Runnin' Down a Dream
Tom & Heartbreakers Petty Lyrics
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I had the radio on, I was drivin'
Trees flew by, me and Del were singin' little Runaway
I was flyin'
Yeah, runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
I felt so good like anything was possible
Hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes
The last three days the rain was unstoppable
It was always cold, no sunshine
Yeah, runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream
I rolled on, the sky grew dark
I put the pedal down to make some time
There's something good waitin' down this road
I'm pickin' up whatever's mine
I'm runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream
Yeah, I'm runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
I'm runnin' down a dream
The lyrics to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Runnin' Down a Dream" tell the story of a person driving down a road feeling free and exhilarated, finally breaking free from a gloomy few days of rain and lack of sun. The song also speaks to the idea of chasing a dream that may seem unattainable or riddled with mystery, but the singer is determined to keep going no matter where it takes him. The combination of the adrenaline-fueled driving and the sense of purpose in pursuing an unknown goal is the message of the song.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the track. The mention of the beautiful weather and the camaraderie with his friend Del immediately puts the listener in a good mood. The second verse talks about how the singer has been stuck in dreary weather for three days and how lovely it is to finally have some sunshine. This creates a sense of catharsis and liberation, as if the long-awaited opportunity for action has finally arrived. The final stanza talks about the determination it takes to chase a dream and how the singer will do whatever it takes to capture it.
This song speaks to the innate human drive to chase something more significant than ourselves, and how even if it seems impossible, the journey to chase our dreams is worth it. It also reflects the feeling of freedom that comes with cutting loose and living life without any constraints or preconceived notions.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
Tom Petty describes the beauty of the day with the bright sun shining.
I had the radio on, I was drivin'
Tom Petty was driving with the music on the radio.
Trees flew by, me and Del were singin' little Runaway
While Tom Petty was driving, the trees were moving past him quickly and he was singing with his friend Del the song 'Little Runaway'.
I was flyin'
Tom Petty was driving very fast and felt like he was flying.
Yeah, runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream
Tom Petty is chasing after a goal that seems impossible to achieve, but he continues to work toward it and follow wherever it may lead him.
I felt so good like anything was possible
Despite the difficult goal he's pursuing, Tom Petty feels great and believes he can do anything.
Hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes
Tom Petty turned on cruise control for the car and rubbed his eyes to relieve any tiredness or fatigue.
The last three days the rain was unstoppable
It was always cold, no sunshine
Tom Petty had been experiencing bad weather for several days which included constant rain and cold weather without any sunshine.
I rolled on, the sky grew dark
I put the pedal down to make some time
Tom Petty kept on driving even when the sky started to get dark and he increased his speed to cover some ground.
There's something good waitin' down this road
I'm pickin' up whatever's mine
Tom Petty believes that there's something good ahead of him on the road that he's travelling on and he's dedicated to taking advantage of any opportunities that come his way.
Yeah, I'm runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
I'm runnin' down a dream
Tom Petty continues to pursue his goal that seems unattainable, working toward it despite the uncertainty of the path ahead.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeff Lynne, Michael Campbell, Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sqrt2gmr
Lyrics
It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin'
Trees flew by, me and Del were singin' little Runaway
I was flyin'[chorus]
Yeah, runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream
I felt so good like anything was possible
Hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes
The last three days the rain was unstoppable
It was always cold, no sunshine
Yeah, runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dreamWoo-oh
I rolled on, the sky grew dark
I put the pedal down to make some time
There's something good waitin' down this road
I'm pickin' up whatever's mine
I'm runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream
Yeah, I'm runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
I'm runnin' down a dreamWoo-oh
@m0osefist
I met Tom Petty when I was a kid. My dad told me to go say hi to him when he recognized him at a gas station, and that he was the guy who sung this song. I told him I liked his singing. I still remember how big his smile was. I couldn't have been more than 7. Man just seemed like a normal, chill, good guy. RIP Tom.
@videorocketzmillar007milla5
Awesome. I was playing this really loud even the truckers we bobbing their heads in traffic. Oh yes indeedy.
@muffs55mercury61
I've met a few actors back in the 1970s mostly and one thing they like most is when you tell them how much you like their work. Tom's reaction to your son was quite normal. Tom knew that his fans were the reason why he made it big and likely never forgot that.
@Phonkman2019
That would be Tom for you
@patriciamays8873
Yes, Tom Petty has always been a kind caring decent person
@mjrsnafu
@Patricia Mays \well said!
@LuhWhippaSnappa
Ah, the days of playing GTA San Andreas, flying in a Hydra or a Rustler, over the desert skies of Las Venturas with a 6 star wanted level, dog fighting with the military trying to blow you out of the sky with this song playing on K-DST in the background…. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Tom Petty and Rockstar have created some wonderful memories for us.
@jytvreal
and now tom petty is featured in gta 6's trailer
@adrianojose7172
😁😄
@Home2Suites
@@jytvrealI'm glad to see Petty getting the recondition he deserves. Rockstar is amazing for putting him in an anticipated trailer #PettyForever