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.
Wake Up Time
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You follow the leader into the trees
And what's in there waiting, neither one of us knows
You gotta keep one eye open the further you go
You never dreamed you'd go down on one knee, but now
Who could have seen, you'd be so hard to please somehow
You feel like a poor boy, a long way from home
You're just a poor boy, a long way from home
And it's wake up time
Time to open your eyes
And rise and shine
You spend your life dreaming, running 'round in a trance
You hang out forever and still miss the dance
And if you get lucky, you might find someone
To help you get over the pain that will come
Yeah, you were so cool back in high school, what happened?
You were so sure not to have your spirits dampened
But you're just a poor boy alone in this world
You're just a poor boy alone in this world
And it's wake up time
Time to open your eyes
And rise and shine
Well, if he gets lucky, a boy finds a girl
To help him to shoulder the pain in this world
And if you follow your feelings
And you follow your dreams
You might find the forest there in the trees
Yeah, you'll be alright, it's just gonna take time, but now
Who could have seen you'd be so hard to please somehow
You're just a poor boy a long way from home
You're just a poor boy a long way from home
And it's wake up time
Time to open up your eyes
And rise and shine
'Cause it's wake up time
Time to open your eyes
And rise and shine
In Tom Petty's song "Wake Up Time," the lyrics speak to the idea of waking up from a spiritual, mental, or emotional "trance" and truly living life. The opening lines "you follow your feelings, you follow your dreams, you follow the leader into the trees," suggest that the person is living their life according to their own desires and aspirations, but not necessarily seeing the bigger picture of what the future may hold. When they venture into the unknown, they must remain cautious and mindful, as "what's in there waiting, neither one of us knows, you gotta keep one eye open the further you go."
The chorus of the song, "And it's wake up time, time to open your eyes and rise and shine," encourages the person to awaken from their "trance" and see the world with open eyes. The lyrics suggest that the person has been "dreaming, running 'round in a trance" and missing the important moments in life as a result. However, if they follow their feelings and dreams, they may find their way through the forest and overcome the struggles they face.
The song's final verse highlights the idea that finding someone to help shoulder the pain and take on the struggles in life is necessary for growth and happiness. It is a recognition that we are not meant to go through life alone and that our experiences are shared by others. The song encourages listeners to wake up, open their eyes, and live life fully- even if it takes time to get there.
Line by Line Meaning
You follow your feelings, you follow your dreams
You are guided by your emotions and aspirations
You follow the leader into the trees
You join others without knowing where it leads
And what's in there waiting, neither one of us knows
The unknown lies ahead, and uncertainty prevails
You gotta keep one eye open the further you go
You must remain vigilant as you journey deeper
You never dreamed you'd go down on one knee, but now
You face unexpected situations that challenge you
Who could have seen, you'd be so hard to please somehow
Your needs and wants are difficult to satisfy
You feel like a poor boy, a long way from home
You experience a sense of inferiority and detachment
And it's wake up time
It's time to wake up from your illusions
Time to open your eyes
Time to see things as they are
And rise and shine
And strive to do your best
You spend your life dreaming, running 'round in a trance
You waste your life in idle fantasies and distractions
You hang out forever and still miss the dance
You linger around without participating fully
And if you get lucky, you might find someone
You may find a companion to share your life with
To help you get over the pain that will come
To support you in coping with the hardships of life
Yeah, you were so cool back in high school, what happened?
You used to be confident and popular, what changed?
You were so sure not to have your spirits dampened
You were once resilient and upbeat
But you're just a poor boy alone in this world
You are merely an insignificant person in a vast world
Well, if he gets lucky, a boy finds a girl
A man may experience good fortune in finding love
To help him to shoulder the pain in this world
To share his burdens and make life more bearable
You might find the forest there in the trees
You might discover unexpected beauty and wonder
Yeah, you'll be alright, it's just gonna take time, but now
You will recover gradually, but patience is required
You're just a poor boy a long way from home
You are a wanderer in a foreign land
Time to open up your eyes
Time to see more clearly and deeply
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Thomas Earl Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@VickiFourie1
You follow your feelings, you follow your dreams
You follow the leader into the trees
And what's in there waiting, neither one of us knows
You gotta keep one eye open the further you go
You never dreamed you'd go down on one knee, but now
Who could have seen, you'd be so hard to please somehow
You feel like a poor boy, a long way from home
You're just a poor boy, a long way from home
And it's wake up time
Time to open your eyes
And rise and shine
You spend your life dreaming, running 'round in a trance
You hang out forever and still miss the dance
And if you get lucky, you might find someone
To help you get over the pain that will come
Yeah, you were so cool back in high school, what happened?
You were so sure not to have your spirits dampened
But you're just a poor boy alone in this world
You're just a poor boy alone in this world
And it's wake up time
Time to open your eyes
And rise and shine
Well, if he gets lucky, a boy finds a girl
To help him to shoulder the pain in this world
And if you follow your feelings
And you follow your dreams
You might find the forest there in the trees
Yeah, you'll be alright, it's just gonna take time, but now
Who could have seen you'd be so hard to please somehow
You're just a poor boy a long way from home
You're just a poor boy a long way from home
And it's wake up time
Time to open up your eyes
And rise and shine
'Cause it's wake up time
Time to open your eyes
And rise and shine
@vanessa9937
Tom was a light in the dark. A wise friend to many. A comforting voice to anyone who needs it. He always knows the right words to say. Thank you Tom. I know you're watching this from Heaven and smiling.
@dharmabeachbum6330
Beautifully said.
@darincooney3988
@@mitchellleblanc2372 amen!! Those that know that feeling is a blessing… I will say, I too am blessed. Tom Petty certainly is my inspiration.
@katshotz6033
Oh yes. Bright light, funny, an original🌻🌻🌻🌻
@katshotz6033
I concur, beautifully said.
@gailremp8389
❤️👍🏾😎☮️
@redman3583
I am 38 years old. Tom Petty is the first artist in my life that I was truely sad when he died. What a treasure.
@JustinHaglerMusic
He inspired so many just by doing it right!
@barbararichardson5480
My heart remains 💔....
@cloneofethan
I'm 21 and I feel the same, Tom Petty got me through so much he was my favorite artist as a boy and still is now that I'm almost 22