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- Jack Fordyce
- Shutterstock

115+ Tom Petty Songs, Ranked Best To Worst By Fans

Bobby Bernstein

January 9, 2024 117 items

Ranked By

1.8K votes

97 voters

Voting Rules

Vote for your favorite studio-recorded songs by Tom Petty – no live music.

With a career that cut through the heartland of American music, Tom Petty composed a catalogue of work that's both timeless and steeped in rock ethos. This list of Tom Petty songs captures the full scope of his artistic range—from his soul-stirring hits that climbed the charts to the more profound tracks nestled within his albums—that showcase his singular blend of earnest lyrics and indelible guitar hooks. Each song reflects Petty's remarkable gift for storytelling and his uncanny ability to connect with fans across the globe.

Rock music experts have carefully curated this collection, and it's dynamically crowdranked by listeners who continue to find solace and celebration in Tom Petty's music. Throughout his illustrious journey, Petty amassed a wealth of accolades, including three Grammy Awards and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his band, the Heartbreakers. His work resonates as much for its anthemic quality—heard in definitive albums like Damn the Torpedoes and Full Moon Fever—as it does for its quieter, more introspective moments.

This list is a homage to the enduring legacy of Tom Petty's songs, which remain fixtures on radio waves and in the hearts of those who turn to music for companionship, inspiration, and pure rock-and-roll joy. Whether you’re a lifelong follower or a newcomer to his discography, these songs exemplify the spirit of a musician whose work transcends time and genre. Explore and rank the tracks that define Tom Petty’s contribution to rock and the wider musical landscape.

