Album: The Last DJ (2002)
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  • 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 Writer/s: Tom Petty
    Publisher: Adria K Music
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 18

  • Record Rep from La, Ca Js from Milwaukee has absolutely zero proof of any of those claims. All bogus. Jim & Tom go back with a friendship many a year to when Jim was on KMET. That’s a fact.
  • Dave from Santa Fe, NmWell .... two things here. Wasn't Jim Ladd on KMET when one day it just turned into an easy listening station with no explanation of what happened? And we never heard from Jim, Mary, and Shadoe et. al. again? Jc from NY ... are you referring to Wolfman Jack?
  • Js from Milwaukee, WiA friend of Howie Epsteins in Milwaukee made up the title The Last DJ, then the Hay Hay Hay, Plus a bunch of other ideas for the last DJ album and the Echo album. This got to Howie then to Tom Petty. That's why Petty has the back of his head on front face on back of album. This was suggested by idea man. Petty stuck with the story of Jim Ladd because that was suggested to him, in case the idea man didn't contact Petty about possible funds that should be paid to idea man. Petty didn't want to contact idea man because he was unsure of amounts of money that might be requested. Then Howie died. Idea man would like some money, not as much as Petty is afraid of. Many people in Milw. Know of this. Its funny to hear the other stories.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaThis is about Jim Ladd, becouse he is the last DJ. Thee will bever be one like him and he is still on the Airwaves here in LA. KLOS 95.5 FM. The Man is a Legend..
  • Dave from St. Louis, MoTo correct what someone said earlier...Clear Channel did NOT ban this song. I worked for a CC station at the time it was released and we spun the crap out of it. It wound up peaking @ #22 on the mainstream rock charts. A great song about a great guy (Jim Ladd)!
  • Joanne from Houston, TxThey did name themselves!! Take it from someone who never became a corporate "whore" as Tom Petty says in this song. I work for a great company now; once I left that company he names.
  • Mark from Bangor, Mewkit 100.3,,,,stephen kings own rock n roll station,,,locally owned,,locally staffed,,24/7 station,,,lucky i live where i do,,,and STILL have The Last DJ's robot radio?,,,dont have it on MY presets,,,checkem out folks,,,zoneradio.com enjoy
  • Mark from Bangor, Mewkit 100.3,,,,stephen kings own rock n roll station,,,locally owned,,locally staffed,,24/7 station,,,lucky i live where i do,,,and STILL have The Last DJ's robot radio?,,,dont have it on MY presets,,,checkem out folks,,,zoneradio.com enjoy
  • Jim from Burbank, CaAdding to Ray's comments from Utah, that's right. The DJ he refers to is Jim Ladd. He's a legendary L.A. DJ going back to 1969, and currently works with me at KLOS 95.5 FM (www.955klos.com), now the only major classic rock station in L.A. Jim's show is on in the weekday evenings and although we're corporate, management recognizes Jim's great history and he still plays what he wants! So he didn't have to go to Mexico! You can listen to Jim's show via the station's website. His bio is there too. Hope you all enjoy learning more about...the last DJ.
    - Jim (no not Ladd), Burbank, CA
  • Ray from Bonneville Salt Flats, UtThe DJ's name is Jim Laad. I can't find much info on him on the net, though.
  • Lisa from Austin, TxMy boyfriend is probably the last real DJ in Austin, TX. However, he was let go about a month ago because a corporation took over. If there was ever a song written about the man I am talking about, it is the LAST DJ. There will never be any more like him. He played what he wanted and the people loved it. Corporations have stopped the music.
  • Jc from New York, NyThis song is based on a real-life DJ in California who, after being told what to play, relocated to Mexico, just ascross the border. From there he was not beholden to the rules and regualtions in the states but still stayed true to form for his fans who could still listen.

    I thought one of you guys on here was smart enough to have that DJs name...guess not.
  • Heather from Truckee, CaI think that it could also be referring to the advent of satelite radio with the line, "all the boys upstairs want to see How much you'll pay for what you used to get for free"
  • Dee from Northfield, IlThis song is pretty damn punk. That's it. It's punk without the punk-style music.
  • Paul from Marysville, WaActually, radio conglomerate Clear Channel banned this song. It didn't promote violence or drug use-- but it still hit too close to home for them. Tom was reportedly amazed; he didn't even know Clear Channel owned any radio stations-- he thought they just owned concert venues. He said "I didn't name them-- they named themselves!"
  • James from Tewkesbury, EnglandThis song is incredible, Tom Petty is incredible.
  • Keith from Slc, UtThose of us who have been in broadcast know the song -- and the sentiment -- well. Robot radio is like listening to reruns. Hey, hey, hey!
  • Scott from Bismarck, Ndthink it hit number one on the rock and roll charts
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