quote:

I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings

He's flying a helicopter!

No.

A helicopter is an example of a 'rotary wing' aircraft - and still has wings. Its just they go around and around in a circle

I dont think the flying in the song was intended literally at all. But who besides Tom knows what is going on in his head under those blonde locks?

FWIW I also rather enjoy the songs 'Learning to Fly' by David Gilmour, 'Look Out For My Love' by Neil Young and 'I'm coming Home' by Michael Hedges which all employ flying imagery.

I think mankind has been dreaming about flying ever since our first ancestor saw birds take wing. There is something about flying that is fascinating and perhaps as a result comparisons to flying and flying imagery are commonplace in literature and music.

Neil Young:

'...Silver wings of mornin'
Shinin' in the gray day
While the ice is formin'
On a lonely runway.

Hydraulic wipers pumpin'
'Til the window glistens
Somethin' sayin' somethin'
No one seems to listen.

Men with walkie-talkies
Men with flashlights wavin'
Up upon the tower
Time reads daylight savings.

I'm home again to you babe
You know it makes me wonder
Sittin' in the quiet slipstream
Rolling in the thunder.

Look out for my love,
look out for my love
Look out for my love,
look out for my love.
...'

David Gilmour:

'...a soul in tension that's learning to fly
condition grounded but determined to try
can't keep my eyes from the -circling- skies
tongue-tied & twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I
...'

Michael Hedges:

'...Dark clouds are moving in
On the ground—radar spins
Gray on gray
the sky takes me in
Today
I'm coming home

A needle sewn through aerial skin
The journey thread is growing thin
I went out and I tied it down
Today
I'm coming home

No one knows our sacred sound
No one knows the love I found
The tower keeps on calling me in
Today
I'm coming home

...'


What other songs can you think of that employ flying imagery well? Anything on the Mudcrutch album? How about other artists?

Why did Marc Chagall often include people and animals flying through the air in his paintings?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Relic,

it's about taking drugs and then coming off of the 'buzz'

that's what i always thought

but being a TP fan on this side of the pond makes me a leper in the bands eyes so what do I know

Another theory:

The secrets to flight have been discovered in a small coastal town.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img.../secretsofflight.png

... well, except that Civilization IV wouldn't come out for another 14 years. Hmmm.

(I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Gulf war vets' souls floating in the ether between heaven and earth

Well I know Tom wrote the song after watching a pilot interviewed on TV. He also claims that the song is more metaphorical in a sense that it is really like "Learning to live"

Based on the lyrics in the verses, I think it's a metaphor for the way people go through life without being prepared for things that may happen. IE flying without wings.

Coming down is always hard but without wings you are pretty much sol!

Even WITH wings, I have trouble coming down.

http://img253.imageshack.us/im...97/cropdusterkl0.jpg

(Getting closer! SimFarm was first released in 1993, only 2 years after the song.)

There's nothing to figure out.

quote:

Originally posted by wilbury:
Based on the lyrics in the verses, I think it's a metaphor for the way people go through life without being prepared for things that may happen. IE flying without wings.

I feel the same way about the lyrics. Somebody used to say that the lifepath goes up and down every three years. Now you're at peace with everything, and after a while you're confronted by a period of trouble of some kind. Not necessarily suffering but stress at least. I'm starting to think this applies to everyone, one way or the other. That's how life goes, with ups and downs. No linear path. Linear would be boring I guess... I don't know. But I think petty4me is right also, since humans spend too much time trying to pop their heads out of the box, when there's clearly nothing more to figure out than we're allowed to by the divine force that's in and around us. We should all enjoy life for what it is, and Tom's probably right too, I guess we'll know when we get there.
I'm just happy to be here, it's 1:38 AM here in Romania and I'm writing on the TPATH message board, to people I've never personally met, but it looks like the music is more than enough to keep us connected for many years. Just a small example of how great life is! And I hope we'll keep seeing eachother here, because being here means that we're all doing good and we're not facing too much trouble in life as long as we're still able to enjoy great music and discuss it Let that remain our main concern! Peace!

^Nice

Like a bird who hasn't spread its wings, yet, he's learning to become independent, to be on his own, but is still too young or too immature or too insecure. And, Coming down is the hardest thing - coming down to reality and facing failure and disappointment.

Well, if he doesn't have wings, that means he can't stay up in the air. So he falls down, thus making coming down the hardest part.

When birds learn to fly, they make several attempts to spread their wings and flutter up into the air and then fall. They don't just suddenly take off.

Likewise, learning to become independent may take several or many attempts and the coming down is the hardest thing - coming down to the realization you're still too young or too insecure to face the world on your own or facing the failure or disappointment of not being able to (fly) make it on your own.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: witilinki,

One potential author’s perspective: 20,000+ pairs of are focused on you (well most of them that are not tanked). Think of the lift that gives one on stage. Tom’s super but he can’t fly. No wonder it’s hard coming down, just from that experience alone; “every time" is right. He gets/gotten to heights most of us will never reach, but we all fly in our own ways. Life is all about picking oneself up and getting back in the ring. That is why the nests from which ones first take off, are so important. Home.

It’s Friday. The Fightins’ have a puncher’s chance of coming home up two from LA… Have a kick ass weekend. And remember, abortion IS NOT healthcare.

Good point, Exo, but in the context of the entire song, it doesn't sound like Tom Petty is talking about his experience on stage.

------------------

Well I started out down a dirty road
Started out all alone
And the sun went down as I crossed the hill
The town lit up the world got still

Well the good old days may not return
And the rocks might melt, and the sea may burn

Well some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I started out for God knows where
But I guess I'll know when I get there

He may also be talking about the good old days when he was just a kid learning to become independent after leaving home or after his mother passed away (being cut off from his mother's apron strings, like a bird who is kicked out of the nest?).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: witilinki,

quote:

but in the context of the entire song, it doesn't sound like Tom Petty is talking about his experience on stage.

I'm sure he's not witilinki but I can remember from the 2006 Philly/Camden show, his little add in during Learning To Fly where he mentioned "every time" after "...coming down". How could he not get a lift when most of the audience is singing back to the stage, his own work. See here (1:41 mark). (What an awesome day that was...)