1
American Girl
Tom Petty
65 votes
- Year: 1976
- Album(s): Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
2
You Wreck Me
Tom Petty
48 votes
- Year: 1994
- Album(s): Wildflowers
3
I Won't Back Down
Tom Petty
59 votes
- Year: 1989
- Album(s): Full Moon Fever
4
You Got Lucky
Tom Petty
46 votes
- Year: 1982
- Album(s): Long After Dark
5
The Waiting
Tom Petty
56 votes
- Year: 1981
- Album(s): Hard Promises
6
Yer So Bad
Tom Petty
40 votes
- Year: 1989
- Album(s): Full Moon Fever
7
Refugee
Tom Petty
66 votes
- Year: 1979
- Album(s): Damn The Torpedoes
8
Here Comes My Girl
Tom Petty
43 votes
- Year: 1979
- Album(s): Damn The Torpedoes
9
You Don't Know How It Feels
Tom Petty
53 votes
- Year: 1994
- Album(s): Wildflowers
10
Breakdown
Tom Petty
53 votes
- Year: 1976
- Album(s): Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
11
Don't Come Around Here No More
Tom Petty
38 votes
- Year: 2012
- Album(s): Lucca 2012
12
Learning To Fly
Tom Petty
52 votes
- Year: 1991
- Album(s): Into The Great Wide Open
13
I Need To Know
Tom Petty
41 votes
- Year: 1978
- Album(s): You're Gonna Get It
14
Listen To Her Heart
Tom Petty
41 votes
- Year: 1978
- Album(s): You're Gonna Get It
15
Free Fallin'
Tom Petty
62 votes
- Year: 1989
- Album(s): Full Moon Fever
16
Runnin' Down A Dream
Tom Petty
54 votes
- Year: 1989
- Album(s): Full Moon Fever
17
A Face In The Crowd
Tom Petty
35 votes
- Year: 1989
- Album(s): Full Moon Fever
18
Even The Losers
Tom Petty
47 votes
- Year: 1979
- Album(s): Damn The Torpedoes
19
Mary Jane's Last Dance
Tom Petty
50 votes
- Year: 1993
- Album(s): Mary Jane's Last Dance
20
It's Good To Be The King
Tom Petty
36 votes
- Year: 1994
- Album(s): Wildflowers
21
Wildflowers
Tom Petty
45 votes
- Year: 1994
- Album(s): Wildflowers
22
Into The Great Wide Open
Tom Petty
45 votes
- Year: 1991
- Album(s): Into The Great Wide Open
23
Love Is A Long Road
Tom Petty
32 votes
- Year: 1989
- Album(s): Full Moon Fever
24
Southern Accents
Tom Petty
31 votes
- Year: 1985
- Album(s): Pack Up The Plantation
25
Time To Move On
Tom Petty
29 votes
- Year: 1994
- Album(s): Wildflowers
26
Something Good Coming
Tom Petty
35 votes
- Year: 2010
- Album(s): Mojo
27
Handle With Care
Tom Petty
28 votes
- Year: 2012
- Album(s): Lucca 2012
28
Rebels
Tom Petty
39 votes
- Year: 1985
- Album(s): Pack Up The Plantation
29
Straight Into Darkness
Tom Petty
27 votes
- Year: 1982
- Album(s): Long After Dark
30
Room At The Top
Tom Petty
44 votes
- Year: 1999
- Album(s): Echo
31
Good Enough
Tom Petty
29 votes
- Year: 2010
- Album(s): Mojo
32
Something Big
Tom Petty
26 votes
- Year: 2012
- Album(s): Lucca 2012
33
Walls (No. 3)
Tom Petty
39 votes
- Year: 1996
- Album(s): She's The One
34
Change of Heart
Tom Petty
25 votes
- Year: 1982
- Album(s): Long After Dark
35
Dreamville
Tom Petty
25 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
36
The Last DJ
Tom Petty
35 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
37
Cabin Down Below
Tom Petty
35 votes
- Year: 1994
- Album(s): Wildflowers
38
Square One
Tom Petty
24 votes
- Year: 2005
- Album(s): Elizabethtown
39
Louisiana Rain
Tom Petty
24 votes
- Year: 1979
- Album(s): Damn The Torpedoes
40
Something In The Air
Tom Petty
23 votes
- Year: 1993
- Album(s): Greatest Hits
41
A Woman In Love (It's Not Me)
Tom Petty
33 votes
- Year: 1981
- Album(s): Hard Promises
42
Insider
Tom Petty
43 votes
- Year: 1981
- Album(s): Hard Promises
43
Like A Diamond
Tom Petty
25 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
44
Fault Lines
Tom Petty
27 votes
- Year: 2014
- Album(s): Hypnotic Eye
45
The Wild One, Forever
Tom Petty
14 votes
- Year: 1976
- Album(s): Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
46
Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)
Tom Petty
19 votes
- Year: 1976
- Album(s): Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
47
Have Love Will Travel
Tom Petty
33 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
48
Money Becomes King
Tom Petty
21 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
49
Running Man's Bible
Tom Petty
21 votes
- Year: 2010
- Album(s): Mojo
50
Swingin'
Tom Petty
42 votes
- Year: 1999
- Album(s): Echo
51
Makin' Some Noise
Tom Petty
23 votes
- Year: 1991
- Album(s): Into The Great Wide Open
52
Can't Stop The Sun
Tom Petty
20 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
53
Ways To Be Wicked
Tom Petty
20 votes
- Year: 1995
- Album(s): Playback: Nobody's Children
54
Jammin' Me
Tom Petty
29 votes
- Year: 1987
- Album(s): Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
55
Runaway Trains
Tom Petty
31 votes
- Year: 1987
- Album(s): Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
56
I Should Have Known It
Tom Petty
22 votes
- Year: 2010
- Album(s): Mojo
57
Lost Children
Tom Petty
22 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
58
Shadow Of A Doubt (A Complex Kid)
Tom Petty
22 votes
- Year: 1979
- Album(s): Damn The Torpedoes
59
So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star
Tom Petty
24 votes
