Runnin' Down A Dream  By Tom Petty

Disclaimer:

These files are the author's own work and represents his interpretation of the song. It is intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.

This song was submitted by Bull

Runnin' Down A Dream   By Tom Petty

Riff 1  4X

0--7--0--6--0--5—0--3--0--

Verse 1:
[E] It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down I had the
[D] radio on, I was drivin'
Riff 1
[E] The trees went back, me and Del were singin' Little
[D] Runaway, I was so
[E] blind

Chorus:
Yeah, [D] Runnin' [G] down a [E] dream
[E] Never would [G] come to [A] me
[D] Workin' [G] on a [E] mystery
[E] Goin' [G] wherever it [A] leads
[D] Runnin' [G] down a [E] dream

Riff 1

Verse 2:
[E] I felt so good, like anything was possible Hit
[D] cruise control, and rub my eyes
Riff 1
{E} Last three days, the rain was unstoppable It was
[D] always cold, no
[E] sunshine

Repeat Chorus:

Break:
It is just C (riff) D (riff) E (riff)   Play 2X
(You can just strum each chord slowly or play Riff 1  7X)

Verse3:
[E] I rolled on, the sky grew dark I put the
[D] pedal down, to make some time
Riff 1
[E] There's something good, waiting down this road I'm pickin'
[D] up, whatever is
[E] mine

Repeat Chorus

Riff 1

Repeat Chorus

Repeat Break part

And add SOLO (or repeat Riff 1 over and over)  And fade out.

END:

Strumming Instructions:

Riff 1 should be played fast and smooth.  

The Verses are just full down strokes when you see the chord. Take your time.  On some of the longer sentences I will add a couple of light quick upward strokes, (just catch the bottom two strings), like where the commas are.  This seams to fill it in more, and helps keeps the rhythm of the song going.
You don't have to play the riff in the middle, but when I do I let the last note ring, and skip the E chord in the next line (but I keep in the up stokes).

When you play the Chorus it's a down stroke on the first two chords and then down and up 4 times real quick on the third chord.  If this is to hard, you can do a down-up down down.  
This is played much faster than the Verses.

On the Break, He holds the chords and pick a little riff (I am not exactly sure what it is.  But you can hold the chord and do a slow strum down the strings, pause, and then do the next chord, etc.

I am at a total lost on how to play the Solo, maybe someone can tell us witch scale to use, or give us something simple to play.
I have a pedal that controls the volume, and I play the Riff and slowly back off on it.

This is my first time making an EZ song from scratch so bear with me on this one.
Let me know if this sounds close enough to post, and if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.  Also you need more of an explanation on any part just ask.

-Bull