10 Song Meanings Fans Can't Accept
2. Tom Petty Didn't Write "American Girl" About Teen Suicide
"American Girl" has become the sonic foundation for Tom Petty's career. While this Florida rocker had his fair share of hits from "Free Fallin" to "Refugee," "American Girl" will always stand as his definitive song. Though Petty had a specific type of girl in mind, the girl most fans thought of had more dire problems on her mind.
The whole song paints a vivid picture of a girl trying to run away from her town's problems and find the real meaning of life in the heart of America. While it's a beautiful thought for this girl to dream of bigger things, fans were skeptical about the second verse's specifics. The idea of this girl hearing cars rolling by on the Interstate while thinking of her old flame has led many to think the song deals with a girl contemplating suicide post-breakup.
Petty was initially taken aback at the fans' more morbid conclusion, stating that he hadn't even heard of any theory at the time of recording. Despite the outlandish death connotations, the record went on to become Petty's most indelible hit, which he continued to play up until his final tour before his death in 2017. With 40 years of hindsight, no suicidal speculation has been able to diminish the energy of this rock classic.