Rebels

Tom Petty

About Rebels

"Rebels" is a song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It appeared on the 1985 album Southern Accents and was released as a single in the same year. Although it only reached #74 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, it fared much better on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, where it peaked at #5.


Year:
1985
4:12
126 
#10

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Honey don't walk out, I'm too drunk to follow
You know you won't feel this way tomorrow
Well, maybe a little rough around the edges
Or inside a little hollow, 
I get faced with some things, sometimes
That are so hard to swallow, hey!

[Chorus]
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie
On a Sunday morning
Yeah with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel

She picked me up in the mornin', and she paid all my tickets
Then she screamed in the car
Left me out in the thicket
Well I never would of dreamed
That her heart was so wicked
Yeah but I keep comin' back
Cause it's so hard to kick it, hey, hey, hey

[Chorus]

Even before my father's father
They called us all rebels
While they burned our cornfields
And left our cities leveled
I can still feel the eyes of those blue-bellied devils
Yeah, when I'm walking round at night
Through the concrete and metal, hey, hey, hey

[Chorus]

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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 © Gone Gator Music

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Band & Artist
"Rebels" is a song by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Tom Petty served as the band's lead singer and also played rhythm guitar.
Album
It is included on the band's album "Southern Accents," which was released in 1985.
Origin of Song
"Rebels" was written by Petty and is about the legacy of being a Southern American.
Influence
Petty lyrically drew from his own Southern background and ancestry for this song. His relatives in Florida were working-class people, and their experiences had a profound impact on his songwriting.
Altercation
While recording the album "Southern Accents," Petty became so frustrated and obsessed with "Rebels” that he punched a wall and severely injured his left hand, necessitating several surgeries.
Live Performances
"Rebels" was often performed by Petty and the band during live shows. A live version of the song was included on the 1985 album "Pack Up the Plantation: Live!"
Recurring Themes
The song explores recurring themes present in much of Petty's work, including detestation of bigotry and injustice.
Musical Composition
The song is built around a traditional rock and roll riff, with Petty's distinctive vocals echoing the confessions of a modern Southern rebel.
Impact and Legacy
Despite the difficulties Petty experienced during its recording, "Rebels" has since become a beloved song among his fans.
Reaction
Although the song may not have been as commercially successful as some of Petty's other hits, it has been praised for its raw emotional power and poignant exploration of Southern identity.

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    Rebels

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1985

    Billboard #74


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