Despite a string of successful hit singles and albums, by the time Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers started to write and record their third album (Damn the Torpedoes), the band was facing legal and financial disaster. However, out of this dark period, Petty came up with some of his most powerful songs, and "Refugee" surely is one. Led by a simple, muscular F sharp/A/E chord progression, the sense of defiance in the lyrics is clearly mirrored in the music. There is a feeling of one's dignity being challenged here, and Petty was clearly meeting it. A well-written pop bridge, which allows the song to breathe, juxtaposes the powerful verses and chorus, and this showcases Petty's songwriting craftsmanship. Still gracing his concert repertoire, an excellent live version is available on the Pack Up the Plantation. -- Matthew Greenwald (allmusic.com)