After working with his early bands The Sundowners, The Epics, and Mudcrutch (which also included future Heartbreakers members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench) he began his recording career with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers when the band broke onto the national music scene with their 1976 self-titled debut album. Still, it took America a full year to catch up to the album. "Breakdown" was re-released to radio and became a Top 40 hit in 1977 after word filtered back the band was creating a firestorm in England.
He was also a member of The Traveling Wilburys, along with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. Petty and the Heartbreakers also toured as a backing band for Bob Dylan.
Petty is a vocal critic of the modern recording industry, including the disintegration of independent radio stations.
Petty has been supported by his band, The Heartbreakers, for the majority of his career. He has occasionally released solo work, as is the case with his 2006 effort, Highway Companion, on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation himself. Examples of other solo albums include Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers
Petty died on 2 October 2017 following a cardiac episode earlier that day at his home in Malibu, California. Although some media outlets incorrectly reported his death following an erroneous police report, his death was confirmed later that day by his publicist and manager.
Confusion Wheel
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You and I won't worry no more
One of these nights it'll all wash away
And we'll wake up singing a brand-new song
We'll wake up singing a whole new song
One of these nights, my little love
One of our ships will come in
Then wake up singing a brand-new song
We'll wake up singing a brand-new song
So much confusion has entered my life
So much confusion has torn me apart
So much confusion has made me afraid
And I don't know how to love
And I don't know who to trust
And I don't know what I did
So much confusion has entered my life
So much confusion goes 'round in my brain
So much confusion has torn me apart
And I don't know how to love
And I don't know who to trust
And I don't know why that is
One of these days, my old friend
You and I will walk through that door
One of these days, we'll drive away
Drive away singing a brand-new song
We'll wake up singing a brand-new song
In "Confusion Wheel," Tom Petty paints a picture of a person who is grappling with significant confusion in their life. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for a time when the confusion and worries will disappear. The repetition of the phrase "One of these days" suggests that the singer is hopeful that a change is on its way.
The opening lines of the song express a sense of camaraderie as the singer refers to their companion as an "old friend." They anticipate a time when they will no longer have to worry about their troubles. This imagery metaphorically suggests that they are seeking a sense of peace and solace with this friend. The idea of waking up singing a brand-new song symbolizes a fresh start, a departure from their current state of confusion.
Furthermore, the lyrics introduce the theme of love. The singer speaks to their "little love" and envisions a time when their ships will come in, implying the arrival of good fortune. Falling asleep and waking up singing a brand-new song implies an optimistic outlook on the future, with the potential for love to play a significant role in the singer's life.
The middle section of the song delves deeper into the confusion that plagues the singer. The repetition of the phrase "so much confusion" emphasizes the overwhelming nature of their internal turmoil. This confusion has not only torn them apart but also made them afraid. It becomes clear that the singer is grappling with deep-seated uncertainty and is lost in figuring out how to navigate their emotions.
The last verse reintroduces the theme of hope and the possibility of a brighter future. The use of the phrase "One of these days" suggests that the singer still holds onto the belief that things will change. They anticipate walking through a door, a metaphor for progress, with their old friend and leaving the confusion behind. Driving away while singing a brand-new song signifies a sense of liberation and renewal.
Overall, "Confusion Wheel" portrays the journey of an individual struggling with inner turmoil, confusion, and a lack of direction. The lyrics capture the longing for clarity, love, and a fresh start. Through the reiteration of hope and a vision of a brighter future, Tom Petty encourages perseverance and the belief that eventually, the confusion will subside, leading to a new chapter in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
One of these days, my old friend
At some point in the future, my dear friend
You and I won't worry no more
You and I will no longer have concerns
One of these nights it'll all wash away
In one of these nights, all the troubles will disappear
And we'll wake up singing a brand-new song
We will awaken with joy, singing a fresh tune
We'll wake up singing a whole new song
We will awaken with renewed enthusiasm, singing an entirely different song
One of these nights, my little love
At some point in the future, my beloved
One of our ships will come in
One of our endeavors will be successful
One of these nights we'll fall asleep
At some point in the future, we will drift off to slumber
Then wake up singing a brand-new song
Upon awakening, we will joyously sing a fresh melody
We'll wake up singing a brand-new song
We will awaken with a renewed spirit, singing a different song
So much confusion has entered my life
A great deal of perplexity has become a part of my existence
So much confusion has torn me apart
An excessive amount of bewilderment has shattered me
So much confusion has made me afraid
The abundance of perplexity has instilled fear within me
And I don't know how to love
I lack understanding of how to love
And I don't know who to trust
I am uncertain of whom to place my trust in
And I don't know what I did
And I am unaware of what actions I took
So much confusion has entered my life
An abundance of perplexity has become intertwined with my existence
So much confusion goes 'round in my brain
A great deal of perplexity circulates within my mind
So much confusion has torn me apart
An excessive amount of bewilderment has shattered me
And I don't know how to love
I lack understanding of how to love
And I don't know who to trust
I am uncertain of whom to place my trust in
And I don't know why that is
And I am unsure of the reason behind that
One of these days, my old friend
At some point in the future, my dear friend
You and I will walk through that door
You and I will enter a new chapter in our lives
One of these days, we'll drive away
One day, we will depart from this place
Drive away singing a brand-new song
As we leave, we will joyfully sing a fresh melody
We'll wake up singing a brand-new song
We will awaken, filled with optimism, singing a different song
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Thomas Earl Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Siriuscrossing
It's not like listening to a world famous artist - more like an old friend and that's the measure of Tom. Can't believe you have gone but I'll be listening to these songs until I join you. I'll get one together for you tonight man!
@christopherparks962
If you’ve never heard of Reckless Kelly, check out their song ‘Tom was a friend of mine’ off their most recent album
@susanleigh2697
Till the end, I will be listening to you my friend. thank you Tom Petty
@budbinner2276
Wow Peter great post 👍🙏
@ripperaztgc
The soundtrack of my life ...the good and the bad.... Roll one for TP tonight.......
@Siriuscrossing
@@christopherparks962 Thanks, I will - always on the lookout for a good vibe!
@mr.smithgnrsmith7808
Thank you Adria, Dana, Mike, Benmont, Ron for this...God Bless you all....NOBODY was better than Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers....Rock n Roll’s finest
@kctexan
And AnnaKim as well.
@SanAntonioRosie
I'll back you on that!
@evelynbaron2004
Enormous good will on your part, all of you but seriously this material has been around since 1994; Dana and Adria have been in endless litigation over creative rights over his music; this stuff is trickling out bit by bit by his last label Warner Bros. -- just release all the material damn it the world needs great music like this now in these hard times. The only innocent man as far as I can see is Mike Campbell. And if you listen to the lyrics he was the lonelinest man in the universe when he wrote that song; band was a cluster fuck with all the machinations behind his back and his marrriage a place where he didn't feel safe; yes he found redemption forgiveness love and peace at the end of his life but he had a harder time than most human beings on that road.