Love Is A Long Road

About this song

The third track on Tom Petty's first solo album, Full Moon Fever, the song was co-written with Mike Campbell, who was inspired by a motorcycle he owned. Campbell said he was really into that frame of mind and likened the feel of the song to a motorcycle shifting gears. In late 2023 it gained wide popularity after being used in the trailer for the video game Grand Theft Auto VI, which gave Tom Petty a new Billboard chart hit after his death.

What it's about

The lyrics seem to center on a troubled young love between two people whose personalities clash sharply. The narrator comes to realize that love is a very long road.

Summary written with AI, based on the song's page on Genius.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 3 other songs, like “Grand Theft Hurensohn by Waifu Jackson”.
• Covered once, including “Love Is A Long Road by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart”.
• Written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell.
• Produced by Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Mike Campbell.
• Recorded at M.C. Studios.