Released: June 15, 2010

Songwriter: Tom Petty

Producer: Tom Petty Mike W. Campbell Ryan Ulyate

My daddy came a-marching
Over the hill at dawn
Had to make that wage, man
That's how we got along
My daddy's life was working
Working all day long
Put food on the table
And the children sang a song
Yes, the children sang a song

My grandad's name was Parkwood
Wore a coat of green
Took a wife in '31
Drove the big machine
My daddy load the lumber
Put it on the truck
Used to see him walking home on U.S. 41
That's right, U.S. 41

All my life's been working
Out the door and gone
Got to make that overtime
Keep us moving on
Need a drink of water
To get out of the sun
Burning up to make that wage on U.S. 41
That's right, U.S. 41

The boss man owns the business
Keeps it going strong
Blowing like a hurricane
And work like nothing's wrong
We got to keep on moving
Until the bell gon' ring
Fill her up with kerosene
And let that lady sing
Whoa now, let that lady sing

His given name was Lucky
His wife's name Annie Brown
Run outside the law
And they chased him right on down
Lucky faced the lawman
The captain drew his gun
They cut him with a sling blade
On U.S. 41
That's right, U.S. 41

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.