3 Hit Songs Written but Not Originally Performed by Tom Petty

There is and will always be something so quintessentially American about Tom Petty. His voice just sounds like amber waves of grain. For the Gainesville, Florida-born rocker, music was in his DNA. He wrote some of the best songs of the 20th century, classic tracks like “I Won’t Back Down” and “You Don’t Know How It Feels.” But not every hit he wrote was for him personally.

Here below, we wanted to explore three such tracks. A trio of tunes by the classic rocker that he wrote but were originally performed by other big name artists. Indeed, these are three songs written but not originally performed by Tom Petty.

[RELATED: Watch Archival Footage of Tom Petty Reflecting on Rock Stardom Shared Online on the Seventh Anniversary of His Death]

“Cheer Down” by George Harrison from Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Co-written by Tom Petty and the former Beatle George Harrison for the 1989 soundtrack for the film Lethal Weapon 2, this song was inspired by something Harrison’s wife Olivia used to say to him. When Harrison would get a little too excited, Olivia would say, “Cheer down, big fellow.” While Harrison first started writing the tune in 1987, it was with Petty that he wrote the lyrics sometime later. The lyrics are about accepting someone even when they’re not at the top of their game. Sings Harrison,

I can see by your grin
That you’re trembling within
It’s all over town, cheer down
And the smile on your face
Is sometimes out of place
Don’t mind, no frowns, cheer down

If your hair should fall
If your shares should crash
You’ll get by even without getting a rash

“You Got It” by Roy Orbison from Mystery Girl (1989)

This song, which was co-written by the golden voiced Roy Orbison along with Jeff Lynne and Petty, was released posthumously just weeks after Orbison died in December 1988. The track, which hit No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, is one of devotion. Whatever the subject of the song wants, the singer will find it and give it away. Orbison was one of those singers who could belt out lines from the phone book and make them pleasant. But when singing lyrics co-written by Petty, his former Traveling Wilburys bandmate, it was that much better. Sings Orbison on the tune,

Every time I look into your lovely eyes,
I see a love that money just can’t buy.
One look from you, I drift away.
I pray that you are here to stay.

Anything you want, you got it.
Anything you need, you got it.
Anything at all, you got it.
Baby!

“Blown Away” by Jeff Lynne from Armchair Theatre (1990)

This song features longtime collaborators Petty and Lynne get together for yet another tune. The song is one that demonstrates the effect one person can have on another. Indeed, the singer is blown away by how lovely and perfect the subject is. There is no comparison and the singer is simply overjoyed to have finally found the object of his love, affection, and appreciation. Sings Lynne,

So let it rain
Or let the sun shine down on me
I feel no pain
Now that you’re here it’s all the same

You are the one
I should have known
I’m blown away
Like a boat out on the ocean

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Photo by Larry Marano/Shutterstock