Free Fallin'
Tom Petty Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She's a good girl, loves her mama
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)

Overall Meaning

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
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@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.



All comments from YouTube:

@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

❤🙏❤

1 More Replies...

@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

More Comments

More Versions