's subtle work and perfect solo.
Kamen's strings, especially in the chorus and the outro.
And the sly lyrics.
So good.
I was lucky enough to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on the Wildflowers tour. Like so many of his songs, when he played this in concert, it was even better than the album version.
Rest in peace Tom. Saying thanks for all of the great music that you were part of.
Rest in peace Tom. Saying thanks for all of the great music that you were part of.
Mel Brooks was a yuuuuuuge influence on Rock and Roll. Who knew?
It feels like I've lost my big brother. RIP Tom.
thanks for sharing the bad news about tom's heart attack. keeps you wondering where the lions are. stuff like this, the recent humanitarian tragedies, imaginable nuclear proliferation and domestic divisiveness make you more than a little skittish about what life's gonna spring on us next. i guess i always feel greater loss when someone doesn't make their four score. i recently had my soulmate pass just days short of her two score so i'm especially empathetic regarding loss.
keep up the good work guys.
keep up the good work guys.
wilcogirl11 wrote: And the deal is that his work, especially in the last 6-7 years, had only gotten better, harder, more inclusive. I have always admired his lack of respect for authority, his willingness to step back in time to resurrect Mudcrutch, and his distaste for rock stardom. R.I.P.
tphord wrote:
I have a lot of holes in my collection because things got so much airplay I didn't get them.
Now, its like damn I sure wish I got it back then. But I do have lots of Petty on vinyl and CD including this album on both.
As much as I like Tom Petty's music, and that's pretty much everything I've ever heard...
I am puzzled why I have never bought a single album or CD !
Maybe because it gets plenty of airplay time ?
Not complaining... just confused
I am puzzled why I have never bought a single album or CD !
Maybe because it gets plenty of airplay time ?
Not complaining... just confused
I have a lot of holes in my collection because things got so much airplay I didn't get them.
Now, its like damn I sure wish I got it back then. But I do have lots of Petty on vinyl and CD including this album on both.
deep lol
westslope wrote:
Hilarious.
As a war head, he might do a lot less damage.
The cool thing about the war on terrorism is that the those countries waging the good fight actually kill a lot more terrorists than the 'terrorists' do.
The not so cool thing is the righteous 'blow back'.
westslope wrote:
Hilarious.
As a war head, he might do a lot less damage.
The cool thing about the war on terrorism is that the those countries waging the good fight actually kill a lot more terrorists than the 'terrorists' do.
The not so cool thing is the righteous 'blow back'.
fincachato wrote:
....for a while!!!
....for a while!!!
rockpommel16 wrote:
............it´s good to be king..............
............it´s good to be king..............Very nice!
I like this kind oft song
It is greate
It is greate
Grammarcop wrote:
Hilarious.
As a war head, he might do a lot less damage.
The cool thing about the war on terrorism is that the those countries waging the good fight actually kill a lot more terrorists than the 'terrorists' do.
The not so cool thing is the righteous 'blow back'.
The way Petty drones, I would think the U.S. military would want to stick wings on him and use him for surveillance in Pakistan.
Hilarious.
As a war head, he might do a lot less damage.
The cool thing about the war on terrorism is that the those countries waging the good fight actually kill a lot more terrorists than the 'terrorists' do.
The not so cool thing is the righteous 'blow back'.
Steely_D wrote:
He is always coasting, it is who he is. You don't want to change that do you?
It's not awful, but it's not really much - especially compared to his other great stuff. Sounds like he's coasting.
He is always coasting, it is who he is. You don't want to change that do you?
I agree that there's a little too much Tom Petty for my liking here.
Yeah - the world would swing, if I were king!
Ok, but too much Tom Petty.There is so much more out there.
Love it!
It's not awful, but it's not really much - especially compared to his other great stuff. Sounds like he's coasting.
Peter_Bradshaw wrote:
8
9
8 9 8 justin4kick wrote:
Yes.
It´s Good To Be ... A Face In The Crowd.
Does anyone hear the difference between these two songs or any random two Tom Petty-songs?
Does anyone hear the difference between these two songs or any random two Tom Petty-songs?
Yes.
One of my fav.song by Tom.
Can't believe it's been 20 years on this one? Great song..
gillespp wrote:
Not to mention the tympanic membrane, middle ear ossicles, oval window, scala vestibuli, Reissner's membrane, scala media, basilar membrane, tectorial membrane, hair bundle, and hair cell!
Well said... keep a spring in your step this winter day...
we be dancing... love this song from a great album...
my dad was the King of Rock and Roll...
Not to mention the tympanic membrane, middle ear ossicles, oval window, scala vestibuli, Reissner's membrane, scala media, basilar membrane, tectorial membrane, hair bundle, and hair cell!
Well said... keep a spring in your step this winter day...
we be dancing... love this song from a great album...
my dad was the King of Rock and Roll...
Lazarus wrote:
This song is good for the external auditory meatus...
Not to mention the tympanic membrane, middle ear ossicles, oval window, scala vestibuli, Reissner's membrane, scala media, basilar membrane, tectorial membrane, hair bundle, and hair cell!
This song is good for the external auditory meatus...
Not to mention the tympanic membrane, middle ear ossicles, oval window, scala vestibuli, Reissner's membrane, scala media, basilar membrane, tectorial membrane, hair bundle, and hair cell!
It's good to be listening to RP
Song Blows
This song is good for the external auditory meatus...
Smooth n' easy. I love The Petty.
love this song...
It´s Good To Be ... A Face In The Crowd.
Does anyone hear the difference between these two songs or any random two Tom Petty-songs?
Does anyone hear the difference between these two songs or any random two Tom Petty-songs?
I remember the backstage passes for this tour were a dog with wings.
