They enjoyed working together so much that they decided to create an album together. Co-written by all the group members, the songwriting and recording were accomplished over a ten-day period at Dave Stewart's house, as Dylan was due to go out on tour. Their first studio album, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 was released on October 18, 1988. The band members were credited under various pseudonyms, all sons of a fictional Charles Truscott Wilbury, Sr. The album was immediately dubbed as one of the top 100 albums of all time by Rolling Stone, and was a critical and commercial success, spawning several successful singles and eventually reaching triple-platinum sales status in the US. Additionally, it was nominated for several awards and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1989.
The death of Orbison on December 6, 1988 prevented further full collaborations, and the band continued without him. In 1990, they released a second studio album titled Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3. The intentional misnumbering is attributed to Harrison's sense of humor; additionally, the pseudonyms for all members were changed. The album met with less success than its predecessor, and the group eventually disbanded in 1990, their final released recording being the song "Nobody's Child", the title track of a benefit album released to benefit Romanian orphans.
In 2007, a compilation of both albums was released, entitled The Traveling Wilburys Collection. As well as both of the original albums, the release included bonus tracks and music videos; additionally, previously uncredited session drummer Jim Keltner, who appeared in some of the group's music videos, was listed as a member of the group, as was Dhani Harrison, the son of George who had assisted in some parts of the overdubbing of the previously unreleased material.
Heading For The Light
Traveling Wilburys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was lost in the night with no sight of you
And at times it was so blue and lonely
Heading for the light
Been close to the edge, hanging by my fingernails
I've rolled and I've tumbled through the roses and the thorns
And I couldn't see the sun that warmed me
Oh, I didn't see that big black cloud hanging over me
And when the rain came down, I was nearly drowned
I didn't know the mess I was in
Shoes are wearing out from walking down this same highway
I don't see nothing new, but I feel a lot of change
And I get the strangest feeling as I'm
Heading for the light
Oh, my hands were tied
Jokers and fools on either side
But, still I kept on 'til the worst had gone
Now I see the hole I was in
My shoes are wearing out from walking down this same highway
I don't see nothing new, but I feel a lot of change
And I get the strangest feeling as I'm
Heading for the light
I see the sun ahead, I ain't never looking back
All the dreams are coming true as I think of you
Now there's nothing in the way to stop me
Heading for the light
Now there's nothing in the way to stop me
Heading for the light
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Heading for the light
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Heading for the light
The overall meaning of the song "Heading for the Light" by the Traveling Wilburys is about experiencing difficult circumstances and finding a way to move forward. The first verse describes a feeling of being lost and alone, with no sight of the person the singer is searching for. The use of the color blue adds to the melancholic mood, emphasizing the sadness and loneliness of the situation. The chorus repeats "heading for the light," which serves as a metaphor for finding a way out of the darkness and towards a brighter future.
The second verse builds on the sense of difficulty by adding physical danger to the mix. The singer is close to the edge and is hanging on by their fingernails, indicating that they are in a precarious position. They've also been through challenges and obstacles symbolized by rolling and tumbling through roses and thorns. Despite everything, the sun manages to warm them, which offers a glimmer of hope amidst the difficult times.
The final verse offers a resolution to the challenges by acknowledging the growth and change that comes from moving forward. The singer's shoes are worn out from walking down the same highway, but they feel a lot of change. They also feel a sense of destiny, with the dreams that were previously unattainable now becoming a reality. The repetition of the chorus at the end reinforces the idea of moving forward and finding the light.
Overall, "Heading for the Light" is a song about overcoming adversity and finding a way out of difficult situations. It's about persevering when things get tough, and looking towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
I've wandered around with nothing more than time on my hands
I have spent a lot of time aimlessly wandering around without any purpose or direction.
I was lost in the night with no sight of you
During my wandering, I felt lost, alone, and disconnected from the people and things that I cared about.
And at times it was so blue and lonely
There were many moments when I felt sad, empty, and isolated.
Heading for the light
Despite my struggles and feelings of aimlessness, I am now moving towards a brighter, more positive future.
Been close to the edge, hanging by my fingernails
In the past, I have been on the brink of disaster and barely holding on for dear life.
I've rolled and I've tumbled through the roses and the thorns
I have experienced ups and downs, moments of beauty and moments of pain and difficulty.
And I couldn't see the sun that warmed me
At times, I was too focused on my struggles and too lost in my own thoughts to see the good things that were happening around me.
Oh, I didn't see that big black cloud hanging over me
I was unaware of the problems and challenges that were looming on the horizon and didn't take action to avoid them.
And when the rain came down, I was nearly drowned
When the challenges came, they were more difficult to handle than I anticipated and I struggled to stay afloat.
I didn't know the mess I was in
I was unaware of the full scope and severity of my problems and it wasn't until later that I realized how bad things really were.
Shoes are wearing out from walking down this same highway
I have been traveling the same road for so long that it is starting to take a toll on me.
I don't see nothing new, but I feel a lot of change
Even though my surroundings and circumstances may not be changing, I am experiencing a lot of personal growth and transformation internally.
And I get the strangest feeling as I'm
I have a sense of intuition or premonition about the positive changes that are coming my way.
Oh, my hands were tied
I felt trapped and powerless to change my circumstances for a long time.
Jokers and fools on either side
I encountered many people who didn't take me seriously or who actively tried to hinder my progress.
But, still I kept on 'til the worst had gone
Despite the obstacles in my path, I persevered and kept going until I overcame the most difficult challenges.
Now I see the hole I was in
I have gained perspective and insight into my past struggles and now understand how far I have come.
I see the sun ahead, I ain't never looking back
I am now focused on the positive changes and opportunities that lie ahead and am determined to leave my struggles behind me.
All the dreams are coming true as I think of you
As I move closer to my goals, I am reminded of the people and things that I care about and they give me the strength to keep going.
Now there's nothing in the way to stop me
I am now free from the obstacles and problems that once held me back and am ready to pursue my dreams and goals with renewed energy and focus.
Heading for the light
Through all of my struggles, I now feel like I am moving towards a brighter, more positive future.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy K Orbison, Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind