 Hard Promises (1981) [ larger cover art ] |
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Well it didn't feel like Sunday
Didn't feel like June
When he met his silent partner in that lonely corner room
That overlooked the Marquee
Of the Plaza all-adult
And he was not lookin' for romance
Just someone he could trust
(Chorus)
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could put up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
Speedball rang the night clerk
Said, "Send me up a drink"
The night clerk said "It's Sunday man, ...wait a minute
Let me think
There's a little place outside of town that might
Still have some wine"
Speedball said, "Forget it, can I have an outside line?"
(Chorus)
It was Monday when the daymaids
Found the still made bed
All except the pillows that lay stacked
Up at the head
And one said, "I know I've seen his face
I wonder how he is?"
And the other said, "Probably just another clown
Workin' on something big"
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
| Rockit (Ottawa ON) | Posted: Dec 05, 2012 - 12:50 One of my fave Petty songs....8 |
| kingfish2004 (That GREAT country of Texas!) | Posted: Aug 01, 2012 - 19:44 81? Wow,,, Never heard this before and just love it! |
| jbwiv (Greensboro, NC) | Posted: Aug 01, 2012 - 19:43 Sounds like Widespread Panic with Petty at vocals.... |
| misterbearbaby (Marina del Rey, California) | Posted: May 30, 2012 - 11:38 Wry humor abounds... one of my favorite TP songs. But it's correct- the band's been together so long there is a friggin' "tribute band" playing in SoCal these days. That makes me feel old- I wonder how it makes Petty feel? |
| kcar | Posted: May 30, 2012 - 11:38 Cynaera wrote: This is SUCH a great story-song. I love the whole album. It was Monday when the day-maids Found his still-made bed All except the pillows that lay stacked up at the head One said, "I know I've seen his face I wonder who he is?" The other said, "He's probably just another clown, Working on something big..." Yeah, although you have to fill in some gaps in the story. Comes to mind when you see buffoons in the news—Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump, Manny Ramirez. |
| cosmiclint (Vancouver BC) | Posted: Apr 28, 2012 - 18:01 My first Tom Petty album, and I think this was my favorite song off of it for quite some time. |
| robbeek (the foothills above El Lay....) | Posted: Apr 28, 2012 - 18:00 Wait, this record is over 30 years old?!? Damn....Oh well, I'm off to find my cassette.... |
| musickat (Lake of the Ozarks) | Posted: Aug 19, 2011 - 13:30 ziakut wrote: Mediocre like most of his output. Do like his new album 'Mojo' though... Do you really think that George Harrison liked playing music with mediocre people? |
| errantpenny (where the fog breaks) | Posted: Aug 19, 2011 - 13:22 Just one of my favorite artists, period. I like some of his songs better than others, but I can't think of one that I don't enjoy hearing. I always feel happy when a TP song starts and I recognize his voice. I know I'm in for a few minutes of musical pleasure.  |
| LowPhreak (United Corporate States of Neo-Feudal Amurika, Inc.) | Posted: Aug 19, 2011 - 13:22 WonderLizard wrote:Yeah, I know he was a flake—most drummers are— Stereotype much? |
| p2h2d2 (On the Lake) | Posted: Aug 19, 2011 - 13:19 Do you think that Sheryl Crowe may have been created from one of Tom Petty's ribs? |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: Jul 19, 2011 - 04:36 ziakut wrote: Mediocre like most of his output. Do like his new album 'Mojo' though... Pretty much how I categorize TP too. Not bad, not outstanding, just kinda there. |
