Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Released: May 5, 1981

Songwriter: Tom Petty

Producer: Jimmy Iovine Tom Petty

[Verse 1]
Well they put me out on the old Kings Road
I didn't know which way to go
There was people all around wearing funny looking clothes
Some boys, some girls, some I don't know

[Chorus 1]
I didn't know which way to go
I'm a new world boy on the old Kings Road

[Verse 2]
Rockabilly music was in the air
When I looked in the door, they said come over here
They had socks and shirts and underwear
That I'd seen before, but I don't know where

[Chorus 1]
I didn't know which way to go
I'm a new world boy on the old Kings Road

[Verse 3]
A Pakistani man said, "Listen here
Let me fix you up before you go back there
You can't get 'em in the USA
Not in New York City, not in West LA."

[Chorus 2]
I thought about it, said I don't know
I'm a new world boy on the old Kings Road

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

Hard Promises

From the album

Hard Promises (1981)

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Kings RoadTom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Hard Promises