- Year: 1985
- Album(s): Pack Up The Plantation
60
Climb That Hill
Tom Petty
17 votes
- Year: 1996
- Album(s): She's The One
61
Kings Highway
Tom Petty
30 votes
- Year: 1991
- Album(s): Into The Great Wide Open
62
Out In The Cold
Tom Petty
32 votes
- Year: 1991
- Album(s): Into The Great Wide Open
63
Free Girl Now
Tom Petty
23 votes
- Year: 1999
- Album(s): Echo
64
Stories We Could Tell
Tom Petty
27 votes
- Year: 1985
- Album(s): Pack Up The Plantation
65
This Old Town
Tom Petty
18 votes
- Year: 2006
- Album(s): Highway Companion
66
Too Much Ain't Enough
Tom Petty
18 votes
- Year: 1978
- Album(s): You're Gonna Get It
67
U Get Me High
Tom Petty
18 votes
- Year: 2014
- Album(s): Hypnotic Eye
68
Anything That's Rock 'N' Roll
Tom Petty
20 votes
- Year: 1976
- Album(s): Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
69
All The Wrong Reasons
Tom Petty
25 votes
- Year: 1991
- Album(s): Into The Great Wide Open
70
Melinda
Tom Petty
25 votes
- Year: 2003
- Album(s): Soundstage 2003
71
Two Men Talkin'
Tom Petty
17 votes
- Year: 2003
- Album(s): Soundstage 2003
72
For Real
Tom Petty
17 votes
- Year: 2019
- Album(s): The Best Of Everything (The Definitive Career Spanning Hits Collection 1976-2016)
73
When A Kid Goes Bad
Tom Petty
19 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
74
Don't Bring Me Down
Tom Petty
27 votes
- Year: 1985
- Album(s): Pack Up The Plantation
75
Kings Road
Tom Petty
27 votes
- Year: 1981
- Album(s): Hard Promises
76
To Find A Friend
Tom Petty
27 votes
- Year: 1994
- Album(s): Wildflowers
77
I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
Tom Petty
26 votes
- Year: 1989
- Album(s): Full Moon Fever
78
Wake Up Time
Tom Petty
18 votes
- Year: 1994
- Album(s): Wildflowers
79
Change The Locks
Tom Petty
27 votes
- Year: 1996
- Album(s): She's The One
80
The Best Of Everything
Tom Petty
25 votes
- Year: 1985
- Album(s): Southern Accents
81
The Damage You've Done
Tom Petty
12 votes
- Year: 1987
- Album(s): Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
82
What Are You Doin' In My Life?
Tom Petty
12 votes
- Year: 1979
- Album(s): Damn The Torpedoes
83
Got My Mind Made Up (Original Version)
Tom Petty
23 votes
- Year: 1995
- Album(s): Playback: Nobody's Children
84
The Trip To Pirate's Cove
Tom Petty
11 votes
- Year: 2010
- Album(s): Mojo
85
Casa Dega
Tom Petty
11 votes
- Year: 1979
- Album(s): Playback: Nobody's Children
86
Joe
Tom Petty
13 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
87
Think About Me
Tom Petty
15 votes
- Year: 1987
- Album(s): Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
88
When The Time Comes
Tom Petty
10 votes
- Year: 1978
- Album(s): You're Gonna Get It
89
Strangered In The Night
Tom Petty
16 votes
- Year: 1976
- Album(s): Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
90
Shadow People
Tom Petty
14 votes
- Year: 2014
- Album(s): Hypnotic Eye
91
You Get Me High
Tom Petty
14 votes
- Year: 1995
- Album(s): Playback: Nobody's Children
92
Billy The Kid
Tom Petty
17 votes
- Year: 1999
- Album(s): Echo
93
Forgotten Man
Tom Petty
15 votes
- Year: 2014
- Album(s): Hypnotic Eye
94
First Flash Of Freedom
Tom Petty
15 votes
- Year: 2010
- Album(s): Mojo
95
Too Good To Be True
Tom Petty
13 votes
- Year: 1991
- Album(s): Into The Great Wide Open
96
Supernatural Radio
Tom Petty
23 votes
- Year: 1996
- Album(s): She's The One
97
Needles And Pins
Tom Petty
28 votes
- Year: 1985
- Album(s): Pack Up The Plantation
98
Asshole
Tom Petty
14 votes
- Year: 1996
- Album(s): She's The One
99
Grew Up Fast
Tom Petty
8 votes
- Year: 1996
- Album(s): She's The One
100
Cry To Me
Tom Petty
8 votes
- Year: 1979
- Album(s): No Nukes
101
Full Grown Boy
Tom Petty
11 votes
- Year: 2014
- Album(s): Hypnotic Eye
102
Carol
Tom Petty
11 votes
- Year: 2012
- Album(s): Lucca 2012
103
Counting On You
Tom Petty
11 votes
- Year: 1999
- Album(s): Echo
104
All You Can Carry
Tom Petty
11 votes
- Year: 2014
- Album(s): Hypnotic Eye
105
The Golden Rose
Tom Petty
11 votes
- Year: 2006
- Album(s): Highway Companion
106
You And I
Tom Petty
9 votes
- Year: 1991
- Album(s): Into The Great Wide Open
107
No Second Thoughts
Tom Petty
7 votes
- Year: 1978
- Album(s): You're Gonna Get It
108
How Many More Days
Tom Petty
7 votes
- Year: 1987
- Album(s): Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
109
Red River
Tom Petty
10 votes
- Year: 2014
- Album(s): Hypnotic Eye
110
Travelin'
Tom Petty
10 votes
- Year: 1995
- Album(s): Playback: Nobody's Children
111
Oh Well
Tom Petty
10 votes
- Year: 2012
- Album(s): Lucca 2012
112
God's Gift To Man
Tom Petty
17 votes
- Year: 1995
- Album(s): Playback: Nobody's Children
113
Rhino Skin
Tom Petty
8 votes
- Year: 1999
- Album(s): Echo
114
The Man Who Loves Women
Tom Petty
12 votes
- Year: 2002
- Album(s): The Last DJ
115
Zero From Outer Space
Tom Petty
9 votes
- Year: 1996
- Album(s): She's The One
116
Home
Tom Petty
9 votes
- Year: 2006
- Album(s): Highway Companion
117
Thirteen Days
Tom Petty
8 votes
- Year: 2003
- Album(s): Soundstage 2003