Petty was supported by his band, The Heartbreakers, for the majority of his career. He has occasionally released solo work, as was the case with his 2006 album Highway Companion on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation himself. However, members of The Heartbreakers have played on each of his solo albums and the band has always backed him when touring in support of those albums.
After the Petty's previous band Mudcrutch disbanded, Petty, never one to give up, enlisted Mudcrutch members Tench (keyboards) and Mike Campbell (guitar), along with Gainesville musicians Ron Blair (bass) and Stan Lynch (drums) to form the now famous lineup that was dubbed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They released their first album, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in November 1976. In 2006, the band celebrated the 30th anniversary of that release.
This lineup stayed intact for four records and was responsible for some of the most infectious songs ("American Girl", "Breakdown", "Listen To Her Heart", "Refugee", "I Need To Know", "Don't Do Me Like That") and one of the most critically acclaimed albums ("Damn the Torpedoes") of all time. Their tremendous success catapulted them from club band to arena rockers seemingly overnight.
Bassist Blair split the band in 1982 and was replaced by Howie Epstein, a protege of seminal rocker Del Shannon. Epstein's solid playing and soaring backing vocals further complemented the band's live attack. Without missing a beat, they headed back into the studio to record a string of successful albums, including the classic "Long After Dark". In 1994, Stan Lynch left the Heartbreakers to pursue other musical challenges and Steve Ferrone (well regarded for his work with the Average White Band and Eric Clapton) soon became the Heartbreakers' chosen drummer.
Most recently, at a time when many of their contemporaries have long since grown complacent, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have in 2002 released one of their finest and most controversial efforts - featuring some of Petty's most moving songs. Recorded both before and following the group's 2002 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, "The Last DJ", reflected Petty's strong views about the state of the music business and the culture generally. With the departure of Howie Epstein, "The Last DJ" marked another notable return: after two decades away, founding Heartbreaker Ron Blair returned to the band's rhythm section. In 2010, The Heartbreakers released the well received album "Mojo".
Petty died on 2 October 2017 following a cardiac episode earlier that day at his home in Malibu, California. Although some media outlets incorrectly reported his death following an erroneous police report, his death was confirmed later that day by his publicist and manager.
American Girl
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Raised on promises
She couldn't help thinkin' that there
Was a little more to life
Somewhere else
After all it was a great big world
With lots of places to run to
Yeah, and if she had to die tryin'
She had one little promise
She was gonna keep
Oh yeah, alright
Take it easy baby
Make it last all night
She was an American girl
Well, it was kind of cold that night
She stood alone on her balcony
Yeah, she could hear the cars roll by
Out on 441
Like waves crashin' on the beach
And for one desperate moment there
He crept back in her memory
God it's so painful
Something that's so close
And still so far out of reach
Oh yeah, alright
Take it easy, baby
Make it last all night
She was an American girl
Ooh
Uh-huh-huh
Uh-huh-huh
Oh yeah
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' song American Girl, released in 1977, tells the story of an American girl who is restless, looking for something more in her life. She has been raised on promises, and she feels there is something more to life, something she can find somewhere else. She is aware that the world is big, and there are many places where she can run to. She knows that it will not be easy and that she may even die trying, but she has one promise that she intends to keep.
The song's protagonist is standing alone on her balcony one cold night; she can hear the cars rolling by out on 441. For a moment, she remembers something painful, something that was so close and yet, so far out of reach. The lyrics suggest her recollection could be of a love interest, an old flame or an experience that hasn't worked out. In this moment, the American girl's nostalgia, the feeling of unfulfillment, and the desire for something more all come together in the song's climax.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, she was an American girl
The subject of the song was a female individual who was born and raised as an American.
Raised on promises
Her upbringing was filled with promises and expectations for her future.
She couldn't help thinkin' that there
Despite this, she couldn't help but feel that there was something missing in her life.
Was a little more to life
She believed that there was more to life than what she already knew and had experienced.
Somewhere else
This 'something' was believed to be in a different place.
After all it was a great big world
Being reminded of the vastness of the world, she became hopeful that there is somewhere else she can discover.
With lots of places to run to
There are various locations available to discover and explore.
Yeah, and if she had to die tryin'
She was willing to take great risks to find what she was looking for.
She had one little promise
The only thing she promised to herself was that she will find what she's looking for at all costs.
She was gonna keep
Her determination to keep her promise was unwavering and unrelenting.
Oh yeah, alright
An expression of affirmation and agreement.
Take it easy baby
A suggestion to slow down and not rush things.
Make it last all night
To enjoy the moment and make the most out of it.
She was an American girl
A reminder of the nationality and identity of the song's subject.
Well, it was kind of cold that night
The weather that night was cold.
She stood alone on her balcony
She was on her own, isolated from everyone else.
Yeah, she could hear the cars roll by
She could hear the sounds of cars passing by.
Out on 441
The specific location where she was situated during the night.
Like waves crashin' on the beach
The sound of the cars passing by was compared to waves on the beach due to their consistent, rhythmic nature.
And for one desperate moment there
At one point, she became desperate.
He crept back in her memory
Someone from her past came back to her memory.
God it's so painful
This memory caused her pain and discomfort.
Something that's so close
The memory was very vivid and felt as if it just happened recently.
And still so far out of reach
Despite its vividness, the memory felt out of reach and unattainable to her.
Ooh
A nonverbal expression of emotion.
Ooh
A nonverbal expression of emotion.
Ooh
A nonverbal expression of emotion.
Oh yeah
An expression of affirmation and agreement.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind