Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Released: July 2, 1991

Songwriter: Tom Petty

Producer: Jeff Lynne Tom Petty Mike W. Campbell

[Verse 1]
Two gunslingers walked out in the street
And one said, "I don't want to fight no more"
And the other gunslinger thought about it
And he said, "Yeah, what are we fighting for?"

[Chorus]
I'm takin' control of my life
I'm takin' control of my life
I'm takin' control of my life now
Right now, oh yeah

[Verse 2]
Well, the crowd that assembled for the gunfight were let down
Everyone hissed and booed and a stranger told his missus
"That's the last one of these gunfights
You're ever gonna drag me to"

[Chorus]
I'm takin' control of my life
I'm takin' control of my life
I'm takin' control of my life now
Right now, oh yeah

[Verse 3]
Well, the two gunslingers went ridin' out of town
And were never heard from no more
And there ain't been a gunfight for a long time
Maybe never, but nobody knows for sure

[Chorus]
I'm takin' control of my life
I'm takin' control of my life
I'm takin' control of my life now
Right now, oh yeah
Now, right now, oh yeah
Now, right now, oh yeah

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – an L.A.-based gang of sharp-dressed garage-rock refugees from Gainsville, Florida – released their debut LP in November 1976, featuring two tracks which are now part of their long list of hits, “Breakdown” and “American Girl.”

Since that first LP in ‘76, the band’s style has epitomized and largely defined the American “heartland rock” movement – a vintage-guitar twang, hard lyric truth, and searing vocal attitude.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have been nominated for 17 Grammy awards and sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands of all-time.

more tracks from the album

Anthology Through The Years

From the albums

Into the Great Wide Open (1991)
Anthology Through The Years (2000)

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers popular songs

Two GunslingersTom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Anthology Through The Years