Mary Jane's Last Dance – English Lyrics

• By: Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the allure of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 'Mary Jane's Last Dance,' a song shrouded in mystery and open to interpretation. Delve into the poetic lyrics and explore the cultural significance of this rock classic, a perfect gateway to understanding American rock music and its lyrical depth.

[English]

(subtle guitar music)

(mid-tempo rock music)

♪ She grew up in an Indiana town ♪

♪ Had a good lookin' mama who never was around ♪

♪ But she grew up tall and she grew up right ♪

♪ With them Indiana boys on them Indiana nights ♪

(lively harmonica music)

♪ Well, she moved down here at the age of 18 ♪

♪ She blew the boys away, was more than they'd seen ♪

♪ I was introduced and we both started groovin' ♪

♪ She said, I dig you baby, but I got to keep movin' on ♪

♪ Keep movin' on ♪

(upbeat rock music)

♪ Last dance with Mary Jane, one more time to kill the pain ♪

♪ I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again ♪

(lively harmonica music)

♪ Well, I don't know, but I've been told ♪

♪ You never slow down, you never grow old ♪

♪ I'm tired of screwin' up, tired of going down ♪

♪ Tired of myself, tired of this town ♪

♪ Oh, my, my, oh, hell yes ♪

♪ Honey, put on that party dress ♪

♪ Buy me a drink, sing me a song ♪

♪ Take me as I come 'cause I can't stay long ♪

♪ Last dance with Mary Jane, one more time to kill the pain ♪

♪ I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again ♪

(upbeat rock guitar music)

♪ There's pigeons down on Market Square ♪

♪ She's standin' in her underwear ♪

♪ Lookin' down from a hotel room ♪

♪ The nightfall will be comin' soon ♪

♪ Oh, my, my, oh, hell yes ♪

♪ You got to put on that party dress ♪

♪ It was too cold to cry when I woke up alone ♪

♪ I hit my last number and walked to the road ♪

♪ Last dance with Mary Jane, one more time to kill the pain ♪

♪ I feel summer creepin' in and I'm tired of this town again ♪

(lively harmonica music)

(upbeat rock music)

(seagulls squawking)

(waves crashing)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dance /dæns/ A1	noun - a series of movements that match the rhythm of a piece of music verb - to move rhythmically to music, typically following a set pattern
kill /kɪl/ A2	verb - to cause the death of a living organism verb - to stop or alleviate something undesirable
summer /ˈsʌmər/ A1	noun - the warmest season of the year
creepin /ˈkriːpɪn/ B1	verb - to move slowly and quietly, often in a way that is not noticed
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A2	adjective - feeling a need to rest or sleep
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city
groovin /ˈɡruːvɪn/ B1	verb - to enjoy oneself or feel in harmony with the surroundings
movin /ˈmuːvɪn/ A2	verb - to change position or location
pigeons /ˈpɪdʒɪnz/ A1	noun - a bird commonly found in urban areas
underwear /ˈʌndərweər/ A1	noun - clothing worn under outer clothes
nightfall /ˈnaɪt fɔːl/ B1	noun - the time of day when night begins
screwin /ˈskruːɪn/ B2	verb - to make a mistake or mess things up
honey /ˈhʌni/ A1	noun - a sweet, sticky substance produced by bees noun - a term of endearment
dress /drɛs/ A1	noun - a piece of clothing for women or girls verb - to put on clothes
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - low in temperature

Key Grammar Structures

• She **grew up** in an Indiana town

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ Used to describe a completed action in the past. The verb "grew" is the past tense of "grow".

• Had a good lookin' mama **who never was around**

  ➔ Relative Clause (with "who") and Past Simple Tense

  ➔ This sentence uses a relative clause to describe the mama, using "who". "Never was around" describes a state in the past.

• But she **grew up** tall and she **grew up** right

  ➔ Past Simple Tense (repeated)

  ➔ Repeating the past simple tense to emphasize the growth and development.

• She **blew** the boys away, was more than they'd seen

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The verb "blew" is in past simple, indicating a past action. Also note the use of "they'd seen", a past perfect, to describe a past action completed before the main action.

• **I was introduced** and we both started groovin'

  ➔ Passive Voice (Past Simple) and Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The passive voice is used in "I was introduced." The second clause uses the past simple tense.

• She said, **I dig you baby**, but I got to keep movin' on

  ➔ Reported Speech (implied) and Direct Speech

  ➔ The sentence "She said" implies reported speech, and the direct quote of Mary Jane's words is in direct speech. Also the use of slang "I dig you baby".

• **I feel summer creepin' in** and I'm tired of this town again

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense and contraction "I'm"

  ➔ The present continuous describes a continuous action or state happening now. The contraction "I'm" (I am) is used.

• I **don't know**, but I've been told

  ➔ Present Simple (negative) and Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ Uses the present simple negative "don't know" and then "I've been told" the present perfect tense.

• You **never slow down**, you **never grow old**

  ➔ Adverbs of Frequency and Present Simple Tense

  ➔ Using "never" (an adverb of frequency) with the present simple tense to express a general truth or habit. The form of the verb changes slightly due to the presence of the adverb.

• Oh, my, my, **oh, hell yes**

  ➔ Exclamatory phrase

  ➔ This phrase expresses strong emotion and enthusiasm.

• Honey, **put on that party dress**

  ➔ Imperative sentence

  ➔ The sentence gives a command or instruction. The subject "you" is implied.

• **Lookin' down** from a hotel room

  ➔ Present Participle (used as an adjective)

  ➔ The gerund or present participle "lookin'" is used to describe Mary Jane's state.

• The **nightfall will be comin' soon**

  ➔ Future continuous tense

  ➔ Expresses an action that will be in progress at a certain point in the future.

• It **was** too cold to cry **when I woke up** alone

  ➔ Past Simple Tense (repeated)

  ➔ Uses the past simple tense to describe two actions happened in the past. The first one is "It was" and the second is "woke up."