| olivertwist | Posted: Apr 15, 2011 - 08:06 WonderLizard wrote: I always liked the way Stan Lynch's drums carried a lot of The Heartbreakers' songs, this among them. Yeah, I know he was a flake—most drummers are—but still a good fit with this version of the band. I agree WonderLizard. The band's current drummer, while entirely competent, doesn't stand out in any way. Every time TP puts out a new album, I hope Lynch will be back behind the drums. Apparently he's burned too many bridges for that to happen! |
| PA1749 (Jim Thorpe, PA) | Posted: Apr 15, 2011 - 08:01 When Tom Petty was in high school, he was trying to impress a girl he liked by telling her he was in a band. Of course, he wasn't. She promptly asked him if his band would play at their prom. He happily agreed. Between then and prom, he got a band together and learned how play some cover songs. He played the prom: the rest is history. I don't know what happened to the girl. I hope he at least got a kiss. |
| WonderLizard (2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise) | Posted: Feb 11, 2011 - 12:13 I always liked the way Stan Lynch's drums carried a lot of The Heartbreakers' songs, this among them. Yeah, I know he was a flake—most drummers are—but still a good fit with this version of the band. |
| mapman (East Coast USA) | Posted: Feb 11, 2011 - 12:12 Good stuff. Not spectacular but yes a good story song. |
| Catatonic42 | Posted: Feb 11, 2011 - 12:10 This year's Super Bowl halftime show made me REALLY miss the Heartbreakers' appearance from a few years back... |
| Hannio (Austin, TX) | Posted: Jan 11, 2011 - 05:45 DaveInVA wrote: I always wondered if he had his tongue shot with Novocaine before he sings....Still like it though Good description. But I like it, too. |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: Dec 10, 2010 - 15:57 Stefen wrote: I really like this tune. I'm surprised the average rating is only 7. 7 is described as "Quite Likable", as in "I really like this tune". Pretty high praise. |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Dec 10, 2010 - 15:54 This is SUCH a great story-song. I love the whole album. It was Monday when the day-maids Found his still-made bed All except the pillows that lay stacked up at the head One said, "I know I've seen his face I wonder who he is?" The other said, "He's probably just another clown, Working on something big..." |
| unclelonghair | Posted: Oct 08, 2010 - 09:34 Ok so he's overdoing it a bit with the vocal anti-enunciation, but I have always liked this song... great lyrics, reads like a film noir. |
| ziakut (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Oct 08, 2010 - 09:25 Mediocre like most of his output. Do like his new album 'Mojo' though... |
| DaveInVA (In a hovel in effluent Damnville, VA) | Posted: Sep 06, 2010 - 09:06 I always wondered if he had his tongue shot with Novocaine before he sings....Still like it though |
| mandolin (...drifting...) | Posted: Aug 05, 2010 - 08:45 ...i'm biased in favor of early tom petty... |
| cosmiclint (Vancouver BC) | Posted: Jun 02, 2010 - 15:43 sdn wrote: Good god, what the hell is Petty singing here? I think he hits at least 800 millidylans on this song! I'll bet when you go to Baskin Robbins, you always order vanilla. |
| von_Hayek (Fr-Su Duesseldorf, Mo-Th Magdeburg) | Posted: Jan 27, 2010 - 06:32 ...And he was not lookin' for romance — just someone he could trust.. |
| EssexTex (Gitche Gumee) | Posted: Nov 25, 2009 - 09:04 Did he have a head cold when he recorded this?..... |
| sdn (Philadelphia) | Posted: Nov 25, 2009 - 09:02 Good god, what the hell is Petty singing here? I think he hits at least 800 millidylans on this song! |
| Hannio (Austin, TX) | Posted: Nov 25, 2009 - 09:01 vandal wrote: . . . back when Tom could still snarl and swagger. . . ...with the best of them. |
| Darlington (Columbia, South Carolina) | Posted: Nov 25, 2009 - 09:01 The Live Anthology which came out earlier this week is incredible. Its going to be in my car CD player for a while. |
