Don't Come Around Here No More
"Don't Come Around Here No More" is a song written by Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and David A. Stewart of Eurythmics. It was released in February 1985 as the lead single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Southern Accents album.
"Don't Come Around Here No More" | ||||
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Single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | ||||
from the album Southern Accents | ||||
B-side | "Trailer" | |||
Released | February 28, 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1984 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 5:07 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tom Petty, David A. Stewart | |||
Producer(s) | Tom Petty, David A. Stewart, Jimmy Iovine | |||
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers singles chronology | ||||
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Background and writing
The original inspiration was a romantic encounter that producer David A. Stewart of Eurythmics had with Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac.[3] On The Howard Stern Show, Stewart explained that the title's phrase was actually uttered by Nicks. She had broken up with Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh the night before,[4] and invited Stewart to her place for a party after an early Eurythmics show in Los Angeles. Stewart did not know who she was at the time, but went anyway. When the partygoers all disappeared to a bathroom for a couple of hours to snort cocaine, he decided to go upstairs to bed. He woke up at 5 a.m. to find Nicks in his room trying on Victorian clothing and described the entire scenario as very much reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Later that morning, Walsh came by to find Nicks and Stewart heard Nicks throw Walsh out, telling him, "Don't come around here no more."
According to Nicks, the song was originally written for her album Rock a Little, but she declined it after Petty performed the vocals for her, feeling she couldn't do the song justice.[5]
Music video
The music video is themed around Alice in Wonderland and was directed by Jeff Stein. Dave Stewart appears as the caterpillar at the beginning, sitting on a mushroom with a hookah water pipe while playing a sitar. Petty appears in the video dressed as The Mad Hatter, and actress Louise “Wish” Foley played Alice.[6] Alice eats a cake given to her by Stewart and tumbles into a black/white-patterned realm similar to the "Mad Tea Party" scene from Alice in Wonderland. She experiences a succession of bizarre events, culminating in her body being turned into a cake and eaten by the guests at the tea party. The video ends with Petty swallowing Alice whole, burping softly, and wiping his mouth with a napkin.
Personnel
The Heartbreakers
- Tom Petty – lead vocals, piano
- Mike Campbell – guitar, bass synthesizer
- Benmont Tench – string synthesizer
- Stan Lynch – drums, percussion
- Howie Epstein – bass guitar, vocals
Additional personnel
- David A. Stewart – electric sitar, synthesizer, vocals
- Dean Garcia – intro bass guitar
- Daniel Rothmuller – cello
- Marilyn Martin – backing vocals
- Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals
- Sharon Celani – backing vocals
- Alan "Bugs" Weidel – wild dog piano
Chart performance
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 61 |
Canadian Top 100 Singles (RPM)[8] | 20 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] | 42 |
UK Singles Chart | 50 |
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 13 |
US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) | 2 |
Cover versions
Susanna of Susanna and the Magical Orchestra gives the song a low-key, piano-based cover on her 2008 album Flower of Evil. Indie band Vampire Weekend covers the song on a steady basis during live shows. British indie pop singer-songwriter Diana Vickers covered the song as a promotional track ahead of the release of her second album. The song was parodied by Bob Rivers.[11] Showrunner Noah Hawley and composer Jeff Russo also performed a cover for a season two episode of the TV show Legion.
References
- https://www.stereogum.com/1965762/watch-fleet-foxes-cover-dont-come-around-here-no-more-in-tribute-to-tom-petty/news/
- Greenwald, Matthew. "Don't Come Around Here No More - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- "Don't Come Around Here No More". Songfacts.com. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- Conversations With Tom Petty, 2005
- "Stevie revisits 'Don't Come Around Here No More' in Petty bio". StevieNicks.info. November 9, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- Hanh Nguyen (October 3, 2017). "Tom Petty's Don't Come Around Here No More: Alice in Wonderland Guide". IndieWire. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- Top Singles - Volume 42, No. 11, May 25 1985 Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- "Charts.nz – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Don't Come Around Here No More". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- "Tom Petty Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- "Don't Bum Around Here no More". Bobrivers.com. March 15, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2018.