Top Ten Best Tom Petty Songs

Great song! Definitely one of the most recognized songs of the '80s. I love how Petty, known for his deeper vocals, just says screw that and belts it out for the chorus. The acoustic guitar is also a plus.

Like Elvis and Jailhouse Rock, Petty and Free Fallin'. Probably his most recognizable signature song.

Just so relatable. Tom Petty is an amazing artist. I'm 16 years old, and I love his music.

Every time I hear this song, I have to tap my feet to the drum beat and, of course, play air guitar! I like a lot of Tom Petty, but this is a favorite.

Class tune, keeps you captivated all the way through. Never get bored of it!

Oooh yeah, I love it! I love it! And I just love it and love it. Yeah, I do love this song. Laugh out loud. Because it feels so good. Like everything is possible.

Incredible song! It has so many beautiful elements, and the lyrics are so thought-provoking it could be interpreted in many ways. Everything about it adds up to perfection.

Every layer of the song is amazing!

This song is simply the best song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The harmonica, the Bob Dylan-esque vocals, the lyrics (which possibly have two meanings), and the guitar just sound amazing.

This is my favorite song by him. It's got a really nice melancholic feel to it. I would love to drive down a lonely highway in the evening while listening to this song.

Great song, but you know, all his songs are! I love the Heartbreakers so much! Other songs off this album that are awesome include "Rockin' Around with You," "The Wild One, Forever," and even the strange "Strangered in the Night."

Highly respected and recommended rock band!

This is, without a doubt, the quintessential Tom Petty song. This one laid the blueprint for everything that followed. Free Fallin', I Won't Back Down, and Mary Jane's Last Dance mean nothing without this one.

Amazing song, and it was well known enough to make an appearance on Guitar Hero. It is probably Tom's favorite song too because it is always the song he plays last.

Such a great song, and it suits Petty perfectly. Not many people know it has ex-Beatle George Harrison and ELO frontman Jeff Lynne playing guitar and singing backing vocals.

Great guitar song! Trying to get my husband to play this one. He does Last Dance for Mary Jane and Stop Draggin' My Heart Around.

I am a Tom Petty fan, and I think this is the best song ever!

I'm listening to a drum cover of this song right now. Love, love, love it! The reason behind this is that I had a strange dream where my friend was playing this song. I was amazed. Love this song a lot.

Beautiful. Anyone that doesn't vote for this is a refugee! Whatever that means.

My father used to play this song a lot when I was growing up. Just rediscovered it about twenty years on. Fantastic song.

Generally, I find his vocals so annoying. This song is the exception. It is wonderful!

Tom Petty proved more than any other artist that you don't have to be a great guitarist to write great songs. This and Wildflowers are two of his easiest songs to play, yet they're also two of his best.

Free Fallin' isn't that hard to play either.

The genius of the song is that he makes it all sound so easy. A beautiful lyric driven by a masterful band and a lesson to all aspiring songwriters.

This is Tom Petty's best masterpiece. Just the words and music make you want to sing with him. This is classic Tom Petty: "So I've started out, from God knows where. I guess I'll know, when I get there. I'm learning to fly, around the clouds, but what goes up must come down." Number 1 song.

I began listening to Tom in November 2017. My school was practicing "Free Fallin'" for our choir, so I asked my dad to play a song by him. He went to our Alexa and played my now-favorite Tom song.

Its lyrics tell a story of a man in true pain. "Free Fallin'" is a beautiful song, but "The Waiting" truly got me hooked.

This deserves the top spot. It's been covered by so many great musicians. Check out the one with Eddie Vedder. Even Tom Petty was impressed.

Crazy underrated song. This song is one of the best songs I have ever heard!

Classic tune for the ages. Is it his best song? I think so. Should it be in his top ten? Everyone else should most definitely think so.

If this song needs to work its way into a top ten, you know you are dealing with a great musician.

This song is so awesome. Also, has anyone seen the music video? It's an Alice in Wonderland theme where Alice turns into a big cake that everybody eats at the end. Talk about a way to make a song memorable.

From its opening drums followed by guitar twang, this song paints a surreal picture, made ever more dream-like with its music video. Watch the video!

This song is a keeper on my top ten Tom Petty list.

Ever since I got the greatest hits album, I have been in love with all the songs on it. But since you can only choose one, Breakdown is a classic.

This song is the definition of cool, smooth, soft rock at its best! And Tom's vocals are awesome in this!

This is a great Tom Petty pop song. Feel good and upbeat.

Shocked at the low position of this one.

The music video was awesome, with Johnny Depp as the aspiring musician Eddie and Lauren Hutton as the cougar with connections who makes him a star.

The only Tom Petty song that truly approaches something beyond standard classic rock fare. Definitely deserves to be much higher on the list.

Has got to be the most underrated Tom Petty song. The chorus is amazing and reminds me of the free wilderness.

The most underrated Tom Petty song by far. Should be in the top 3.

The only song I like by Tom Petty.

"You're Gonna Get It!" is not exactly Petty's magnum opus. However, no song on this record even compares to the legacy of "Listen to Her Heart," except for maybe the exuberant rocker "I Need to Know."

This song should be number 2, not 10. It's really great. It's in Guitar Hero 6. Love the singing and guitar solo.

Love this song. Should be number 2. Vote this one up. Good guitar, bass, drums, and singing.

Classic rock song by Tom Petty. I Need to Know is one of his best songs.

A love song that is unapologetically from a man's perspective. In a life filled with struggle, all he needs is her with him to carry on. Plus, he likes her "walk" and wants others to know she belongs to him.

Beautiful in its simplicity. Musically dynamic, vocally expressive, and great to sing along to as well. This, my friends, is a great song!

Really? The only way this isn't in the top three is if most of the voters here were born after 1985. Listen to it once for the musicality. A second time for the lyric. A third time for the "Wow, this is my life's anthem!" epiphany to hit you.

"It was nearly last summer we sat on your roof. We smoked cigarettes and we stared at the moon." Just a regular guy's anthem. Excellent song.

Underdog anthem... my life story.

Definitely one of his top 10. I'd think #5 myself.

Best. Petty song. Ever. So underplayed, so underrated. Classic Tom Petty sound, his unique whiny phrasing, and bittersweet lyrics. If you don't like this song, there's something wrong with you.

Incredible song. I could play this song over and over again. Great vocals, soft but hard, and classic Petty vocals. It's fun, intelligent, and just rocks!

This song is fantastic. Catchy, with great guitar sound. Way underrated.

How is this not in the top ten at least?! 36 is ridiculous! This is considered one of his greatest songs.

It's very calming and has an awesome guitar riff. Please bring this up higher!

How is this not on the list!? It is a great poppy song that has to be at least in the top 15!