Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Released: May 5, 1981

Songwriter: Tom Petty Mike W. Campbell

Producer: Jimmy Iovine Tom Petty

[Chorus 1]
I'm the nightwatchman
I make the rounds
I'm the nightwatchman
I gotta keep my nose to the ground

[Verse 1]
Oh, this ain't no job for a man like me
Yeah, I got potential, I could be just what you need
Yeah, you got to think about the pros and cons
Listen here, could be right, and you could be wrong

[Chorus 2]
'Cause I'm the nightwatchman
I am security
I'm the nightwatchman
How safe do you wanna be?

[Verse 2]
I'll just sit around at night and listen to the radio
Yeah, when we get real bored, I might have a little smoke
Yeah, I got a permit to wear this .38
But listen, my life's worth more than the minimum wage

[Chorus 1]
I'm the nightwatchman
I make the rounds
I'm the nightwatchman
I gotta keep my nose to the ground

[Chorus 2]
I'm the nightwatchman
I am security
I'm the nightwatchman
How safe do you wanna be?

[Outro]
I'm the nightwatchman
I'm the nightwatchman
I'm the nightwatchman
How safe do you wanna be?

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)

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers popular songs

NightwatchmanTom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Hard Promises