American Girl

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty

About American Girl

"American Girl" is a rock song written by Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for their self-titled debut album in 1976. It was released as a single and did not chart in the United States, but peaked at No. 40 in the UK for the week ending August 27, 1977. It was re-released in 1994 as the second single from Petty's Greatest Hits album and peaked at No. 68 in the U. S. Cash Box Top 100. Despite limited chart success, American Girl became one of Petty's most popular songs and a staple of classic rock. It has been consistently rated as his best song and one of the best rock songs of all time, and has been called "more than a classic rock standard — it's practically part of the American literary canon." It has also been used in several movies and television shows, often during a scene in which a character, much like the protagonist in the song's lyrics, is "longing for something bigger than their current existence."American Girl was the last song performed in concert by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They played it to close out the encore of their performance on September 25, 2017 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, the final concert of their 40th Anniversary Tour. Petty died of complications from cardiac arrest after an accidental prescription medication overdose on October 2, just more than a week later. 


Year:
1976
3:33
424 
#9

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Well she was an American girl
Raised on promises
She couldn't help thinkin' that there
Was a little more to life
Somewhere else
After all it was a great big world
With lots of places to run to
Yeah, and if she had to die
Tryin' she had one little promise
She was gonna keep

Oh yeah, all right
Take it easy baby
Make it last all night
She was an American girl

Well, it was kind of cold that night
She stood alone on her balcony
Yeah, she could the cars roll by
Out on 441
Like waves crashin' in the beach
And for one desperate moment there
He crept back in her memory
God it's so painful
Something that's so close
And still so far out of reach

Oh yeah, all right
Take it easy baby
Make it last all night
She was an American girl

Ooh
Ooh

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Tom Petty

Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (born October 20, 1950) was an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He had also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T. Wilbury, Jr. and Muddy Wilbury. more »

15 fans

Written by: Tom Petty

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Song Creation
"American Girl" is a rock song written by Tom Petty and was released in 1976.
Band Credit
It was recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for their self-titled debut album in 1976.
Chart Performance
Despite being one of Petty's most iconic songs, "American Girl" didn't originally chart on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it eventually made it to the chart at number 40 in the UK in 1977.
Success
It has since become Petty's signature song and a classic rock staple, garnering extensive radio play.
Lyrics Speculation
Many fans and critics have speculated that the lyrics refer to a student at the University of Florida who committed suicide by jumping from a dormitory window. However, Petty denied this association.
Concert Opener
Although the song was not a significant hit at first, it became an important track for Petty, and it was often used to open his live performances.
Influence
The distinctive guitar riff of the song has gained admiration from fellow musicians and has been said to have influenced the composition of many popular songs, including The Strokes' “Last Nite” and Taylor Swift’s “Gorgeous”.
Movie Feature
The song is famously featured in the movie "Silence of the Lambs" and has also appeared in several other films and TV shows, often to signify a certain all-American or youthful spirit.
Cover Versions
Many artists, such as Taylor Swift, The Lumineers, and Goo Goo Dolls, have covered "American Girl" in live performances, showcasing its enduring popularity and influence.
Posthumous Recognition
Since Tom Petty's death in 2017, the song has had a surge in streams and downloads, helping to further solidify its place in rock and roll history.
Rolling Stone’s Lists
The track is ranked at number 76 on Rolling Stone’s list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" and also featured on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

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