This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Well I started out down a dirty road
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, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
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 must come down
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
(Repeat Chorus)
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, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
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 must come down
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
(Repeat Chorus)
Lyrics submitted by oofus
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I think the meaning is pretty clear. This person got really burned in a previous relationship, and because of this is unable to love and show care in his present one, even though he so badly wants to. It's lovely song, and very sad. You can really feel how defeated and frustrated he is with himself.
i found an explination of this song in a book about tom petty
"I think i was coming to grips with the view that you can be optimistic, hopeful and as good a person as you want to be, but its not going to make life simple for you. Nothing will. You can have all the success you want and its not going to make your life-really your personal life-much easier than anyone else's. The song was also influenced by the Gulf War. It was written during the time the war was breaking out, everything was very grey, and there were burning oceans and oil fires. I was disappointed by the war and the attitude of the American people. I certainly didn't blame the soldiers for going there, but I felt that few people wanted to challenge the Bush administration on its lies. It was a bad time and I really think it influenced the tone of the album(Into the Great Wide Open)."
@shed27 I was just listening to this and began wondering what this song was actually about. It's amazing how you worded your response! Even the lyrics about everything being gray and burning ocean oil fires can belated. Thanks for posting!
Probably one of his most appealing songs of all time. This song basically states that although sometimes 'life' may beat you down, 'break' your heart and steal your crown we can all 'Learn to fly'. Despite anything and everything that has happened to me over the past ten years, two near fatal car accidents, two previous engagements both ended after each of the car crashes (where 'some say life will beat you down') I've been lucky to have managed to pull through all of these misfortunes and artists like Tom Petty have been such an inspiration to me during my months and years of recovery!
uhhhh, i think you guys are trying to look for metaphors that arent there. This song isnt about drugs, or religion. Its simply about life. He's learning to fly, meaning, he is learning how to live. Coming down, like he gets hurt in different ways, but he still gets back up. And god damn, the most obvious part where it talks about life beating you down, HELLO! DOES ANYBODY HAVE A BRAIN? He finishes off by saying he doesnt know where he will end up, until he gets there. Damn i thought there were more smart people out there, guess not.
Seconded. It's not about drugs or god, just about living.
definitely not about weed, "rocks may melt" probably about crack. Pot doesn't make you able to fly. unless you got some real expensive weed. love this song.
i think the song is multilayered/ambigious,although inspired by him seeing a plane flying it's obviously still works on metaphor.Yes i'm aware there are strong drug references in it but it can also be read as a drug free song.It can be about life in general and its many hardships-losing things you know you can never get back like youth,a person you are in love with after a relationship,good health if you had an accident or illness....It's about acceptance of what is and embracing it and learning to deal with it cos sooner or later we all lose things/people we love be it through death/relationship breakup and just through general situation changes.
This song is about Tom's descent into heroin addiction. It was written early in the process, before he became a slave to it.
@Arcata1 That’s what came to my mind first after he disclosed his addiction. People always take what these are to say in their books as the absolute truth. The reality is their business and they’re trying to sell records. They’re going to describe a truth that is most palatable for the public in their image.
I have never liked Petty's voice, but I've always liked this track. Obviously flying is not literal. It's about learning to fly (be independent, I suppose) and all the ups and downs that go along with being free. Sometimes you soar and other times you flop, but it's a great feeling to know that it's within you to either make the most of your life or die trying:)
I'd rather step on my own lips then ever compliment you-but that's really a good p.o.v.I agree with it,also I've never cared for Petty's voice-he always sounded too much like Bob Dylan to me.
"Well some say life will beat you down" should be, "The sensory life will beat you down."
The song is about rising above the baser world and how no matter how hard you try there will always be times when you sink back down into it.
This song may be obvious, but i would say it is definetly about getting high. And thats about it.
this is one of my favourite Tom Petty songs.
definitely about weed. amen!
I think this is about the obstacles that life throws your way when u grow up.Also most of us are pretty clueless when we enter the adult world for the first time.<br /> <br /> Well some say life will beat you down<br /> Break your heart, steal your crown<br /> So I've started out, for God knows where<br /> I guess I'll know when I get there<br />