The podcast 'The Story Behind the Song' presents its fourth season, featuring notable artists such as DEVO and Heart discussing their iconic songs. Kicking off with Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, he shares the creation story of their hit 'Refugee,' emphasizing his early influences, including Albert King's guitar style. Campbell recounts how a spontaneous four-track demo evolved into a song that resonates deeply with themes of hope and resilience, showcasing the powerful and timeless nature of Petty's lyrics.
Campbell reflects on how a simple four-track recording at home – created just for fun – laid the foundation for 'Refugee.' The music flowed naturally from his love for Albert King's guitar sound.
I gave him a cassette [with the demo] and he went home, and I've heard from his family that he would sit and play the cassette over and over and hum along to it and try to grab a spark of some sort.
The lyric is so powerful and it's timeless, you know? It's going on today, and that's what's so beautiful about it.
A lot of people connect with, 'You gotta live your life, and don't let the big man push you down. Don't have to live like a refugee. Keep fighting for what you believe.'
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