I'd say that "wings" is a metaphor for the experience, wisdom, and ability to deal with (at an expected degree of success) life's challenges and setbacks - pretty much along the lines of what witi is saying.

Also, in sticking with the airplane flying analogy, when a pilot trainee reaches a certain number of hours with an instructor and has demonstrated capability at various tasks, they are awarded "wings". The "wings" in that case is a pin or badge that shows they are fully capable of flying on their own (i.e. without an instructor present). Thus the "wings" in that case aren't really physical wings as on a bird or airplane, but the mark of experience/training that one eventually hopes to achieve.

Some of you are thinking too much.

Isn't the part about the melting rocks about oil spills?

Sounds like he's talking about a volcano.

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

Well, I swore I read an interview or something with he saying it's about the Gulf War.

You may be right.

Platinum success returned in 1991 when Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers released Into The Great Wide Open (again with the Lynne/Petty/Campbell production team), from which came the singles "Learning To Fly" (some of whose bleak imagery was inspired by the Persian Gulf War) and "Into The Great Wide Open," a song that looked at the hollow core of the music biz' star-making machinery.

http://www.sing365.com/music/l...C453482571C700819CDF

From GoneGator's website:

Later, Petty was inspired to write lyrics in response to Bush I's Gulf War on "Learning to Fly": "Well the good old days may not return/And the rocks might melt, and the sea may burn."

http://gonegator.blogspot.com/...tys-los-angeles.html

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

[QUOTE]Originally posted by witilinki:
You may be right.

Petty was inspired to write lyrics in response to Bush I's Gulf War on "Learning to Fly": "Well the good old days may not return/And the rocks might melt, and the sea may burn."[/b][QUOTE]

That would make perfect sense!
I see this particular verse in a brand new light right now.

I always thought it was about trying to live your life the way you wanted to. To rise above the things that life gives you (some say life will beat you down, break your heart steal your crown) and instead following your dreams.

Sometimes following your dreams doesn't work (coming down is the hardest thing) (what goes up must come down) but Tom is saying he's doing it anyway, that's how he wants to live his life. That he'll take the bad with the good as long as he gets to do it his way.