"Learning to Fly" is a song by American rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was written in 1991 by Tom Petty and his writing partner Jeff Lynne for the band's eighth studio album, Into the Great Wide Open (1991). The entire song is based on four simple chords, (F, C, A minor, and G). Released in June 1991 by MCA Records, it became a hit for Petty and the Heartbreakers, topping the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Release "Learning to Fly" was released as the first single from Into the Great Wide Open and reached number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also became his most successful single on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, reaching number one and remaining there for six weeks. The song was released in the United Kingdom on June 17, 1991, debuting at number 65 on the UK Singles Chart six days later. It rose to its peak of number 46 the following week and stayed on the UK chart for two more weeks before leaving the top 75.

Track listing 7-inch vinyl A. "Learning to Fly" B. "Too Good to Be True"

Personnel Personnel are sourced from Sound on Sound.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tom Petty – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar Mike Campbell – 12-string electric guitar, electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals Howie Epstein – backing vocals Stan Lynch – drums (w/o kick drum)

Others Jeff Lynne – Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, Oberheim DMX drum machine, sampler, backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1991)Peakposition Europe (European Hit Radio) 15 UK Airplay (Music Week) 37 US Cash Box Top 100 35 + 2025 weekly chart performance for "Learning to Fly" Chart (2025) Peakposition Israel International Airplay (Media Forest) 18

Year-end charts Chart (1991)PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)46Europe (European Hit Radio)100US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)10

Certifications

Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)EuropeJune 11, 1991RadioMCAUnited KingdomJune 17, 1991June 24, 1991CD2AustraliaJuly 1, 1991

Cover version Petty's Traveling Wilburys bandmate Bob Dylan covered the song live in concert in Broomfield, Colorado, on October 21, 2017, one day after what would have been Petty's 67th birthday.

References