| EssexTex (Smoke Pit) | Posted: Sep 23, 2009 - 09:45 Tom's one of those people I feel I should like whatever he does...but this is boring me |
| toterola (Further) | Posted: May 19, 2009 - 17:57 Nice! Songs like this remind us why Tom is a rock star. He just has a way with a turn of phrase.  |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Mar 17, 2009 - 14:21 Great song... remember it well... love it... |
| That_SOB (The Dark Side of the Tune) | Posted: Jan 13, 2009 - 08:50 Mike Campbell like Lindsey Buckingham is one of those amazing talents who is some how underrated. Petty is a channel for brilliance, his lyrics are nuanced and catchy and Campbell's licks NEVER get old. It's nice to see Petty finally recognized world wide as the talent he is. From Mudcrutch to the Traveling Wilburys, Petty has laid down some of the most memorable music of our time. From Refugee to You Wreck Me Baby, Honey Bee and Free-Fallin' Petty is an American Icon, it just doesn't get much better. Rock on Muddy, or is that Charlie T. Jr. ? |
| von_Hayek (Duesseldorf, Germany) | Posted: Jan 13, 2009 - 08:10 More Tom Petty, PLEASE! |
| hopper99 (Germany) | Posted: Oct 10, 2008 - 13:38 mamashannon wrote: I love it when you're playing the 3rd album in a row that I own! RP and I were meant for each other.  I much prefer RP to NOT play the songs I own. I can listen to my own on my own...  Hm, not my favorite Tom Petty song. Gave it a decent 5. |
| horstman (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Aug 08, 2008 - 08:22 JohnBauer wrote: I went nearly 30 years without hearing a single Tom Petty song. Now I'm drowning in Tom Petty. What's the deal?
You finally found a good radio station to listen to! Welcome to the world of great music. |
| CCinSB (the west coast) | Posted: Aug 08, 2008 - 08:18  happy bday GC...coming up! |
| JohnBauer (Washington, DC) | Posted: Jul 13, 2008 - 18:35 I went nearly 30 years without hearing a single Tom Petty song. Now I'm drowning in Tom Petty. What's the deal? |
| kingfish2004 (That GREAT country of Texas!) | Posted: Mar 03, 2008 - 18:51 HELL YEAH BABY Making life better one $@#%#^$%&^%$&%$ song at a TIME! BOO-YAH! |
| sarahbean26 (waukegan,IL) | Posted: Feb 01, 2008 - 08:53  |
| mamashannon (frozen solid in a minivan) | Posted: Feb 01, 2008 - 08:53 I love it when you're playing the 3rd album in a row that I own! RP and I were meant for each other. |
| ronniegirl (Middle of New Jersey) | Posted: Nov 30, 2007 - 12:43 Roverfish wrote: Well, color me embarrassed. All these years I'd blamed Tom's poor diction on alcohol and/or drugs, and it turns out he's a denture wearer. Clearly, he forgot them when he recorded this song.
Diction (and joking) aside, the instrumentation is excellent as always. Quite likeable tune overall. I thought he was doing his Bob Dylan impression. |
| birdland (Right about....here.) | Posted: Nov 30, 2007 - 12:39 Radio_Man wrote: Ahhh...a classic from the last few years of vinyl.
I have three copies. One was played to death, the other two are audiophile vinyl (one still has the cello on it). Love my vinyl. |
| Stefen (West Hollywood, CA) | Posted: Apr 24, 2007 - 13:35 I really like this tune. I'm surprised the average rating is only 7. |
| oufason (Dallas, TX) | Posted: Apr 24, 2007 - 13:31 Forgot how good this was... Gonna have to dig it out. |
| ghcollins86 (Santa Monica, CA (469.84 miles SSW of Paradise)) | Posted: Apr 24, 2007 - 13:31 I Miss You!  |
| healyf52 (Lower Manhattan) | Posted: Apr 24, 2007 - 13:27 Great storytelling .. Just another clown working on something big... |
| maxmox (Broome, Western Australia) | Posted: Mar 24, 2007 - 03:31 Uncle Tom!!! Welcome to Radio P and thanx for being you!       |
| cosmiclint (Vancouver BC) | Posted: Mar 08, 2007 - 12:25 Great Album Great Song I think I'll be listening to Hard Promises on my run tonight. |