Released: November 20, 1995

Songwriter: Tom Petty

Producer: Denny Cordell

I live on the west side, by the county reservoir
And she lives down on depot street, behind the city hall
Behind the city hall

Her father's name is macintosh, her mother's name is pearl
And they live down on depot street, she's my little girl
She's my little girl

Down on depot street, I'm gonna see my baby
Depot street, I'm gonna see my girl
Depot street, baby, baby, baby
Depot street, behind the city hall

We ain't got no money, we don't have no car
We stay down on depot street, just dancin' in the park
Dancin' in the park

And her sister doesn't like me, but I don't really care
I know the only reason is she wants me for herself
She wants me for herself

Down on depot street, I'm gonna see my baby
Depot street, I'm gonna see my little girl
Depot street, baby, baby, baby
Depot street, behind the city hall

(something in Spanish)
She's my baby, she's my girl
Oh, yeah

And we ain't been to college, we both quit high school
There was way too many people there makin' way too many rules
Makin' way too many rules

So we got no education, but we don't care at all
Cause it don't mean much on depot street, behind the city hall
Behind the city hall

Down on depot street, I'm gonna see my baby
Depot street, I'm gonna see my girl
Depot street, baby, baby, baby
Depot street, behind the city hall

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

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

Playback (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)