Inside Out

The Traveling Wilburys

About Inside Out

"Inside Out" is a song by the British–American supergroup the Traveling Wilburys from their 1990 album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3. It was written by all the members of the band, which had been reduced to a foursome following the death of Roy Orbison in December 1988, and it was the first song they worked on for the album. The lyrics address environmental issues and describe a world turned yellow. Recording for the track began at a private studio in Bel Air in Los Angeles, in April 1990, and was completed three months later at George Harrison's Friar Park studio in England. The song was issued as a promotional single in the United States, where it peaked at number 16 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart. In some other countries, it was released on a commercial single, backed by an instrumental version of the Vol. 3 track "New Blue Moon". The single peaked at number 50 on Canada's RPM chart. 


Year:
1990
3:36
31 
#1

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Look out your window
That grass ain't green
It's kinda yellow
See what I mean?
Look up your chimney
The sky ain't blue
It's kinda yellow
You know it's true
It's so hard to figure what it's all about

When your outsides in (inside out)
And your downsides up (upside down)
Yeah, your upsides right (rightside up)
Yeah, don't it make you wanna twist & shout
When you're inside out

Look down your drain pipe
What color do you see?
It's got to be yellow
Don't try to fool me
And don't it make you wanna twist and shout

When your outsides in (inside out)
And your downsides up (upside down)
Yeah, your upsides right (rightside up)
Yeah, don't it make you wanna twist & shout
When you're inside out

Be careful where you're walking
You might step in something rough
Be careful where you're talking
And saying all that stuff
Take care when you are breathing
Something's funny in the air
And somethings I'm not saying
Bout what's happening out there
It's inside out

Look into the future 
With your mystic crystal ball
See if it ain't yellow
See if it's there at all
Ain't no shadow of doubt
Don't it make you wanna twist and shout

When your outsides in (inside out)
And your downsides up (upside down)
Yeah, your upsides right (rightside up)
Yeah, don't it make you wanna twist & shout
When you're inside out

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The Traveling Wilburys

The Traveling Wilburys were a British-American supergroup consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Originating from an idea discussed by Harrison and Lynne during the sessions for Harrison's 1987 album Cloud Nine, the band formed in April 1988 after the five members united to record a bonus track for Harrison's next European single. When this collaboration, "Handle with Care", was deemed too good for such a limited release, the group agreed to record a full album, titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. Following Orbison's death in December 1988, the Wilburys continued as a quartet and released a second album, titled Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3, in 1990. The project's work received much anticipation given the diverse nature of … more »

3 fans

Written by: George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty

Lyrics © Gone Gator Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


20 facts about this song

Band Formation
"Inside Out" is a song by supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, which comprised of famed musicians like George Harrison from The Beatles, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne.
Album Release
The song is part of the band's second album, "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3," released in 1990.
Posthumous Release
"Inside Out" was released after the death of one of the band members, Roy Orbison. The band members decided to continue making music as a tribute to their lost member.
Original Title
Interestingly, despite being the band's second album, it was titled "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3" as a humorous reaction to several bootlegged copies of their unreleased first album dubbed as "Volume 2" by fans.
Genre Classification
"Inside Out" falls under the Rock genre and is influenced by the Folk-Rock roots of it’s band members especially Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and George Harrison.
Songwriting
The song, like all others on the album, was written collectively by all members of the band which was a collaborative effort integrating their individual styles.
Chart Performance
While the album reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200 in 1990 in the U.S., "Inside Out" did not chart as a standalone single.
Video Release
A music video was released for "Inside Out," just as it was for all other songs on the album. It features the band members and emphasizes the absence of Orbison.
Critical Reception
The album "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3," received generally favorable reviews from critics. However, some critics believed it didn’t live up to the success of their debut album.
Unique Sound
"Inside Out," like many songs by The Traveling Wilburys, is known for its unique sound that is the result of combining the styles of several well-known musicians. The sound is a blend of rock, folk-rock, and pop, offering fans something truly unique in the music landscape.
Band Formation
The Traveling Wilburys, the creators of the song "Inside Out," were a British-American supergroup comprising musical icons George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. The band, formed in 1988, was a unique amalgamation of various musical styles which are evident in their song "Inside Out."
Album Release
The song "Inside Out" appeared on the album "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3,", the band's second and final studio album. However, in a humorous twist, the band named this album "Vol. 3" despite it being the second album, further enhancing their image of eccentricity.
Song Creation
"Inside Out" is credited to all the five Wilburys. Like all the other songs on "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3," each member of the band contributed in some way to its composition. This fact reveals the strong collaborative process that characterized the band's work.
Post-Orbison Era
"Inside Out," along with the other tracks on "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3," was created after the death of band member Roy Orbison. The album, thus, offers a different sound from the band's earlier work, reflecting the absence of Orbison's distinctive voice.
Influence and Legacy
The Traveling Wilburys are considered a unique musical entity, given their mix of iconic talent. Although "Inside Out" was not released as a single, it showcases the group's ability to meld their diverse artistic styles into a cohesive unit.
Experimental Style
The song "Inside Out" features an experimental and adventurous arrangement, typical of The Traveling Wilburys' style. It is characterized by various instruments, like guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums flowing together harmoniously to create a folk-rock sound with a hint of country.
Critic Response
Although "Inside Out" and the whole "Vol. 3" album received mixed reviews from critics, it affirmed the supergroup's ability to craft meaningful and catchy songs beyond their individual successful careers.
Shared Vocals
Unlike many traditional bands, the Traveling Wilburys did not have a consistent lead singer. In "Inside Out," both George Harrison and Bob Dylan can be heard singing lead vocals.
Album Success
"Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3," which includes "Inside Out," peaked at number 14 on the UK Albums Chart and number 11 on the US Billboard 200. This illustrates the commercial success of the album, despite the supergroup's short-lived career.
Tribute to Orbison
In the music video of "Inside Out," the band left a framed picture of Roy Orbison on a chair as a tribute to him. This touch adds to the sentimental value of the song, considering Orbison's impact on the band.

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