‘You belong among the wildflowers’: Tom Petty, one of the greatest musicians of our time

With the new reports about Tom Petty, it’s time to look back on his music and the way it’s made people feel over his long career.

Tom Petty is one of the greatest musicians of our time.

Today, after going into cardiac arrest, Petty was pulled from life support, according to TMZ. A god of the rock-n-roll scene, there are countless Petty songs that line the fabric of our history.

While rock-n-roll typically seems like it’s about running around on stage, Petty is, arguably, the most American sound to come out of the ’70s and on. When you think of roadtrips, Petty’s music usually fills your ears at one point or another, and it is a testament to his stamina as a musician.

For many, his music makes us feel free. I know personally that no song makes me feel more than
“Wildflowers”. It is poetic and uplifting and everything about it screams Petty and the American dream. It’s fitting that one of the lyrics say “you belong somewhere you feel free” because that’s where I hope Tom Petty is now.

He is truly one of the greats. It is with a heavy heart that I write this article. Not because I personally knew Petty but because his music helped make me into who I am. My father calls me when specific musicians play on the radio and Petty was always one of them. “Wildflowers” has made me feel whole on more than one occasion. Whenever I feel trapped, “Into the Great Wide Open” makes me feel like running away for a bit and not looking back.

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Everything about his music was meant to make the listener feel something and we did. So in honor of this great man, go out today and listen to your favorite. Bask in the all American dream that Petty envisioned for us all. Because we saw the world in a better light and we owe it to him to try and find the freedom he saw for us all.