"Free Fallin'" is the opening track from Tom Petty's debut solo album, Full Moon Fever (1989). The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne, and features Lynne on backing vocals and bass guitar. The duo wrote and recorded the single in two days, making it the first song completed for Full Moon Fever.

The song's lyrics make references to Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Petty explained in an interview with Billboard magazine that he and Jeff Lynne were sitting around trying to come up with a song, and Lynne got him to say "free falling". The next day they went and recorded the song. He didn't write it about any person, but instead what he saw on his frequent drives along Ventura Boulevard.

Lyrics

She's a good girl, loves her mamma

Loves Jesus and America, too

She's a good girl, crazy bout Elvis

Loves horses and her boyfriend too, yeah yeah

It's a long day, livin' in Reseda

There's a free way running through the yard

I'm a bad boy 'cause I don't even miss her

I'm a bad boy for breaking her heart

And I'm free

Free fallin', fallin'

And I'm free

Free fallin', fallin'

All the vampires, walkin' through the valley

They move west down Ventura Boulevard

And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows

And the good girls are home with broken hearts

And I'm free

Free fallin', fallin'

Now I'm free

Free fallin', fallin'

Free fallin', now I'm

Free fallin', now I'm

Free fallin', now I'm

Free fallin', now I'm

Free fallin', now I'm

Free fallin', now I'm

Free fallin', now I'm

Free fallin'

I wanna glide down, over Mulholland

Wanna write her name in the sky

I wanna free fall out into nothin'

Oh, I'm gonna leave this, this world for a while

Now I'm free

Free fallin', fallin'

Now I'm free

Free fallin', fallin'

Then I'm free

Free fallin', fallin'

Now I'm free

Free fallin', fallin'

Free fallin', fallin'

Free fallin', fallin'

Free fallin', fallin'

Songwriters: PETTY THOMAS EARL / LYNNE JEFFREY

Free Fallin' lyrics © Emi April Music Inc., Gone Gator Music, Emi Music Publishing France, EMI APRIL MUSIC INC, SBK APRIL MUSIC INC

Tom Petty