What Is Tom Petty’s Song “Free Fallin”’ About?

[Evan2020]

“Free Fallin” is one of my favorite songs and I wonder what it’s about and what the title, “Free Fallin” means.

[ummmm]

Free falling is when you jump out of a plane before triggering your parachute.

Brilliant song btw

[emmie]

something i wouldn't do it a million years, don't know the song, but might look it up

[emmie]

not my kind of thing.

[ummmm]

It's not about jumping out of a plane :-)

[emmie]

perhaps not, but it's a bit of a dirge, as said not my sort of music

[ummmm]

I like most music but not heavy metal.

[emmie]

nor me, i can handle most music but that surpasses my understanding

[Mozz71]

Evan, I always felt Free Fallin' in this case, meant leaving your troubles behind and just letting life take you where it takes you. Having no control over what happens in your future.

This is from the Song facts website: "The lyrics deal with Los Angeles culture, mentioning actual places in the area: Reseda, Mulholland and Ventura Boulevard. It implies that the people of LA will casually use others for personal gain, as the singer has just dumped a girl and doesn't even miss her. Petty was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida and moved to LA with The Heartbreakers in 1974. His outsider perspective came in handy in this song."

[emmie]

at least that makes sense