Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Released: May 2, 1978

Songwriter: Tom Petty Mike W. Campbell

Producer: Denny Cordell Noah Shark Tom Petty

[Verse 1]
I walked to the window, turned out the light
Looked at the city, went back through the night
Yeah I stood in the darkness, stood all alone
Thank God for California, thank God I'm going home

[Chorus]
That's right you hurt me, baby, hurt me good
Hurt me like no one else ever could
Cut me down the middle, face down in the dirt
And we both know it's too late to save it
Bet you feel proud about it, baby
You taught me how to hurt, that's right

[Verse 2]
DC-10, 10:45
Halfway to L.A., red in the eyes
Might be the devil, might just be his friend
It don't make no difference, you ain't getting me again

[Chorus]
That's right you hurt me, baby, hurt me good
Hurt me like no one else ever could
Cut me down the middle, face down in the dirt
And we both know it's too late to save it
Bet you feel proud about it, baby
You taught me how to hurt, that's right

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.

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