We did somethin' we both know it
We don't talk too much about it
Ain't no real big secret all the same
Somehow we get around it
Listen it don't really matter to me, baby
You believe what you want to believe
You see, you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)

Somewhere, somehow, somebody
Must have kicked you around some
Tell me why you want to lay there
Revel in your abandon
Honey, it don't make no difference to me, baby
Everybody's had to fight to be free
You see, you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
Now baby, you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee) No

Baby we ain't the first
I'm sure a lot of other lovers been burned
Right now this seems real to you
But it's one of those things
You gotta feel to be true

Somewhere, somehow, somebody
Must have kicked you around some
Who knows, maybe you were kidnapped
Tied up, taken away and held for ransom, honey
It don't really matter to me, baby
Everybody's had to fight to be free
You see, you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
No, you don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
You don't have to live like a refugee (don't have to live like a refugee)
Oh, oh, oh


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

Refugee Lyrics as written by Tom Petty Michael W. Campbell

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Gone Gator Music, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Refugee song meanings
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  • +1
    Song Meaning

    A refugee is somebody who does not have choices. A refugees has to go wherever he/she is accepted.

    Tom is saying: you don't have to live like that. You have choices, you don't have to settle for a crappy relationship.

    We did somethin' we both know it We don't talk too much about it Ain't no real big secret all the same Somehow we get around it Listen it don't really matter to me baby You believe what you want to believe You see you don't have to live like a refugee

    Maybe the song is about two people, both in bad relationships, who cheat with each other?

    Maybe there is some amount of guilt, and Tom is saying "screw it, we don't have to stay in bad relationships."

    walterbyrdon February 12, 2017   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Clearly, this song is about a woman who jumps from relationship to relationship (you don't have to live like a refugee - refugee's move around a lot) because she's paranoid as she's got hurt in the past (Somewhere, somehow somebody Must have kicked you around some) but with her current relationship she doesn't seem to want to try hard to make it work. (Tell me why you want to lay there and revel in your abandon) so Tom is saying to her that everyone has gone through difficult relationships, but that doesn't mean you should give up (Everybody's had to fight to be free, You see you don't have to live like a refugee)

    T_Doggy dogon June 12, 2017   Link

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