[4] In a November 2003 interview with Songfacts, guitarist Mike Campbell explained the story behind "Here Comes My Girl": It's very similar to "Refugee" - those two were written the same week.

"Here Comes My Girl" was interesting because we had the chorus and Tom wasn't sure how to do the verse, he kept trying to sing it different ways and he finally came across sort of half-talking it, and that's when the song seemed to come to life.

[5]Petty remembers Campbell's chords and tune on a cassette tape, and struggling with the lyrics.

Cash Box called it a "truly excellent single" with a "convincingly honest narrative intro" and a "Byrds-like hook.

"[6] Record World called it a "raging ballad" and said that Petty's "tough talk/sing vocal swells into a pretty hook.