TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS - MARY JANE’S LAST DANCE

Released: November 16, 1993

Charted:  US: #14   UK: #52 

"Mary Jane's Last Dance" is a song written by Tom Petty and performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was recorded during the sessions for Petty's “Wildflowers” album and produced by Rick Rubin, along with guitarist Mike Campbell and Petty himself. The recording marked the final sessions with drummer Stan Lynch before his departure in 1994. Initially released as part of the “Greatest Hits” album in 1993, it reached No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Petty's first top-20 hit of the 1990s, and also claimed the top spot on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for two weeks.

In an interview with Mike Campbell, the Heartbreakers guitarist revealed the genesis of "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Initially titled "Indiana Girl," the song's chorus revolved around that theme. However, Tom Petty reconsidered the chorus and suggested changing it to "Last dance with Mary Jane." While the verse retains references to an Indiana girl, Petty imbued the chorus with deeper significance, leading to the song's final form. "Mary Jane's Last Dance" remains open to interpretation, with two common views on its meaning. Some speculate it reflects Tom Petty's divorce from his wife Jane, which occurred a year before the song's recording. Alternatively, given "Mary Jane" as slang for marijuana and the lyrics' reference to numbing pain, it could be about the drug's effects. Campbell suggests it's open-ended, allowing listeners to interpret it as a goodbye love song or a drug reference, depending on their perspective.

Tom Petty's music video for "Mary Jane's Last Dance" features him as a mortician who takes home a corpse played by Kim Basinger. In the video, Petty dresses her in a wedding gown, dances with her, and eventually throws her into the ocean. Even with its unusual premise, the video won Best Male Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. Directed by Keir McFarlane, it was part of Petty's penchant for unconventional storytelling in his videos. Petty's comfort in the role might be attributed to his past job as a gravedigger. Sharon Stone was originally considered for the role, but Kim Basinger ultimately portrayed the corpse. Petty wanted a strikingly beautiful actress to portray the character, hence the initial choice of Stone.

The similarities between Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Dani California" and Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance" led to speculation of plagiarism in 2006, with some urging Petty to sue the Chili Peppers. Both songs were produced by Rick Rubin, further fueling the controversy. Petty chose not to pursue legal action, stating that he believed there was no malicious intent and that similarities between rock songs are not uncommon.