The song "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" by Dave Edmunds tells the story of a young woman who leaves high school at sixteen to pursue her dreams in a new city. She finds work at a hamburger stand and writes letters home to assure her worried mother that she will achieve big things in the future. One evening, a tall and handsome man enters the restaurant and catches the woman's eye. They fall in love and eventually settle down, buying a house on a hillside where they plan to raise a family. However, love doesn't last forever, and the relationship becomes strained. The woman decides to leave her husband and sells the house with the help of a real estate agent. She moves to Tampa, Florida, and writes to her mother, expressing how wonderful her new life is. Tragically, the story takes a dark turn as the woman shoots her new partner on a sunny Florida road, unable to tolerate his reckless driving. When apprehended, she only states that she couldn't stand the way he drove. Meanwhile, back home, the woman's former lover, named Lonesome Johnny, waits for her release from prison. He waits on the hillside where the Wyomie rivers flow, raising their almost grown-up children, a blue-eyed daughter, and a handsome son. The song concludes by emphasizing the idea that even from humble beginnings, significant achievements can be realized. It suggests that the children of the woman and Lonesome Johnny have the potential to accomplish great things in their own lives, despite the difficulties they have faced. Overall, "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" explores themes of dreams, love, loss, and the potential for greatness that can arise from seemingly insignificant beginnings.
