2017-10-02 (Southern Accents - Tom Petty)

Rest easy Tom Petty!

When I went to Central Florida to help work/live with Raymie's family, I learned that he wasn't just a classic rock hero. He was also a voice of a specific slice of American red-necks.

I wouldn't have known this, but Rick Litton asked me, point blank, Labor Day weekend around 1:30am. My favorite Petty tune.

Southern Accents

There's a southern accent, where I come from
The young 'uns call it country
The yankees call it dumb
I got my own way of talkin'
But everything gets done, with a southern accent
Where I come from

Now that drunk tank in Atlanta's
Just a motel room to me
Think I might go work Orlando
If them orange groves don't freeze
I got my own way of workin'
But everything is run, with a southern accent
Where I come from --

For just a minute there I was dreaming
For just a minute it was all so real
For just a minute she was standing there, with me

There's a dream I keep having
Where my mama comes to me
And kneels down over by the window
And says a prayer for me
Got my own way of prayin'
But everyone's begun
With a southern accent
Where I come from --

I got my own way of livin'
But everything gets done
With a southern accent
Where I come from

Here is his best impersonation of the Rolling Stones and one of my favorites.
Here Comes My Girl

Both of those were with the Heartbreakers. His solo career produced "Full Moon Fever". I wore that tape out in high school. I remember being introduced to it by Mary and Raymie the first time I really connected with them. They gave me a ride home from school and we rocked out to "Free Fallin'", "I Won't Back Down" and "Runnin' Down a Dream".