Inspiration behind Free Fallin’:
The lyrics of Free Fallin’ coincide with the first time Tom Petty stepped away from his band the Heart Breakers in 1988. As Tom begins his first attempt at a solo career on his own, the words to Free Fallin’ express the emotions of steeping away from the stable structure of the Heartbreakers. Free Fallin’ is the first song completed on Tom’s Full Moon Fever album. Petty viewed Free Fallin’ as a map for everything that follows on this album.
Biblical Application:
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge, Psalm 51:1-4.
Exegesis of Free Fallin’:
She’s a good girl, loves her mama
Loves Jesus and America too
She’s a good girl, is crazy ’bout Elvis
Loves horses and her boyfriend too
Petty uses symbolism in Free Fallin’ to compare his own actions of leaving the Heart Breakers to a man breaking up with his girlfriend for selfish reasons.
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
Either Tom is reflecting upon a recent relationship where he broke a woman’s heart or he’s blaming himself, calling himself a bad boy for ditching the Heart Breakers.
And I’m free
Free fallin’
Yeah, I’m free
Free fallin’
Now on his own, Tom doesn’t have his old band members to fall back on for support. Rather, Tom expresses his fears of failure as well as the emotional toll this decision has taken on his soul.
And all the vampires walkin’ through the valley
Move west down Ventura Boulevard (Ventura Boulevard)
And all the bad boys are standin’ in the shadows
And the good girls are home with broken hearts
The Vampires are likely symbolic of the greedy members of the music industry who have a history of feeding on vulnerable band members, singers and songwriters. Whoever these evil indivudals are, they are hiding in the darkness to pounce on their next victim. These actions break the hearts of men and women.
And I’m free
I’m free fallin’
Yeah, I’m free
Free fallin’
Free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m
Being in unfamiliar territory as a solo artist, Petty is in a free fall, unsure of the future or where he may land after his first solo album post the Heart Breakers.
I wanna glide down over Mulholland (oh-ah)
I wanna write her name in the sky (oh-ah)
I’m gonna free fall out into nothin’ (oh-ah)
Gonna leave this world for a while (oh-ah)
Tom refers to cities or towns from his past, hoping for a smooth landing. Yet, Tom hints at reuniting with the Heart Breakers sometime in the future.
And I’m free (free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m)
Free fallin’ (free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m)
Yeah, I’m free (free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m)
Free fallin’ (free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m)
Free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m
Yeah, I’m free, free fallin’
Oh! (Free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m)
Free fallin’ (free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m)
And I’m free (free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’) oh! (Now I’m)
Being on your own can be scary especially when you’re unsure that you made the right decision. These are the emotions that Tom Petty endured as he thought about his future.:
Free fallin’ (free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m)
Free fallin’, now I’m free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’ (free fallin’, now I’m free…)
Like anything in life, sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you change your mind.
Final Thoughts:
If you haven’t seen Tom Petty’s documentary, it’s worth the watch, similar to the ordeals highlighted in Straight Out of Compton. Facing the future can be scary on your own. However, with God in your life, you have an advocate and friend to guide you along the way, 2 Peter 1:3-4. Yet, when you do stumble and fall like today’s Bible lesson, immediately seek reconciliation like David. However, if pride gets in the way, you’ll find yourself free falling like Tom Petty’s chorus.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 