The cinematic video for "Into the Great Wide Open" was directed by Julien Temple. It featured actors Johnny Depp, Gabrielle Anwar, and Faye Dunaway.
Into the Great Wide Open
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He went to Hollywood, got a tattoo
He met a girl out there with a tattoo too
The future was wide open
They moved into a place they both could afford
He found a nightclub he could work at the door
She had a guitar and she taught him some chords
Into the great wide open
Under them skies of blue
Out in the great wide open
A rebel without a clue
The papers said Ed always played from the heart
He got an agent and a roadie named Bart
They made a record and it went in the charts
The sky was the limit
His leather jacket had chains that would jingle
They both met movie stars, partied and mingled
Their A&R man said "I don't hear a single"
The future was wide open
Into the great wide open
Under them skies of blue
Out in the great wide open
A rebel without a clue
Into the great wide open
Under them skies of blue
Into the great wide open
A rebel without a clue
The song "Into the Great Wide Open" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers tells the story of Eddie, a young man who finishes high school and decides to pursue his dreams of becoming a rock star in Hollywood. He meets a girl who shares his love for music and together they move into a small apartment and start playing gigs. Eddie's talent and determination pay off when he and his band make a record that becomes a hit, but their success doesn't last forever. Their A&R man informs them that their music isn't what people want to hear anymore and Eddie struggles to find his place in the ever-changing music industry. The song paints a picture of a young rebel with big dreams who is trying to navigate his way through the complexities of fame and success.
"Into the Great Wide Open" is a commentary on the music industry and the challenges that artists face when trying to make it big. The song highlights the importance of creativity, perseverance and staying true to oneself when pursuing one's dreams. The lyrics are a cautionary tale against becoming too enamored with success and forgetting who you are in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Eddie waited till he finished high school
Eddie didn't want to move to Hollywood until he finished high school
He went to Hollywood, got a tattoo
Eddie moved to Hollywood and got a tattoo to symbolize his new start
He met a girl out there with a tattoo too
Eddie met a girl in Hollywood who was also looking to make a change in her life
The future was wide open
They both had endless possibilities for their future together in this new city
They moved into a place they both could afford
Eddie and his girlfriend found a place to live that they could afford together
He found a nightclub he could work at the door
Eddie found a job working at the door of a nightclub
She had a guitar and she taught him some chords
Eddie's girlfriend taught him how to play guitar and they started making music together
The sky was the limit
They both had high hopes for their music careers and believed they could achieve anything they set their minds to
Into the great wide open
Eddie and his girlfriend ventured off into the unknown of Hollywood
Under them skies of blue
They were surrounded by blue skies, representing new beginnings and possibilities
Out in the great wide open
Eddie and his girlfriend were out in the world, exploring and experiencing new things
A rebel without a clue
Eddie was young and clueless about the music industry, but he was determined to succeed
The papers said Ed always played from the heart
Eddie received positive attention from the media for his heartfelt music
He got an agent and a roadie named Bart
Eddie's popularity grew and he gained an agent and a roadie
They made a record and it went in the charts
Eddie and his band made a successful album that charted well
His leather jacket had chains that would jingle
Eddie's style was unique and he had a leather jacket with jingling chains
They both met movie stars, partied and mingled
Eddie and his girlfriend were now part of the Hollywood scene and met many famous people
Their A&R man said "I don't hear a single"
Despite their success, their record label wanted them to make a more commercial hit song
The future was wide open
Once again, Eddie and his girlfriend were faced with endless possibilities for their future
Into the great wide open
Eddie and his girlfriend were still determined to succeed in the music industry
Under them skies of blue
The blue skies still represented new beginnings and possibilities
A rebel without a clue
Eddie was still young and inexperienced, but he refused to give up on his dreams
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeff Lynne, Thomas Earl Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@py528
Listen carefully and you will hear that this song is genius. The harmony, lyrics, the guitars, his timing when he comes in with his voice....God everything. Tom was a brilliant man.
@qu4zz4r
I've immediately thought about The Beatles and a softer version of Oasis)
@goalie2998
I really didn't appreciate this song when it came out. It's quite brilliant.
@michaellynch7219
Tom petty will put you in the money
@evolutionismrequiresfaith4974
No not really brilliant this song is about going to Hollywood and selling ur soul. And a lot of his videos has Masonic satanic freak symbols like the black and white checkered boards in his music it's actually really easy to see where they stand once you educate yourself on these types of things
@bfischer2473
I love this song
@eugeneax6007
I love how Tom's tale is a warning, not a glorification of fame.
@jpcodnia9133
Spot on comment
@lorelieplum81
It's a nice little morality tale.
@Blueluise
in the movie "this boys life" perhaps, Daniel K + the illegal poppers pill stuff