I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
The last DJ
Well you can't turn him into a company man
You can't turn him into a whore
And the boys upstairs just don't understand anymore
Well the top brass don't like him talking so much,
And he won't play what they say to play
And he don't want to change what don't need to change
There goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey?
And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice
There goes the last DJ
Well some folks say they're gonna hang him so high
'Cause you just can't do what he did
There are some things you just can't put in the minds of those kids
As we celebrate mediocrity all the boys upstairs want to see
How much you'll pay for what you used to get for free
There goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey?
And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice
And there goes the last DJ
Well he got him a station down in Mexico
And sometimes it'll kind of come in
And I'll bust a move and remember how it was back then
And there goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey?
And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice.
And there goes the last DJ
Well you can't turn him into a company man
You can't turn him into a whore
And the boys upstairs just don't understand anymore
Well the top brass don't like him talking so much,
And he won't play what they say to play
And he don't want to change what don't need to change
There goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey?
And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice
There goes the last DJ
Well some folks say they're gonna hang him so high
'Cause you just can't do what he did
There are some things you just can't put in the minds of those kids
As we celebrate mediocrity all the boys upstairs want to see
How much you'll pay for what you used to get for free
There goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey?
And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice
And there goes the last DJ
Well he got him a station down in Mexico
And sometimes it'll kind of come in
And I'll bust a move and remember how it was back then
And there goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say, hey hey hey?
And there goes your freedom of choice
There goes the last human voice.
And there goes the last DJ
Lyrics submitted by Irishred516
The Last DJ Lyrics as written by Tom Petty
Lyrics © Adria K Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love the message this song provides. It's a remaining veteran from the golden days of music speaking against this mindless corporate machine that is the modern music industry. I wouldn't link it directly to satellite radio, but no doubt that's a part of it. Back in the day music was a way to express your feelings and deliver messages. But as the mid-1990's came around, this all went up in a fiery ball of wreckage. Even thought the song doesn't say it, we have MTV to blame. Now music is a way for people to make money. It's a tool for corporate men (the boys upstairs) to thrive off stupidity. And as we celebrate mediocrity, fakers call themselves singers, but they put shame to the word. They hide themselves behind disguises such as auto-tune and far overused collaborations. The worst offenders? Nicki Minaj, Pitbull, and Ke$ha. I mean just look at those poser names! Petty puts modern followers to shame. Hats off to a remaining legend.