Tom Petty, a name synonymous with American rock and roll, gifted the world with countless hits. Among them, “You Don’t Know How It Feels” stands out, not just for its catchy melody but also for a lyric that sparked controversy and censorship: “let’s roll another joint.” This seemingly simple phrase became a talking point, almost overshadowing the song’s deeper meaning.
The irony, as Petty himself pointed out, was that he never intended the line to be controversial. In fact, he almost left the song off the album entirely. His surprise was evident when MTV, a major platform for music videos, decided to censor the word “joint.” Instead of outright banning the video, they opted for a bizarre workaround, reversing the word to sound like “noojh.” Petty himself found this alteration more ridiculous than the original lyric, humorously questioning, “I don’t know if you’ve ever had a noojh, but it sounds really wicked.”
Despite the lyrical hiccup, or perhaps because of it, “You Don’t Know How It Feels” resonated deeply with audiences. Released in 1994, it quickly climbed the Billboard charts, peaking at #13 in 1995. This commercial success underscored the song’s appeal, proving that even a censored drug reference couldn’t diminish its impact.
But what was the intention behind “let’s roll another joint”? Petty explained that the lyric wasn’t an endorsement of drug use, but rather a character-driven choice. He described the song’s protagonist as someone “kind of down and looking for some company.” In crafting this character, Petty deliberately avoided the cliché of reaching for a beer, opting instead for “roll another joint” to convey a sense of vulnerability and a desire for solace. He stated, “Every blue moon or so, I might have a toke on somebody’s… cigarette. It’s an OK way to live your life, but it’s not to be advised. I’m not going to say it’s good or bad. But I wrote this song a while back and I was trying to do this character in the song who was kind of down and looking for some company. And instead of having him say, ‘Let’s have another beer’ – they always have to have that in the song – I thought this guy should roll another joint.”
Beyond the “tom petty song let’s roll another joint” controversy, the lyrics of “You Don’t Know How It Feels” delve into deeper themes of loneliness and the search for empathy. The opening lines, “You don’t know how it feels to be me,” are a universal cry for understanding. Petty’s songwriting often embraced ambiguity, allowing listeners to project their own experiences onto his words. This open-endedness is evident in the line “You don’t know how it feels to be me,” which can be interpreted in countless ways, contributing to the song’s enduring relatability.
The music video for “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” directed by Phil Joanou, further cemented the song’s place in pop culture. Shot in a single continuous take, the camera revolves around Petty as a series of surreal and often chaotic events unfold in the background, including a bank robbery and circus performers. Despite MTV’s initial hesitation regarding the drug reference, the video became a hit, even winning the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video. The song also garnered critical acclaim, earning Petty a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1995.
Adding to its legacy, “You Don’t Know How It Feels” was famously performed on Saturday Night Live in 1994. This performance was notable as Dave Grohl, pre-Foo Fighters fame, filled in on drums for the departed Stan Lynch, showcasing the song’s broad appeal within the music community.
In conclusion, “You Don’t Know How It Feels” is more than just a catchy tune with a controversial lyric. It’s a song that encapsulates themes of isolation, empathy, and the human condition, all wrapped in Tom Petty’s signature rock and roll style. The line “let’s roll another joint,” despite its censorship saga, remains an integral part of the song’s identity, sparking conversation and contributing to its enduring legacy as a classic.
