Tom Petty’s third solo album, Highway Companion, is often overlooked against his masterpieces, Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers. Recording without his durable band, The Heartbreakers, Petty made three albums with the freedom of not being locked into the rigid boundaries of an established rock band. Nonetheless, various Heartbreakers do make appearances on his solo records, notably guitarist Mike Campbell, who co-produced Highway Companion with Petty and his fellow Traveling Wilbury, Jeff Lynne.
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Petty, Campbell, and Lynne performed all the instruments on the album and kept the arrangements sparse and open. It feels like a musical expedition made for a road trip, but one Petty himself had to endure. And “Square One” is an album highlight that depicts the end of a long journey.
About “Square One”
“Square One” is a destination song. A tale of life lessons absorbed and learned by years of travel and hardship. It could describe one returning home. But it’s also a reset, a place where you end up after a lifetime of experience, growth, failure, and innocent and not-so-innocent mistakes.
Square one, my slate is clear
Rest your head on me, my dear
It took a world of trouble, it took a world of tears
It took a long time to get back here.
Anxious energy drives and defines youth. The need to go somewhere, do something. Petty portrays a character so self-absorbed he cannot see beyond his nose. Still, he finds comfort in a clean slate and the ease of feeling okay with where he’s at right now. He finds peace in resignation, though one that’s been slowly carved into him with age.
Try so hard to stand alone
Struggle to see past my nose
Always had more dogs than bones
I could never wear those clothes.
An Open Road and an Open Meaning
There are various schools of songwriting. Some writers give you all the details, the landscape, the furniture, and even a character’s name. Others keep things vague and open to interpretation. Petty mostly opts for the latter.
He leaves it to the listener to fill in the blanks. More importantly, the space allows listeners to see themselves in the narrative. Many of us make the same mistakes on our journeys, and it doesn’t matter whether you use a guitar or some other tool to earn your living. Petty’s genius is crafting stories we all relate to.
After all, everyone’s just trying to get somewhere.
Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage for Manning, Selvage and Lee
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