353
Refugee Ukulele Chords – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This song uses the chords: F#min, A, E, B. You can change the key for free, as needed.
INTRO:
F#min A E x4
VERSE 1:
F#minWe got something, we both Aknow itWe don’t Etalk too much aF#minbout itA E F#minAin’t no real big secret Aall the sameSomeEhow, we get aF#minround itA E
Listen,D it don’t really matter to me, babyB You believe what you want to believe
CHORUS 1:
You see, you F#mindon’t have to Alive like a Erefugee(F#minDon’t have to live like a ArefuEgee)
VERSE 2:
F#minSomewhere, somehowSomeAbody must have Ekicked you aF#minround, someA E F#minTell me, why you wanna Alay thereAnd Erevel in your aF#minbandonA E
HoneyD, it don’t make no difference to me, babyB Everybody’s had to fight to be free
CHORUS 2:
You see, you F#mindon’t have to Alive like a Erefugee(F#minDon’t have to live like a ArefuEgee)
Nah baby you F#mindon’t have to Alive like a Erefugee
(F#minDon’t have to live like a ArefuEgee)
No!
BRIDGE:
E Baby we ain’t the firstAI‘m sure a lot of other lovers’ been burnedDRight now, this seems real to youEBut it’s one of those things you gotta feel to be true
SOLO:
F#min A E X4
VERSE 3:
F#minSomewhere, somehowSomeAbody must have Ekicked you aF#minround, someA E F#minWho knows, maybe you were kidnappedATied up, taken Eaway and held for F#minransomA E
AlrightD! It don’t really matter to me, babyBEverybody’s had to fight to be free
CHORUS 3:
You see, you F#mindon’t have to Alive like a Erefugee(F#minDon’t have to live like a ArefuEgee)
You see, you F#mindon’t have to Alive like a Erefugee(F#minDon’t have to live like a ArefuEgee)
Check out more ukulele songs here.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Refugee” History:
🎶 Overview
“Refugee” is a rock song recorded by American band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was released in January 1980 as the second single from their breakthrough third album Damn the Torpedoes (1979).
- Artists: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Album: Damn the Torpedoes
- Released: January 11, 1980
- Genre: Heartland rock / garage rock
- Length: ~3:25
- Label: Backstreet
- Writers: Tom Petty and Mike Campbell
- Producers: Tom Petty and Jimmy Iovine
📈 Commercial Success & Legacy
- Chart Performance: Reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. — one of the band’s biggest hits.
- Over time it has become both a fan favorite and a critical staple in Petty’s catalog, widely regarded as one of his best songs. Rolling Stone and Billboard have ranked it among his top tracks.
🎸 Creation & Recording
- The music was composed by guitarist Mike Campbell and Tom Petty wrote the lyrics over it.
- Recording was notoriously difficult — the band reportedly did more than 100 takes trying to nail the feel and performance in the studio.
- The track features driving guitars, organ flourishes, and Petty’s signature steadfast vocals.
💡 Meaning & Themes
Lyrically, Refugee is an anthemic mix of defiance, resilience and emotional honesty:
- The chorus line, “You don’t have to live like a refugee,” urges breaking free from past hurt and refusing to stay trapped by it.
- Some interpretations connect the song to Petty’s battles with his record label and feelings of being constrained by the music business, which fueled his creative defiance.
Listeners have often found the lyrics universal and empowering, speaking to personal struggle and liberation.
🎧 Cultural Impact
- Beyond chart success, Refugee is considered a classic of late-’70s/early-’80s rock, helping solidify Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ place in rock history.
- It’s been covered by various artists and remains a staple in tributes and retrospectives of Petty’s work.
🎤 Band Lineup on the Track
Personnel typically included:
- Tom Petty – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Mike Campbell – lead guitar
- Benmont Tench – organ
- Ron Blair – bass
- Stan Lynch – drums
