After working with his early bands The Sundowners, The Epics, and Mudcrutch (which also included future Heartbreakers members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench) he began his recording career with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers when the band broke onto the national music scene with their 1976 self-titled debut album. Still, it took America a full year to catch up to the album. "Breakdown" was re-released to radio and became a Top 40 hit in 1977 after word filtered back the band was creating a firestorm in England.
He was also a member of The Traveling Wilburys, along with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. Petty and the Heartbreakers also toured as a backing band for Bob Dylan.
Petty is a vocal critic of the modern recording industry, including the disintegration of independent radio stations.
Petty has been supported by his band, The Heartbreakers, for the majority of his career. He has occasionally released solo work, as is the case with his 2006 effort, Highway Companion, on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation himself. Examples of other solo albums include Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers
Petty died on 2 October 2017 following a cardiac episode earlier that day at his home in Malibu, California. Although some media outlets incorrectly reported his death following an erroneous police report, his death was confirmed later that day by his publicist and manager.
Free Fallin'
Tom Petty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loves Jesus, and America too
She's a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis
Loves horses and her boyfriend too
And it's a long day, livin' in Reseda
There's a freeway runnin' through the yard
And I'm a bad boy, 'cause I don't even miss her
I'm a bad boy for breakin' her heart
And I'm free
Free fallin'
Yeah, I'm free
Free fallin'
All the vampires walkin' through the valley
Move west down Ventura Boulevard
And all the bad boys are standin' in the shadows
And the good girls are home with broken hearts
And I'm free
I'm free fallin'
Yeah, I'm free
Free fallin'
(Free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
(Free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
I wanna glide down over Mulholland
I wanna write her name in the sky
I'm gonna free fall out into nothin'
Gonna leave this world for a while
And I'm free (fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
Free fallin' (free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
Yeah, I'm free (fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
Free fallin' (free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
(Free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
Yeah, I'm free
Free fallin'
Oh
(Free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
Free fallin' (free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
And I'm free (free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
Oh, free fallin' (free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
(Free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a)
Free fallin' (free fallin', I'm-a)
The song "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty is a depiction of Los Angeles and the people living there. The lyrics begin by painting a picture of a good girl who is loved by her family, is religious, and loves Elvis, horses, and her boyfriend. Petty then describes Reseda, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley that sits next to a freeway, demonstrating that living there is not always easy. Petty contrasts himself as a bad boy who has broken a good girl's heart and does not miss her. The chorus repeats the words "I'm free, free fallin'" which could have a few interpretations. On one hand, it could mean that he's living life without a care in the world, whereas on the other hand, it could mean he's falling and feels free from everything.
In the second verse, Petty sings about the people who inhabit the area, including vampires walking through the valley and the bad boys standing in the shadows. The imagery he paints is that of a seemingly dangerous place to live. Meanwhile, the good girls are home with broken hearts, perhaps alluding to an insight that these girls usually end up hurt, while the bad boys get away with their actions.
Finally, Petty expresses his desire to leave this world for a while and glide down Mulholland and write her name in the sky. The song ends with him repeating the chorus of "Free fallin" over and over.
Overall, The narrative of the song is similar to that of a person who feels alienated and alone in a crowded society. A significant implication of the song is that society is unforgiving towards those who are not perfect and that people must learn to live and love within their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a good girl, loves her mama
The girl that the singer is describing is kindhearted and values her mother.
Loves Jesus and America, too
The girl is also religious and patriotic.
She's a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis
In addition to her other characteristics, the girl is a big fan of the musician Elvis Presley.
Loves horses and her boyfriend, too
The girl has a fondness for both horses and her significant other.
And it's a long day livin' in Reseda
The artist is expressing that living in Reseda can feel monotonous and tedious.
There's a freeway runnin' through the yard
Despite the tedium, there is a freeway close enough to be seen from where the singer lives.
And I'm a bad boy, 'cause I don't even miss her
The singer is referring to breaking up with his girlfriend and implies that he is a bad person because he does not miss her.
I'm a bad boy for breakin' her heart
The artist acknowledges that his actions hurt his girlfriend and recognizes himself as the one at fault.
And I'm free, free fallin'
The artist is expressing a feeling of freedom he experiences when he is free falling, either literally or figuratively.
All the vampires walkin' through the valley
The artist metaphorically compares certain types of people to vampires.
Move west down Ventura Boulevard
These metaphorical vampires are moving in a certain direction.
And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows
The artist suggests that the bad boys hide in the dark, unseen.
And the good girls are home with broken hearts
The good girls are at home, devastated over the end of their relationship with their significant other.
Free fallin', now I'm free fallin'
The singer repeats a line from the chorus to emphasize his feeling of freedom.
I wanna glide down over Mulholland
The singer expresses a desire to go gliding over Mulholland Drive.
I wanna write her name in the sky
The artist wants to write the name of his girlfriend in the sky as a romantic gesture.
I'm gonna free fall out into nothin'
The artist is going to free fall and feel like he is disappearing.
Gonna leave this world for a while
The singer intends to do something to distract himself from his problems.
Yeah, I'm free, free fallin'
The singer is free falling again and emphasizes this in the chorus.
Oh! Free fallin'
The artist emphasizes the experience of free falling and enjoys it.
And I'm free
The artist repeats the line from the chorus and emphasizes his feeling of freedom once more.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeff Lynne, Thomas Earl Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind