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Refugee (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Refugee
| cover = TP - Refugee.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
| album = Damn the Torpedoes
| B-side = It's Rainin' Again
| released =
| recorded = 1979
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock
| length = 3:25
| label = Backstreet
| writer = Tom Petty, Mike Campbell
| producer = Jimmy Iovine, Tom Petty
| prev_title = Don't Do Me Like That
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = Here Comes My Girl
| next_year = 1980
| misc =
}}
"'Refugee'" is a song recorded by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, was released in January 1980 as the second single from their album 'Damn the Torpedoes', and peaking at No. 15 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 singles chart.Joel Whitburn, 'Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles: 19552010', Record Research, 2011. The song is in compound AABA form.Covach, John (2005), "Form in Rock Music: A Primer", in Stein, Deborah, 'Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis', New York: Oxford University Press, p.74-75, .
Composition and recording
The song's co-writer Mike Campbell said "Refugee" was one of the first songs he wrote, and recounted, 'I just wrote the music and handed it to Tom [Petty] and he put the words over it, and when he did he found a way to make the chorus lift up without changing chords.'
In a November 2003 interview with 'Songfacts', Campbell described the recording sessions for "Refugee":
'Billboard' described "Refugee" as being "Petty at his best," specifically praising the "gutsy rock vocal and searing guitar lines." 'Cash Box' said it has "growing interplay between guitar and organ, coupled with Pettys forceful vocals."
Reception
"Refugee" is widely regarded as one of Petty's best songs. In 2017, 'Billboard' ranked the song number 10 on their list of the 20 greatest Tom Petty songs, and in 2020, 'Rolling Stone' ranked the song number two on their list of the 50 greatest Tom Petty songs.
Personnel
*Tom Petty lead vocal, rhythm guitar
*Mike Campbell lead guitar
*Ron Blair bass
*Stan Lynch drums, backing vocal
*Benmont Tench organ, backing vocal
*Jim Keltner - shaker
Notable remakes
"Refugee" was covered by Melissa Etheridge in 2005 for her album 'Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled', and reached No. 96 in the 'Billboard' Pop 100 charts. Other versions have been recorded by Vains of Jenna, Alvin and the Chipmunks,[http://www.allmusic.com/album/r80719 Chipmunk Punk] Allmusic. Retrieved 10 July 2011 and The Gaslight Anthem.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
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