4:44
Hard Promises, 1981
Written by Tom Petty
According to tour manager Richard Fernandez, Bob Dylan said this was one of the best songs Tom Petty ever wrote. I don't agree, personally, but I can see the appeal to someone who's lived the touring life, and to Dylan's sense of story. The song centers on a restless guy named Speedball living on the road, sleeping in cheap motels and looking for a drink, maybe trying to get the next tour together. It hints at long nights, nameless partners, and seedy plans. "And he was not looking for romance, just someone he could trust." This could be about a traveling musician. Or, it could be about some illegal caper being put together in a motel lobby in the wee hours of the night. The strength of the song is in that lack of specificity, so it's easy for the listener to identify with. The song lives in that in-between space, where everything feels on the precipice of importance, but nothing has quite taken shape yet.
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