And the days went by like paper in the wind. Everything changed, then changed again. It's hard to find a friend. It's hard to find a friend.
Interpretation
Friendship can be elusive in a constantly changing world.
In this quote, Tom Petty reflects on the fleeting nature of time and the difficulty in maintaining meaningful relationships amidst the rapid changes of life. The metaphor of days flying like paper in the wind suggests that time escapes us quickly, making it challenging to build and hold onto friendships.
In practice
During a speech about lasting friendships at a reunion gathering.
When my record company rejected 'Full Moon Fever', I was hurt so bad. I was pretty far along in my career at that point. I'd never had anything rejected; I'd never really even had a comment. So when that happened, it was really just a board to the forehead. But then, finally, I picked myself up.
I developed a problem with authority. Any time that authority was what I interpreted as being unjust, I stood up to it, and that became my personality.
I don't know, my music has always just come from where the wind blew me. Like where I'm at during a particular moment in time.
Music really isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s all about people relating to each other and doing something that’s really from the soul. It must come from the soul.
It's hard for me... If I don't have a project going, I don't feel like I'm connected to anything. I don't even think it's that healthy for me. I like to get out of bed and have a purpose.
I think for it to be hip to be idealistic is weird, you know? I mean, even all the best rebels to me, had some sense of hope in them.
Of all the means to insure happiness throughout the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends.
The only way of really finding out a man's true character is to play golf with him. In no other walk of life does the cloven hoof so quickly display itself.
Always keep good company. Never waste an hour with anyone who doesn't lift you up and encourage you.
You've got to reach a hand of friendship across the aisle and across philosophies in this country.
The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights.
Dogs are easier to love than people; they're certainly more dependable. Once they love you, that's it. A true friend in life is a dog.
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