............it´s good to be king..............Bill's playing 90's... first Alanis from '98 now this from '94. Weak filler for TP... imho
my friend thought this was "it's good to be clean. and have your own way."
This song live is absolutely outstanding. I've seen Tom Petty 3 times in concert and every time was better than the last. He stretched this song out to about 10 minutes on stage. Brilliant. 10.
ozzie1313 wrote:
There is a song in there Ozzie..."(a) spiritual connection, (my reason to be alive. After every song there is a drive, seated in the reality of) my life.
I drove coast to coast, ocean to ocean, as far as my car could go, following a divorce in 1995. This album served as my solace, and spriritual connection. It seemed that each song was expressing my inner reality over my life.
There is a song in there Ozzie..."(a) spiritual connection, (my reason to be alive. After every song there is a drive, seated in the reality of) my life.
ozzie1313 wrote:
Yeah, this album was a big part of my life as I adapted to some major changes in the same era... Good introspection music here. Still one of my favorite road trip albums...
I drove coast to coast, ocean to ocean, as far as my car could go, following a divorce in 1995. This album served as my solace, and spriritual connection. It seemed that each song was expressing my inner reality over my life.
Yeah, this album was a big part of my life as I adapted to some major changes in the same era... Good introspection music here. Still one of my favorite road trip albums...
Tom Petty
has always
and WILL always
KICK ASS...
has always
and WILL always
KICK ASS...
I drove coast to coast, ocean to ocean, as far as my car could go, following a divorce in 1995. This album served as my solace, and spriritual connection. It seemed that each song was expressing my inner reality over my life.
Grammarcop wrote:
HA!!!
The way Petty drones, I would think the U.S. military would want to stick wings on him and use him for surveillance in Pakistan.
HA!!!
audiophelia wrote:
Totally.. he slipped a bit or something. But has gone back to awesome.
Tom Petty lost me about here, but thankfully has redeemed himself recently with Mojo.
Totally.. he slipped a bit or something. But has gone back to awesome.
Forest267 wrote:
Yep, very Led Zep/Pink Floyd goodness
Yeah...that instrumental piece at the end. Bump to 8.
Yep, very Led Zep/Pink Floyd goodness
Tom Petty lost me about here, but thankfully has redeemed himself recently with Mojo.
The way Petty drones, I would think the U.S. military would want to stick wings on him and use him for surveillance in Pakistan.
it is also good to yawn
As much as I like Tom Petty's music, and that's pretty much everything I've ever heard...
I am puzzled why I have never bought a single album or CD !
Maybe because it gets plenty of airplay time ?
Not complaining... just confused
I am puzzled why I have never bought a single album or CD !
Maybe because it gets plenty of airplay time ?
Not complaining... just confused
A fun tune... saw them perform it about 10 years ago in a small town in the Northwest. Jakob Dylan & The Wallflowers opened. Well worth the money! 
Businessgypsy wrote:
For those interested in more detail.
https://www.gainesville.com/article/20060920/LOCAL/209200328?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar
Florida boy makes good!
For those interested in more detail.
https://www.gainesville.com/article/20060920/LOCAL/209200328?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar
suebee3 wrote:
Well, I do now, thank you very much.
"good to be clean" sung by Kermit. Can you hear it?
Well, I do now, thank you very much.
Jeff09 wrote:
Ahhh...Brother Tom...singing the life.
Florida boy makes good! Shaken_Bake wrote:
It's good to be king.
I have a mole?
It's good to be king.
I have a mole?
It's good to be king.
Love the coda ... 
Wow...Incredible string arrangement towards end.
DaveInVA wrote:
by the way...this is quite funny.
Thats really petty, Tom
by the way...this is quite funny.
Subtle segue there, Bill and Rebecca ... Pearl Jam Black into this ....................... nice.
Love you and all you do. Love TP. At this point feel he can do no wrong. Maybe approaching permanent "godlike," what? And thanks again for the Del Amitri. More of them and Justin Currie solo please.
Love you and all you do. Love TP. At this point feel he can do no wrong. Maybe approaching permanent "godlike," what? And thanks again for the Del Amitri. More of them and Justin Currie solo please.
"good to be clean" sung by Kermit. Can you hear it?
Ahhh...Brother Tom...singing the life.
Yeah...that instrumental piece at the end. Bump to 8.
sandpebble wrote:
The world swings and he´s king.
The world would swing
If Tom were King!
If Tom were King!
The world swings and he´s king.
The world would swing
If Tom were King!
If Tom were King!
Yea, this album is an oasis in a Petty sea of crap from 1980 till today.
zipper wrote:
Agreed. It's wonderful! His best work IMHO.
love this entire cd
Agreed. It's wonderful! His best work IMHO.
x l ent
love this entire cd
Great song to hear before I leave home for work...One of my favorite TP songs.
Still like his music!!
Indeed
Thats really petty, Tom
Great ending of a beautiful song! 
Akaiila wrote:
Almost scared to ask what this means...?!
It's a reference to Coffee Talk with Linda Richman on SNL....Mike Myers....she says Barbara Stresiend or however you spell her name, sounds "like butta"
Almost scared to ask what this means...?!
It's a reference to Coffee Talk with Linda Richman on SNL....Mike Myers....she says Barbara Stresiend or however you spell her name, sounds "like butta"best ending ever. i could listen to it on repeat all day long! thanks, Bill!
I heard an interview with Petty on NPR. Some crazed fan burned down his home (and all his possessions) a few years back. Petty retreated into the mountains living by himself in a small house for a while.
I LOVE the last instrumental piece of this song. He has a way with melody. Love him!
petty = genius