Wildflowers (Tom Petty song)

{{short description|1994 song by Tom Petty}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Wildflowers

| artist = Tom Petty

| album = Wildflowers

| released = {{Start date|1994}}
August 20, 2020 (home recording)

| type = single

| recorded = 1994

| genre = Folk rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/you-wreck-me-mt0056558603|title = You Wreck Me - Tom Petty, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers | Song Info | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=10}}

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = Tom Petty

| producer = Rick Rubin

| prev_title = You Don't Know How It Feels (Home Recording)

| prev_year = 2020

| year = 2020

| next_title = Leave Virginia Alone

| next_year = 2020

}}

"Wildflowers" is a song written by Tom Petty and the opening track from the album of the same name. The song became quite popular in concerts, and though it was not initially released as a commercial single until 2020{{efn|On August 20, 2020, a posthumous release of the home recorded demo version of the song was released as a digital single.}}, it charted at #16 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers|title=Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Chart History|magazine=Billboard}} at #11 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers/|title = Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers|magazine = Billboard}} and at #3 on the Billboard Lyric Find.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers/chart-history/lus/|title=Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers|magazine=Billboard}} AllMusic describes it as having a simple but effective folk-based chord progression, with a sprightly, almost country-oriented rhythm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/wildflowers-mt0007367948|title=Wildflowers - Tom Petty | Song Info|website=AllMusic}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers-6bd6e20a.html|title=Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tour Statistics | setlist.fm|website=setlist.fm}}

The song has gone on to become one of the most beloved in Petty's catalog. Petty also stated "Wildflowers" was easy to write and compose.{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/tom-petty-wildflowers-songs/|title=Tom Petty's 'Wildflowers' Turns 25: The Stories Behind the Songs|first=Sean|last=Kelly|website=Ultimate Classic Rock}} It was one of the non-singles which were included on the compilation The Best of Everything (others were "Southern Accents", "Square One", "Angel Dream" and "Dreamville").{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-everything-the-definitive-career-spanning-hits-collection-1976-2016-mw0003214956|title=The Best of Everything: The Definitive Career-Spanning Hits Collection 1976-2016 - Tom Petty, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}

On August 20, 2020, a posthumous release of the home recorded demo version of the song was released as a digital single alongside a music video. The video contains never-before-seen footage shot by Martyn Atkins during the recording of "Wildflowers".{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2OFxeg4spU|title=Tom Petty - Wildflowers (Home Recording) [Official Music Video]|date=August 20, 2020|via=YouTube|accessdate=October 1, 2020}} On the same day, it was officially announced that on October 16, a posthumous album titled Wildflowers & All the Rest would be released. It is a comprehensive re-release of "Wildflowers" including the home version (released as a single in August) along with the album Wildflowers and many unearthed gems and demos/home recordings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tompetty.com/news/tom-petty-s-long-awaited-wildflowers-comprehensive-collection-be-released-2098981|title=Tom Petty's Long-Awaited Wildflowers Comprehensive Collection To Be Released|date=August 20, 2020|publisher=TomPetty.com|accessdate=October 1, 2020}}

The title of the November 2020 book Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles comes from a lyric in the song.{{Cite web|url=https://bestclassicbands.com/tom-petty-los-angeles-book-somewhere-you-feel-free-mckittrick-4-10-200|title=Exclusive: Interview With Author of New Tom Petty Book|website=Best Classic Bands|date=17 November 2020}}

"Wildflowers" is also Tom Petty's fourth most streamed solo song (and seventh overall) on Spotify, even surpassing the same album's big hit "You Don't Know How it Feels".{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/2UZMlIwnkgAEDBsw1Rejkn|title=Tom Petty|website=Spotify}}