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Southern Accents 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 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
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
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 it was all so real
For just a minute she was standing there, with me
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 --
But everything gets done
With a southern accent
Where I come from
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Wow, first comment.
Erm, well, as a Southerner myself I've always really liked this song... if I remember right Johnny Cash also sung this after Petty did...
This song is about knowing where you can from, and knowing just where you stand. At least, that is how I interpret is. Being a southerner, this song has always had a profound meaning on me. It's so beautiful :)
this song is so beautiful. the first time i heard it was actually when i watched "runnin down a dream" and petty was singing it live :) i'm not from the south in any way (nor cal native here) but i love it nonetheless
I think it's just about this narrator who's from the south and has it deep in his blood, but who doesn't stay there forever. I think he's a bit frustrated that the world has changed him and he's nostalgic for the south, but he knows there's a part of that upbringing that'll never fade, and ultimately, leaving was the right thing. Hence the "I got my own way of _____, but everything ... where I come from" theme. It's one of my favorites from TP & HB.
It's about a middle aged alcoholic hobo. He dreams of what he'll do when he gets out of jail. He's not nostalgic about the South -- he's grieving about his mother, who used to pray for him in a heavy accent.