Tom Petty — Don't Fade On Me
![](https://img.radioparadise.com/covers/m/B000002MUN.jpg)
Avg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 1337
Length: 3:28
Plays (last 30 days): 2
I remember you so clearly
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
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
Comments (45)add comment
A lot of angst on Wildflowers, shown in repetition of verses and cord changes and Tom-Petty themes. Anxiety and anger about where he was and wasn't. Plus, the album title made no sense to me. It may-as-well-have-been-called blue strawberries; maybe a better title.
Nothing at all as spontaneous happens on that album as the blooming of a wildflower or the emergence of a blue strawberry, despite the expectation wrought by all that adulation of Tom.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Just not into the Tom Petty worship after a point, when it's self-centered and reaching beyond what he could possibly grasp, after all.
Nothing at all as spontaneous happens on that album as the blooming of a wildflower or the emergence of a blue strawberry, despite the expectation wrought by all that adulation of Tom.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Just not into the Tom Petty worship after a point, when it's self-centered and reaching beyond what he could possibly grasp, after all.
Beautiful, beautiful poetry here. Sadly, Tom faded on us.
On_The_Beach wrote:
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.
One of my fave TP albums.
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.
great song, I wonder if it was about his first wife
Stay hard Tom!
Great song, great album !!!
![daisy](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/daisy.gif)
![daisy](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/daisy.gif)
![{#Devil_pimp} {#Devil_pimp}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/devil_pimp.gif)
what a beautiful sad song. 1st time hearing it and am deeply moved. Tom, you left us waaaaay too early.
rip Tom...![{#Sunny} {#Sunny}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/sunny.gif)
![{#Sunny} {#Sunny}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/sunny.gif)
Gotta say I'm feeling very verklempt.
Tom was a huge part of my life through the good times and bad. What an amazing body of work he left us. Thanks Mr.Petty!
![{#Cry} {#Cry}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-cry.gif)
![{#Daisy} {#Daisy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/daisy.gif)
![{#Cry} {#Cry}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-cry.gif)
![{#Cry} {#Cry}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-cry.gif)
Thomas Earle
Missing TP but what a sensational catalogue he left us.
Thank You Tom Petty for everything you did. May you rest in peace.
Dammit Tom. I am going to miss you. Glad I got to see you so many times over the past 20 years. We are all better off having your music.
RIP Tom. Thanks for so much great music.
One of my fave TP albums.
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.
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.
Dave_Mack wrote:
good call...I was listening to the Chapin tune today on another station...I can hear it too
This is a cover, isn't it? Donovan maybe? Nice tune and guitar work.
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.
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
Tom -deep artistic blossommy friend- the nice friend...
This is a cover, isn't it? Donovan maybe? Nice tune and guitar work.
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.
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.
One can always trust Tom!
HonduranRed wrote:
Yes, I agree...
good song,great album
Yes, I agree...
good song,great album
I really like this song. the first time i heard it i thought it came from the Mojo CD
The man's voice is like fingernails on chalkboard. Ugh.
I know I have said it before, but the older I get the more I like Tom Petty.
I love this album too...
Pretty good for Tom Petty. He doesn't sound as stoned as usual...![{#Music} {#Music}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_music.gif)
![{#Music} {#Music}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_music.gif)
Wow. Excellent. Never cared much for Petty's mainstream stuff, but this rocks, metaphorically speaking. _8_
Sounds a bit like Nick Drake to me. I like it.
if your not familiar with Petty you should be. check out his Straight Into Darkness album. my fav.
I was never much of a fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but I really like this and Mudcrutch.
Wow. I've never heard this one before. It exhibits a side of Petty that I'm really not familiar with. And I like it.
Excellent song off an excellent album. It's gotten even better with time.
A perfect example of the sort of deep album track that makes Wildflowers one of the great (relatively) unheralded records of the last 20 years. This is just beauty.
It has a William Shatner syncopation to it.
BigTimber wrote:
Damn straight.
This whole album is rock solid.
Damn straight.
Any radio station that would play this song instead of whatever the hit was from this record is tops in my book! I love RP!
This song didn't make the playlist until Feb. 10 2009
...
![{#Stupid} {#Stupid}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_stupid.gif)
Agreed! Petty is without compare as a songwriter and performer.
He's been at the top of his game for decades!!
![{#Guitarist} {#Guitarist}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_guitarist.gif)
Got to buy me some wildflowers,been waiting too long now.
One of my absolute favorite artists. Too many people judge him based solely on his songs that get played on the FM stations. This whole album is rock solid.
I love Tom Petty. He is home to me.
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.