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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers — I Need To Know
Album: You're Gonna Get It
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 408









Released: 1978
Length: 2:21
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Well the talk on the street
Says you might go solo
Good friend of mine
Saw you leavin' by your back door

I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
If you think you're gonna leave
Then you better say so
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
Because I don't know how long I can hold on
If you're makin' me wait, if you're leadin' me on
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)

Who would've thought that
You'd fall for his line
All of a sudden
It's me on the outside

I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
If you think you're gonna leave
Then you better say so
I need to know I need to know
I need to know
Because I don't know how long I can hold on
If you're makin' me wait, if you're leadin' me on
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)

Baby, I need to know
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)
If you think you're gonna leave
Then you better say so
I need to know, I need to know
Because I don't know how long I can hold on
If you're makin' me wait, if you're leadin' me on
I need to know (I need to know)
I need to know (I need to know)

Baby, I need to know
Comments (21)add comment
Was visiting my son who just got a turntable, he loves TP, asked me which album he should get . .  we went out and found this, my favorite by Tom & HB, we miss you man.
I just had this disk on last night - LOUD. The second TP effort is still my favorite.
Wow, this came out in 1978? I guess it was a classic because it still feels real in 2014.

It's timeless....
 Lazarus wrote:

This song is good for the ears...
 

 
Strange. Why would you turn it down? I think I just damaged mine (again)
I was driving a bad ass hot-rod Cutlass that got 11mpg, had a serious liking for good beer&strong weed; God help me, still do!  This rocks!
 kcar wrote:

Remember when the FM stations played a live version of "Breakdown" TP did in a rowdy nightclub? That gave traction to the punk rocker notion. Some other RPer posted on another song thread that she was desperately trying to find a recording of that version. 

Were you in a punk band, lemmoth?  

 
I just spent some time looking for that and it's legendary but ... no one seems to have it. Other recordings exist from the era tho.
Nice blast from the past Bill!
 lemmoth wrote:
When people thought maybe Tom Petty is a punk rocker :-)  The labelling was so ridiculous back then what with all the great NY based bands that emerged from the time being part of the "punk" scene (as was I).

Of course, if you study the bodies of work of say - these five well known artists from that scene - the diversity of styles is quite evident.

Talking Heads, Blondie, Ramones, Television, Patti Smith

 
Remember when the FM stations played a live version of "Breakdown" TP did in a rowdy nightclub? That gave traction to the punk rocker notion. Some other RPer posted on another song thread that she was desperately trying to find a recording of that version. 

Were you in a punk band, lemmoth?  

This song is good for the ears...
 
And then....one of the BEST Bands to come out of the 70-80s!!!!!!{#Dance}
"A good friend of mine saw you leavin' by your back door."
 
Some of the most indecipherable lyrics since White Rabbit.   
 
I only gave it a 9 for some reason. Maybe next time I'll have to bump it up. 
The first two efforts are still my faves...also like Long After Dark...
 RobRyan wrote:
Golly he was (and they were) wonderful before he got awful.

 

{#Lol} That comment is funny, but I even like much of Petty's more recent music (e.g. Highway Companion). Still, this is without a doubt one of his finest moments.
When people thought maybe Tom Petty is a punk rocker :-)  The labelling was so ridiculous back then what with all the great NY based bands that emerged from the time being part of the "punk" scene (as was I).

Of course, if you study the bodies of work of say - these five well known artists from that scene - the diversity of styles is quite evident.

Talking Heads, Blondie, Ramones, Television, Patti Smith
Time to kick it in gear and drive fast. There's a party out by the lake. Let's go!

Oh my god . . . the memories. Another great tune from my yoot.
Golly he was (and they were) wonderful before he got awful.

 treatment_bound wrote:


No this time—it definitely came out in '78, as I bought it on vinyl that year.  However, Tom would have to wait another year before he became a STAR!
 
Well, it was ahead of its time, and thus a classic.
 nerakdon wrote:
Sometimes the release dates on things seem a little suspicious around here.
 

No this time—it definitely came out in '78, as I bought it on vinyl that year.  However, Tom would have to wait another year before he became a STAR!
Sometimes the release dates on things seem a little suspicious around here.
Great straight-ahead song from a damn fine album, maybe their best record.
Possibly one of the best, hardest rocking, heart pounding, pedal to the metal TP songs EVER! Don't even argue with me. Please play this and, for those of you at home, turn it to 11.