Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In the year of 1985 when Tom Petty released his album titled "Southern Accents", a documentary was made with several of the songs, interviews and video images from various places in the United States!
But this song "Southern Accents" was made into a kind of music video, which I took from the documentary, edited and released here!
I think it's a great music video and with many great images from the unforgettable 80's era!
About the song and according to Tom:
"That may be my favorite among my songs – just in terms of a piece of pure writing. I remember writing it very vividly. It was in the middle of the night and I was playing it on the piano at home in Encino. I was just singing into my cassette recorder and suddenly these words came out." Petty also mentioned his mother, Katherine, who died in 1980 in the song, and stated he didn't go to her funeral because of his hatred for funerals and because his presence would have raised a commotion!"
Rest in peace Tom...
Lyrics:
"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 is 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
I 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...!"
Southern Accents/Tom Petty/MCA Records/1984
In the year of 1985 when Tom Petty released his album titled "Southern Accents", a documentary was made with several of the songs, interviews and video images from various places in the United States!
But this song "Southern Accents" was made into a kind of music video, which I took from the documentary, edited and released here!
I think it's a great music video and with many great images from the unforgettable 80's era!
About the song and according to Tom:
"That may be my favorite among my songs – just in terms of a piece of pure writing. I remember writing it very vividly. It was in the middle of the night and I was playing it on the piano at home in Encino. I was just singing into my cassette recorder and suddenly these words came out." Petty also mentioned his mother, Katherine, who died in 1980 in the song, and stated he didn't go to her funeral because of his hatred for funerals and because his presence would have raised a commotion!"
Rest in peace Tom...
Lyrics:
"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 is 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
I 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...!"
Southern Accents/Tom Petty/MCA Records/1984
