In 1976, Hell either was kicked out of the Heartbreakers or quit the group, depending on whom you believe, and was replaced by Billy Rath, who, according to legend, was a gigolo. Hell went on to form his own band, The Voidoids.
Arriving for a European tour just as the UK punk scene was building momentum, the Heartbreakers developed a following playing in and around London. The band's members and image were widely associated with drug use, specifically, heroin. The Sex Pistols invited them to open for them on the ill-fated Anarchy Tour. They shortly signed with Track Records. Their debut--and only--studio album, L.A.M.F., featured all the Heartbreakers' popular live songs. The release of the album put a huge strain on the band, because of anger among some band members over the poor quality of the mix. Several of the members of the band left at this point. The band reformed in 1979 for a few farewell shows at Max’s Kansas City with drummer Ty Stix sitting in for Nolan. The resulting live album Live at Max's Kansas City '79 is considered a punk classic. The Heartbreakers' song, London Boys, is a swipe at the Sex Pistols, in response to the Pistols' New York, a put-down of the New York Dolls.
The band re-formed occasionally to play at New York clubs until the death of Johnny Thunders in 1991. Jerry Nolan died a few months later, in 1992. Live shows often consisted of songs performed with the New York Dolls or taken from Johnny Thunders' solo career. Richard Hell rarely plays music live, concentrating instead on writing and spoken-word performances. Billy Rath's whereabouts are currently unknown, leading to various rumors such as that he died or became a priest. Walter Lure still performs about once a month with his band the Waldos, performing mostly Heartbreakers songs
Free Fallin'
The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loves Jesus and America too
She's a good girl, is crazy 'bout Elvis
Loves horses and her boyfriend too
And it's a long day living in Reseda
There's a freeway runnin' through the yard
And I'm a bad boy 'cause I don't even miss her
And I'm free, I'm free fallin'
Yeah I'm free, I'm free fallin'
All the vampires walkin' through the valley
Move west down Ventura Boulevard
Now the bad boys are standing in the shadows
And the good girls are home with broken hearts
And I'm free, I'm free fallin'
Yeah I'm free, I'm free fallin', oh
I wanna glide down over Mulholland
I wanna write her name in the sky
Gonna free fall out into nothin'
Gonna leave this world for a while
And I'm free, I'm free fallin'
Yeah I'm free, I'm free fallin'
Look out now
And I'm free (free fallin', yeah I'm free fallin')
I'm free fallin' (free fallin', yeah I'm free fallin')
Yeah I'm free (free fallin', yeah I'm free fallin')
I'm free fallin', oh (free fallin', yeah I'm free fallin')
I can hear you singin' all the way up here, it sounds great
The Heartbreakers' song Free Fallin' tells the story of a bad boy who has broken the heart of a good girl. The girl loves her family, Jesus, America, Elvis, horses, and her boyfriend. The setting is Reseda, a place characterized by a long day, a freeway running through the yard, and bad boys who stand in the shadows. The vampires who walk through the valley move to Ventura Boulevard, leaving the good girls with broken hearts at home. The singer wants to write the girl's name in the sky, glide down Mulholland, and free fall into nothing, leaving the world for a while.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a good girl, loves her mama
The girl being described is kindhearted and cares for her mother
Loves Jesus and America too
This girl also values religion and patriotism
She's a good girl, is crazy 'bout Elvis
In addition, she is a big fan of Elvis Presley
Loves horses and her boyfriend too
Finally, she loves her boyfriend and has a passion for horses
And it's a long day living in Reseda
Living in Reseda can seem like a never-ending day
There's a freeway runnin' through the yard
The constant sound of the freeway disrupts the peace in her home
And I'm a bad boy 'cause I don't even miss her
The singer acknowledges that he is not a good person for not missing the girl he hurt
I'm a bad boy for breakin' her heart
The singer admits that he broke her heart and he is the one to blame
And I'm free, I'm free fallin'
The singer feels free, as if he is falling and has no control over his actions
Yeah I'm free, I'm free fallin'
The singer reaffirms his feeling of freedom
All the vampires walkin' through the valley
The singer paints a picture of unsettling and odd people in the area where he lives
Move west down Ventura Boulevard
These people are walking in the direction of Ventura Boulevard
Now the bad boys are standing in the shadows
The unsavory characters are no longer hidden and are visible to the singer
And the good girls are home with broken hearts
Meanwhile, the kindhearted girls are home heartbroken over their actions
I wanna glide down over Mulholland
The singer wants to experience something thrilling by gliding over Mulholland Drive
I wanna write her name in the sky
The singer wants to create something beautiful for the girl he hurt
Gonna free fall out into nothin'
The singer wants to fall as if he were free, without any constraints or concerns
Gonna leave this world for a while
The singer wants to escape reality and leave it all behind for some time
Look out now
The singer is signaling to others that he is about to take action
And I'm free (free fallin', yeah I'm free fallin')
The singer continues to express his feeling of freedom
I'm free fallin' (free fallin', yeah I'm free fallin')
He emphasizes his current state of falling without control
Yeah I'm free (free fallin', yeah I'm free fallin')
Once again, the singer confirms his freedom
I'm free fallin', oh (free fallin', yeah I'm free fallin')
He continues to free fall without any constraints or worries
I can hear you singin' all the way up here, it sounds great
The singer hears someone singing, possibly the girl he hurt, and admires it no matter the distance between them
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeff Lynne, Thomas Earl Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@esmewvimes2901
Just missing Tom today. And every day.
This has to be one of the best albums in Rock history. It's perfect.
I moved across the country only to have my apartment fall through on arrival. Me and my dog had to shack up with a stranger for 6 months.
When I got my place I cranked my Stereo (no neighbors) and danced to Apartment Song with my dog. That was a long time ago, but Tom was there.
Full Moon Fever is my favorite Petty album. Probably because it was my first Tom Petty cassette and I played that fucker till it disintegrated and bought another.
Wildflowers is my next favorite, even before the re-release launched it all the way to whatever gig Tom's playing now.
Tom, I love you more than my clumsy words can say. I miss you so damn bad.
@doylescustoms2643
This was my little brother’s favorite song. He died in 1994, at 7 yrs old. I visit this song to remember him, and use it as the music to my mental montage of his life
@69Phuket
Little guy is already your bezzy mate. My ex Cat is my friends Daughter.. Samsara is a wicked place 2 be. :)
@BADDRIVINGINCANADA
Sorry about your brother passing at such a young age
@jolawolska1451
Och brak słów.Wielka strata.😢
@unni4346
🙏
@chrissiebawn9357
❤🙏❤
@TheIkaraCult
The older i get, the more I feel Tom's songs. He was a true artist.
@annettestobb2847
Yeah... he was a true legendary man of music
He managed to find a new audience every 2 years and always kept the music just as fresh!
#TomPetty
@gamecocks1150
I have heard this song so many times i would turn the radio down or change the station. Going into work the other morning and i turned it up and i thought the same thing you posted.
@matthewestrada5217
Couldn't say it better