American Girl
Tom & Heartbreakers Petty Lyrics
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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, an d if she had to die
She was gonna keep
Oh yeah, all right
Take it easy baby
Make it last all night
She was an American girl
It was kind of cold that night
She stood alone on her balcony
She could the cars roll by
Out on 441
Like waves crashin' in 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, all right
Take it easy baby
Make it last all night
She was an American girl
The song "American Girl" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers is about a young girl who grew up in America and was raised with promises that life has more to offer than just what she could see, and that there are endless possibilities in the world. Her spirit was not content with living an ordinary life and wanted to discover all that the world had to offer, even if it meant taking risks, as she had that one promise she was going to keep.
The second verse of the song talks about her standing alone on her balcony on a cold night while observing the cars passing by on 441, allowing them to lull her senses like waves crashing on the beach. For one fleeting yet significant moment, the memory of something that was so close yet still so out of reach came flooding back, causing her pain. The lyrics suggest that the experience was raw, intense and genuine as if it were the first time she had ever felt it.
Overall, the song captures the sense of longing and nostalgia for something greater, something that will make life more fulfilling. The girl in the song represents the youthful desire for adventure, even if it is somewhat intangible.
Line by Line Meaning
Well she was an American girl
The main character of the song was a girl who was born and raised in the United States.
Raised on promises
The girl was brought up with many hopes and aspirations for her life.
She couldn't help thinkin' that there
Despite her upbringing, the girl had a nagging feeling that there was something missing in her life.
Was a little more to life
She believed that there was a greater purpose or potential for her beyond what she had been taught to expect.
Somewhere else
This promise of something more was elsewhere, outside of her current surroundings.
After all it was a great big world
The girl recognized that the world was full of possibilities and opportunities for her to explore.
With lots of places to run to
There were numerous destinations that could hold the key to the life that she wanted.
Yeah, and if she had to die Tryin' she had one little promise She was gonna keep
The girl was willing to do whatever it took to fulfill her promise of finding her true purpose in life.
Oh yeah, all right Take it easy baby Make it last all night She was an American girl
This simple refrain is a tribute to the girl's independence and spirit as an American who is going to make the best of every situation, whatever the odds.
It was kind of cold that night
The song shifts gears and describes a specific moment in the girl's life - the night when she faced a difficult choice.
She stood alone on her balcony
The girl was isolated, reflective and contemplating what to do with her life.
She could the cars roll by Out on 441
Even though she was in a city, she was detached from her immediate surroundings as her thoughts were elsewhere.
Like waves crashin' in the beach
The sound of the cars was like the waves of the sea, making a soothing and rhythmic background to her reflections.
And for one desperate moment there
During this moment of quiet concentration, the girl was overcome with a sense of urgency and desperation.
He crept back in her memory
The song obliquely refers to a past lover or relationship, who the girl still held dear in her mind and memory.
God it's so painful Something that's so close And still so far out of reach
Despite her memories of the relationship, the girl felt the pain of distance and separation, as she tried to reconcile the past with the promise of something greater to come.
Oh yeah, all right Take it easy baby Make it last all night She was an American girl
The song ends on the same note as it began, with an affirmation of the girl's independence, wisdom and spirit as she goes out to face the world and what it has to offer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annabellefritz3647
Well, she was an American girl
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
And if she had to die tryin'
She had one little promise she was gonna keep
O yeah, all right
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 when something that's so close
Is still so far out of reach
O yeah, all right
Take it easy, baby
Make it last all night
She was an American girl
Oohh
Oooh
@ccbbh4477223
Played this song for the last time 9-25-17 and died a week later. RIP Tom the world will never be the same without you and cheers to one of the best songs EVER written.
@rbelt9866
Beautiful rendition of a tune that didn’t chart in the US when released but has since become one of his most cherished hits. I have had the Fillmore bootlegs for many years and have looked forward to an official release of those 1997 shows. Living in Gainesville during the 70s and 80s, we always thought the song reflected a girl’s death at the University of Florida since Route 441 bordered the campus. He did let us know that it had nothing to do with Gainesville in an interview at one of his “homecoming” shows in 1993 and 2006. In fact, Gainesville was not his favorite place for so many reasons, but when he played there, it was something special (as with all his shows). Thank you for the post and the memories of one of the all-time great singer / songwriters of all time that Gainesville will always call their favorite son.
@divermike8943
If this is not on Rolling Stone's top 100 or 200 or 500 Rock songs of all time, it should be. It never fails to get me going and even sends a vibration up and down my spine
@joannmartinez8295
I fell in love with Tom Petty and this song at 11 years old. I was going through a terrible traumatic time and this song reached out and touched something deep within me something I don't think I realized was there. As for this video Tom was always one for pushing the envelope and breaking boundaries in his own way I think he would have loved this video!
I think it's absolutely perfect!!💙💙💙
We are all American Girls in our own way.
And this American Girl will always love Tom Petty.
@scottmccarthy1732
Gave me the chills. Loved that man and his band
@PatricksRareBooks
I sat by the radio with a stack of 90 minute cassette tapes and recorded the entire 3 hour FM broadcast of the Fillmore show when it originally aired on our local classic rock radio station. I was 15.
@JonNewquist
I had moved away from the Bay Area at the time of these shows. Did KFOG air them? Damn shame what happened to that station.
@PatricksRareBooks
@@JonNewquist No idea. I dialed it in on 96.9 WLAV in Grand Rapids, MI.
@AimeeS44
It was KFOG. I recorded it too, and it was on my birthday 😊
@5150show
Well done ❤