Tom Petty - Free Fallin' - Lyrics Meaning

This 1989 release became a classic anthem for singer-songwriter Tom Petty and he once said in an interview, "Free Fallin' is a very good song. Maybe it would be one of my favorites if it hadn't become this huge anthem. But I'm grateful that people like it.'

The lyrics basically provide a commentary on life in Los Angeles, warts and all! Many actual place names are mentioned suggesting the song was written from personal experience. We're given the impression that all the young women of LA are destined to have their hearts broken by the young men, described as, `...vampires walkin' through the valley.' They metaphorically suck the life blood out of them, taking what they need and callously discarding the rest.

The song focuses on one man's realization that he has become part of LA's selfish culture by breaking his `good girl,' girlfriend's heart and not even feeling bad about it. He's just another LA `bad boy' but there's a glimmer of remorse in the last verse when he wants to, `...free fall out into nothin'...leave this world for a while.' Maybe he's tired of the self-obsessed lifestyle and would like to change but living in LA has dragged him into its use and abuse culture; perhaps a very personal story is hidden in the lyrics as Tom Petty is originally from Florida.