Celebrating Tom Petty’s 65th Birthday With The First Song He EVER Released

Happy Birthday Tom!

Thomas Earl Petty was born in Gainesville, Florida just 65 years ago today. Now, Tom did not have a typical life considering he met THE Elvis Presley at age 10 and received guitar lessons from Eagles favorite Don Felder.

Despite his sheer luck through his uncle’s position on Elvis’s film set, Tom’s major inspiration for becoming a rockstar was the Beatles after watching them perform on the Ed Sullivan show, he was hooked..

Petty’s first attempt at creating his own band started in 1976 under the name the Epics, later known as Mudcrutch. Unfortunately for Petty and Heartbreakers’ originals Campbell and Tench, their music was limited beyond the reach of their hometown of Gainesville and lacked a spark, which resulted in the ending of the band.

For awhile the members split up as Petty decided to focus on a solo career, but eventually the boys collaborated yet again and ended up forming the basis of the Heartbreakers that we know and love today.

Interesting Fact: His videos have won several MTV Video Music Awards. In 1994, they received a Video Vanguard award for lifetime achievement.

Touring with big names throughout his career like Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, George Harrison, and the Allman Brothers, Tom has created a widely-known, successful career in rock and love him for his twisted videos and vivid lyrics. 

He brought a lot of meaning to our lives throughout the years and because of him, we won’t back down. Happy birthday Tom!

Reminiscing over his first ever hit in the Gainesville, FL area, here is “Depot Street.” Enjoy!

+ Depot Street Lyrics +

I live on the West side
By the county reservoir
And she lives down on Depot Street
Behind the city hall, behind the city hall
Her father’s name is Macintosh
Her mother’s name is Pearl
And they live down on Depot Street
But she’s my little girl
She’s my little girl

Down on Depot Street
Goin’ to see my baby
Depot Street
To see my girl
Depot Street
Baby, baby, baby
Depot Street
Behind the city hall

Now we ain’t got no money
We don’t have no car
We stepped out on Depot Street
Just dancin’ in the bars, dancin’ in the bars
And her sister doesn’t like me
But I don’t really care
I know the only reason is
She wants me for herself
She wants me for herself

Down on Depot Street
Goin’ to see my baby
Depot Street
To see my girl
Depot Street
Baby, baby, baby
Depot Street
Behind the city hall

Now we ain’t been to college
We don’t care at all
There’s way too many people there
Makin’ way too many rules
Way too many rules
So we got no education
But we don’t care at all
‘Cause it don’t mean much on Depot Street
Behind the city hall
Behind the city hall

Down on Depot Street
Goin’ to see my baby
Depot Street
To see my girl
Depot Street
Baby, baby, baby
Depot Street
Behind the city hall

Down on Depot Street
Goin’ to see my baby
Depot Street
To see my girl
Depot Street
Baby, baby, baby
Depot Street