Released April 1991 Label MCA Producer(s) Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne | Length 4:05 Writer(s) Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne | |
Genre Heartland rock, jangle rock | ||
"Learning To Fly" is a popular track by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was written in 1991 by Tom Petty and his writing partner Jeff Lynne for the album Into the Great Wide Open. Though the entire song is based on only four simple chords, (F, C, A minor, and G), it has an unusual cadence and structure and became a top hit for Petty.
Contents
7" vinyl track listing
Musicians
Chart history
"Learning to Fly" was released as the first single from Into the Great Wide Open and reached #28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also became his most successful single on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, reaching the top of the chart and remaining at the summit for six weeks. "Learning to Fly" earliest charting was in the United Kingdom, debuting at #65 on June 29. The next week it rose to #46, and stayed on the UK chart for two more weeks before slipping off entirely.
Cover versions
Bonnie Tyler released Learning To Fly as a single from her 2003 album Heart Strings. The single gained no chart success.
Lady Antebellum covered Learning to Fly on their 2010 digital iTunes Sessions EP.
The Weepies covered the song on their 2015 record Sirens.