Released: March 26, 1985

Songwriter: Tom Petty

Producer: Mike W. Campbell Tom Petty

[Verse 1]
There's a southern accent, where I come from
The young 'uns call it country
The Yankees call it dumb

[Chorus]
I got my own way of talkin'
But everything is done, with a southern accent
Where I come from

[Verse 2]
Now that drunk tank in Atlanta's
Just a motel room to me
Think I might go work Orlando
If them orange groves don't freeze

[Chorus]
I got my own way of workin'
But everything is run, with a southern accent
Where I come from

[Bridge]
For just a minute there I was dreaming
For just a minute it was all so real
For just a minute she was standing there, with me

[Verse 3]
There's a dream I keep having
Where my mama comes to me
Then kneels down over by the window
And says a prayer for me

[Chorus]
I got my own way of prayin'
But every one's begun
With a southern accent
Where I come from

[Instrumental Break]

[Chorus]
I got my own way of livin'
But everything gets done
With a southern accent
Where I come from

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)