"Free Fallin'" is the opening track from Tom Petty's 1989 solo debut album, Full Moon Fever. The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne (and also 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.
"Free Fallin'" is one of Petty's most famous tracks, as well as his longest-charting. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in January 1990. Petty and The Heartbreakers performed the song at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1989 with Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin and at the February 2008 Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show. The song is ranked #177 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was featured in the 1996 film Jerry Maguire and The Sopranos episode 2.13, "Funhouse" (2000). Lou Reed selected the song as one of his 'picks of 1989'.
Development and meaning
Tom 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 drive through Ventura Boulevard.
Tom Petty – lead vocals, guitar
Mike Campbell – guitar
Jeff Lynne – backing vocals, bass guitar
Phil Jones – drums
In 1993 - De La Soul and Teenage Fanclub sampled the song for "Fallin'", which appeared on the Judgment Night soundtrack
In 1996 - In the film Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise sings along in the car.
In 1996 - Stevie Nicks covered the song for the Party of Five soundtrack, and the song was later included on her album Enchanted.
In 1996 - The improvisational comedy troupe The Dead Alewives recorded a parody of the song, titled "Total Recallin'".
In 1999 - Deana Carter sang a version of the song that played in the Season 3 finale's ending credits of Mike Judge's animated comedy King of the Hill (airdate May 14, 1999); this version was later included on the series soundtrack released later that year.
In 2001 - the Kings of Convenience EP Failure includes a live version.
In 2002 - YG Family's 97-YG-02 album includes a Korean version.
In 2003 - Tony Hadley, lead singer of new romantic band Spandau Ballet, released a cover version on his compilation True Ballads.
Since 2003 - Mýa covered the song which was released from her Moodring album; the song uses different lyrics and arrangements.
In 2005 - Keith Urban's live cover appears on his DVD Livin' Right Now
In 2006 - Rapper Pimp C sampled the song for "I'm Free", off his album Pimpalation.
In 2007 - American recording artist John Mayer included a live cover version on his live album Where the Light Is.
In 2008 - In episode 119 of Cold Case, titled "Triple Threat", the song was covered with the second verse replaced with "Va Pensiero" from Verdi's Nabucco, sung in Italian by Russian recording artist Elena Satine.
In 2009 - Chamillionaire sampled the song for his track "Good Morning".
In 2009 - Ben Rector covered the song for his album Into the Morning.
In 2010 - The Almost recorded a cover for the compilation Punk Goes Classic Rock.
In 2010 - The American singer Pink_(singer) performed the song in the stage of The Funhouse Summer Carnival of the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands
Since 2010 - Three Days Grace has been playing a cover of this song on their tour.
In 2011 - Umphrey's Mcgee covered this song in Ashbury Park, NJ.
In 2011 - Alejandro Fuentes covered the song at Allsång På Grensen.
In 2011 - American Hard Rock band BulletBoys included a version on their Rocked and Ripped cover album.
In 2012 - Max Milner performed the song on The Voice UK.
In 2012 - Nick Carter performed the song on his I'm Taking Off tour.
In 2013 - Katey Sagal covered the song on her album Covered.
In 2014 - Kesha performed the song at Best Fest's Petty Fest April 3, 2014, making it her first performance since her treatment for an eating disorder.
In 2014 - twin duo Megan and Liz covered the song in a YouTube video.
In 2014 - CJ Harris covered John Mayer's version on the thirteenth season of American Idol.
In 2014 - Matoma used the vocals of John Mayer's version for Free Fallin Tropical Mojito Remix (John Mayer Tribute).
In 2015 - Kimberly Nichole performed the song on the The Voice in honor of Mother's Day.
