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Started out all alone
And the sun went down as I crossed the hill
And the town lit up, the world got still
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
Well the good ol' days may not return
And the rocks might melt and the sea may burn
I'm learning to fly ''(learning to fly)''
But I ain't got wings ''(learning to fly)''
Coming down ''(learning to fly)''
Is the hardest thing ''(learning to fly)''
Well some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I've started out for God knows where
I guess I'll know when I get there
I'm learning to fly around the clouds
But what goes up ''(learning to fly)''
Must come down ''(learning to fly)''
I'm learning to fly ''(learning to fly)''
But I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
I'm learning to fly ''(learning to fly)''
Around the clouds
But what goes up ''(learning to fly)''
Must come down
I'm learning to fly (learning to fly)
''(Learning to fly)''
I'm learning to fly
''(Learning to fly)''
''(Learning to fly)''
''(Learning to fly)''
''(Learning to fly)''
David Gilmour for sure!
This song holds up so well after 30 years. It says so many things to so many different people.
I was thinking, "No, no, no, this song isn't that old!", but yes, the song and I are both getting on in years. Hard to believe this is almost from the '80s.
When i was young I just have a vinyl platine. My friends offered me a CD reader in 1991 and this record was the first cd I bought. I remember how much I was happy to listen to this song for the first time on my brand new CD reader. Time flies... Me, I still can't fly.
The good old days, may not return....
Not so sure about that but "Coming down is (still) the hardest thing"
Maybe the Beatles. Flying.
Miss ya, Tom.
I have to agree, and overall such great optimism in his music.
Miss ya, Tom.
and he earned every feather
RIP TP
I'll always remember seeing Tom play this song on the Wildflowers tour in August of 1995. It was just a few days after Jerry Garcia had passed. Tom made a simple but heartfelt speech about Jerry and dedicated this song to him. He started out playing it very restrained and quiet, just him and his guitar. The Heartbreakers joined in on the second verse, quietly at first then building it up to a joyful loud finish.
Maybe Tom played this song that same way often, but it didn't feel like it that night. It felt like genuine, spur of the moment honesty.
Thank you LPCity, that is a beautiful piece!
Second that. Instantly perked up when I heard this song! What the heck, bumping up the rating!
Amen
I'll always remember seeing Tom play this song on the Wildflowers tour in August of 1995. It was just a few days after Jerry Garcia had passed. Tom made a simple but heartfelt speech about Jerry and dedicated this song to him. He started out playing it very restrained and quiet, just him and his guitar. The Heartbreakers joined in on the second verse, quietly at first then building it up to a joyful loud finish.
Maybe Tom played this song that same way often, but it didn't feel like it that night. It felt like genuine, spur of the moment honesty.
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches loves this song...
Whoa! Well said, Liz! I agree. 8—>9
if this is his worst, I wouldn't mind hearing his best...
7
Nothing, but there is nothing to like either. It is just there and has been there WAY too much.
I disagree. One of my fave Tom tunes!
I agree with On:The_beach
Petty doesn't seem to do a lot with progression in his songs. What you hear is what you get. The thing about Petty is that he does so much with what is usually a simple chord progression and backing riff. It's catchy, it's listenable, and it's musically juuuust complicated enough to hold the ear, at least for me. Last Dance With Mary Jane, my favorite Petty song, is, to me, the best of what Petty does.
He pretty much has always stayed in the traditional-progression, roots music vein. He does it very well and there's little reason for him to stray from it. I don't necessarily consider him to be formulaic, but I wouldn't expect to hear anything "experimental" or musically complicated from him either. It works for them; why would they deviate?
Petty doesn't seem to do a lot with progression in his songs. What you hear is what you get. The thing about Petty is that he does so much with what is usually a simple chord progression and backing riff. It's catchy, it's listenable, and it's musically juuuust complicated enough to hold the ear, at least for me. Last Dance With Mary Jane, my favorite Petty song, is, to me, the best of what Petty does.
He pretty much has always stayed in the traditional-progression, roots music vein. He does it very well and there's little reason for him to stray from it. I don't necessarily consider him to be formulaic, but I wouldn't expect to hear anything "experimental" or musically complicated from him either. It's all safe, why deviate?
I disagree. One of my fave Tom tunes!
Petty doesn't seem to do a lot with progression in his songs. What you hear is what you get. The thing about Petty is that he does so much with what is usually a simple chord progression and backing riff. It's catchy, it's listenable, and it's musically juuuust complicated enough to hold the ear, at least for me. Last Dance With Mary Jane, my favorite Petty song, is, to me, the best of what Petty does.
What Some people love about Tom Petty's writing is the same thing Other people don't like about Petty (or certain songs).
Not only does do he and the Heartbreakers write some of the all-time-best-hooks in R 'n R, but there are songs where they are repeated and this is one.
That said, this song and most of his others work for me!
I think that's a 9...
Petty doesn't seem to do a lot with progression in his songs. What you hear is what you get. The thing about Petty is that he does so much with what is usually a simple chord progression and backing riff. It's catchy, it's listenable, and it's musically juuuust complicated enough to hold the ear, at least for me. Last Dance With Mary Jane, my favorite Petty song, is, to me, the best of what Petty does.
Love their music. For those strumming along at home, it's F, C, Am, G.
I love guitar / acoustic stuff, but this is just . . . blah.
That's a bit short sighted. The real story is that by this album TP was just Jeff Lynne-d out.... When you consider the Full Moon Fever album plus The Wilburys, this album has nothing to offer but fluff. It should have been called FMF II. Even as I listen to this now I only hear Jeff Lynne, not Petty.
I think he returned to form with Wildflowers. That was a solid album for a veteran rocker, and one which still holds up IMO.
I love guitar / acoustic stuff, but this is just . . . blah.
8
Nice cover
But so far, I've still got this at a 10.
Tom Petty & Traveling Wilburys; in both the versions the song is very well obtained -
** 9 **
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches loves this song...