@allenegirl Yes, it is the best line. I like to think Tom Petty has a deeper meaning for the lyrics to this short song. His metaphor "American Girl" is one's "American Dream" who strives and dedicate his/her early life to a fantasized dream reality, like being a star or famous or achieving a very competitive goal, like getting the Olympic Gold. The "one little promise she was going to keep" if she "had to die Tryin'" shows one's life dedication and commitment to the goal in discrete. The chorus is an inspiration one gives themselves...
@allenegirl Yes, it is the best line. I like to think Tom Petty has a deeper meaning for the lyrics to this short song. His metaphor "American Girl" is one's "American Dream" who strives and dedicate his/her early life to a fantasized dream reality, like being a star or famous or achieving a very competitive goal, like getting the Olympic Gold. The "one little promise she was going to keep" if she "had to die Tryin'" shows one's life dedication and commitment to the goal in discrete. The chorus is an inspiration one gives themselves to keep the "Dream" alive by making it their life long goal (Making it last all night). The second verse reveals as time goes by and the strive gets tough and when the "Dream" lost its initial luster "Well it was kind of cold that night" and reality sets in diminishing the dream, being around cars on the freeway instead of being near waves on the beach. However, Petty tells us one should never give up the "Dream" since the thought of success "And for one desperate moment there He crept back in her memory" the "He" is a metaphor for success or goal not reached. One's dedication and commitment is not lost if we keep reaching for that goal and it could be so close but still seems so far away when we're disappointed by distractions. I thought it is an inspirational song instead of the other way. I guess my glass us usually half full.
God it's so painful when something that's so close Is still so far out of reach
Best line. I love it.
@allenegirl Yes, it is the best line. I like to think Tom Petty has a deeper meaning for the lyrics to this short song. His metaphor "American Girl" is one's "American Dream" who strives and dedicate his/her early life to a fantasized dream reality, like being a star or famous or achieving a very competitive goal, like getting the Olympic Gold. The "one little promise she was going to keep" if she "had to die Tryin'" shows one's life dedication and commitment to the goal in discrete. The chorus is an inspiration one gives themselves...
@allenegirl Yes, it is the best line. I like to think Tom Petty has a deeper meaning for the lyrics to this short song. His metaphor "American Girl" is one's "American Dream" who strives and dedicate his/her early life to a fantasized dream reality, like being a star or famous or achieving a very competitive goal, like getting the Olympic Gold. The "one little promise she was going to keep" if she "had to die Tryin'" shows one's life dedication and commitment to the goal in discrete. The chorus is an inspiration one gives themselves to keep the "Dream" alive by making it their life long goal (Making it last all night). The second verse reveals as time goes by and the strive gets tough and when the "Dream" lost its initial luster "Well it was kind of cold that night" and reality sets in diminishing the dream, being around cars on the freeway instead of being near waves on the beach. However, Petty tells us one should never give up the "Dream" since the thought of success "And for one desperate moment there He crept back in her memory" the "He" is a metaphor for success or goal not reached. One's dedication and commitment is not lost if we keep reaching for that goal and it could be so close but still seems so far away when we're disappointed by distractions. I thought it is an inspirational song instead of the other way. I guess my glass us usually half full.