I Forgive It All

Zoo Freaks, get ready for a deep dive into "I Forgive It All" by Mudcrutch, a soulful track from their 2016 album 2, spinning now on THE ZOO! This somber ballad, written and sung by Tom Petty, is a reflective journey through forgiveness and nostalgia. The song’s black-and-white music video, directed by Sean Penn and Samuel Bayer, stars Anthony Hopkins as a man revisiting his past in Los Angeles, from Sunset Boulevard to Skid Row. Penn, a longtime Petty fan, told Rolling Stone he was captivated by the song’s emotional depth, shooting the video in a single day with a minimal setup to capture its raw essence. The video’s theme of forgiveness is deliberately vague, as Petty explained in an LA Times interview, saying he writes “skeletons” of songs to allow the band to shape them organically, leaving listeners to interpret the forgiveness offered—perhaps to a person, a place, or a memory.

Another tidbit for the Zoo Crew to share: Mudcrutch performed "I Forgive It All" live at the Fonda Theatre on June 26, 2016, a highlight of their first major U.S. tour. A Facebook post from the band’s official page invited fans to share their tour memories, with footage of the performance later shared on YouTube. The song’s lyrics, like “Take my horse down to the water / Let him graze a while,” evoke a longing for simpler times, a theme that resonates with Mudcrutch’s rootsy, Southern rock vibe. Fans on Reddit have praised the song’s emotional weight, with one user, Strummed Jones, noting on Songfacts that the video’s visuals with Hopkins “strike a visual enforcement” of letting go of past wrongs. Mudcrutch also tied the song’s message to action, opening their 2016 tour with benefit shows for the Midnight Mission in Skid Row, as noted in the LA Times.

Mudcrutch’s story began in Gainesville, Florida, in the early 1970s, where Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Randall Marsh, and Danny Roberts formed the band, originally playing Southern and country rock. As detailed on AllMusic, the band moved to Los Angeles in search of a record deal, signing with Shelter Records and releasing a single in 1975 that flopped. The group disbanded when Petty was urged to go solo, taking Campbell and Tench to form Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Mudcrutch remained a footnote until 2007, when Petty reunited the original lineup (with Tom Leadon replacing Roberts) for a surprise reformation. Their self-titled debut in 2008 was a hit, blending Southern rock with a raw, nostalgic edge, followed by 2 in 2016, their final album before Petty’s death in 2017.

Connect with Mudcrutch on their official website, Facebook, and Instagram. The band’s X account is shared with Tom Petty’s official handle, where posts like one from April 2022 celebrated the 2016 tour. Fans can join discussions on the r/tompetty subreddit, a vibrant community sharing music, artwork, and memories. The Tom Petty Nation Facebook group also welcomes Mudcrutch fans, with thousands of members posting about Petty’s legacy. Zoo Freaks, keep spinning those records and sharing the love for Mudcrutch’s timeless tunes!