I can never go Home Anymore
The Shangri-Las Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna run away
Don't!!
Cause you can never go home anymore
Listen. Does this sound familiar? You wake up every morning, go to
School every day, spend your nights on the corner just passing the time away.
Your life is so lonely like a child without a toy. Then a miracle-a boy. And that's
Called "glad." Now my mom is a good mom and she loves me with all her heart.
But she said I was too young to be in love and the boy and I would have to part.
And no matter how I ranted and raved, I screamed, I pleaded, I cried-she told me it
Was not really love but only my girlish pride. And that's called "bad."
(Never go home anymore)
Now if that's happened to you, don't let this. I packed my clothes and
Left home that night. Though she begged me to stay, I was sure I was right. And
You know something funny?? I forgot that boy right away. Instead I remember
Being tucked in bed and hearing my mama say
(Hush, little baby, don't you cry)
(Mama won't go away)
Mama!!!
(You can never go home anymore)
Mama!!!
I can never go home anymore
Do you ever get that feeling and want to kiss and hug her? Do it now
Tell her you love her. Don't do to your mom what I did to mine. She grew so lonely
In the end. Angels picked her for a friend.
(Never)
And I can never go home (never) anymore
And that's called "sad".
The Shangri-Las’ song “I Can Never Go Home Anymore” tells the story of a young girl who leaves her home because her mother forbade her to see her boyfriend. The girl believes that she is in love with her boyfriend, but her mother doesn’t see it that way. She is young, and her mother thinks that she is too inexperienced to know what love really is. The mother insists that the relationship is just a passing thing and tells her daughter that she is being foolish. After the mother and daughter argue, the daughter leaves home without saying goodbye.
As the song progresses, the girl begins to realize that her decision to leave was a mistake. She thinks about her mother and wishes that she could go back home. But it’s too late; the damage has been done, and she knows that she can never go home again. The girl is filled with regret and sadness, knowing that she has lost a part of herself by leaving home.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna hide if she don't leave me alone
If my mom continues to bother me, I will try to avoid her by hiding from her.
I'm gonna run away
If hiding doesn't work, I will run away from home.
Don't!!
A plea not to run away and to stay home instead.
Cause you can never go home anymore
When you leave home, you can never return to that same place, and things will not be the same anymore.
Listen. Does this sound familiar? You wake up every morning, go to
School every day, spend your nights on the corner just passing the time away.
Your life is so lonely like a child without a toy. Then a miracle-a boy. And that's
Called "glad."
A description of a lonely life suddenly becoming happier upon meeting a boy.
Now my mom is a good mom and she loves me with all her heart.
But she said I was too young to be in love and the boy and I would have to part.
And no matter how I ranted and raved, I screamed, I pleaded, I cried-she told me it
Was not really love but only my girlish pride. And that's called "bad."
The girl's mom disapproves of her relationship with the boy, citing her young age and lack of experience. Despite the girl's outbursts, her mom dismisses her feelings as childish.
Now if that's happened to you, don't let this. I packed my clothes and
Left home that night. Though she begged me to stay, I was sure I was right. And
You know something funny?? I forgot that boy right away. Instead I remember
Being tucked in bed and hearing my mama say
The singer advises against making the same mistake she did and leaving home over a disagreement with her mom. She packed her bags and left, despite her mom's pleas, but realized afterward that her relationship with the boy was not worth abandoning her home and her mom's love. The girl recalls her mom's bedtime reassurances, which she now realizes were invaluable.
(Hush, little baby, don't you cry)
(Mama won't go away)
Mama!!!
The lyrics of the mother's bedtime song, which the girl remembers fondly.
(You can never go home anymore)
Mama!!!
I can never go home anymore
The girl laments her decision to leave home, realizing too late that she can never return to the same place she once called home.
Do you ever get that feeling and want to kiss and hug her? Do it now
Tell her you love her. Don't do to your mom what I did to mine. She grew so lonely
In the end. Angels picked her for a friend.
The song concludes with the singer urging listeners to express their love for their moms while they can, and avoid the mistakes she made when she was younger. She reminds us that time is short and our loved ones will not always be with us, so we should cherish our time with them.
(Never)
And I can never go home (never) anymore
And that's called "sad".
A final, melancholic reminder that leaving home and family can have permanent consequences, and can leave one with regret.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE MORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@colineh5869
I'm gonna hide if she don't leave me alone
I'm gonna run away
Don't!
'cause you can never go home anymore
SPOKEN: Listen. Does this sound familiar? You wake up every morning, go to
school every day, spend your nights on the corner just passing the time away.
Your life is so lonely like a child without a toy. Then a miracle-a boy. And that's
called "glad." Now my mom is a good mom and she loves me with all her heart.
But she said I was too young to be in love and the boy and I would have to part.
And no matter how I ranted and raved, I screamed, I pleaded, I cried-she told me it
was not really love but only my girlish pride. And that's called "bad."
(Never go home anymore)
SPOKEN: Now if that's happened to you, don't let this. I packed my clothes and
left home that night. Though she begged me to stay, I was sure I was right. And
you know something funny? I forgot that boy right away. Instead I remember
being tucked in bed and hearing my mama say
(Hush, little baby, don't you cry)
(Mama won't go away)
Mama!
(You can never go home anymore)
Mama!
I can never go home anymore
SPOKEN: Do you ever get that feeling and wanna kiss and hug her? Do it now-
tell her you love her. Don't do to your mom what I did to mine. She grew so lonely
in the end. Angels picked her for a friend.
(Never)
And I can never go home (never) anymore
And that's called "sad.
@michaeladams8401
This song is like a cinematic masterpiece. What an amazing performance from lead vocalist Mary Weiss.
@JohnJohn-qq1cw
They were ahead of their time
@FourColorSinners
She had a really good solo album in 2007 also.
@Herodotus3
It definitely sounds like The Wall of Sound production..
@donaldward2927
Amy Winehouse mentioned this song in an interview, so I had to check it out and I love it, its emotional and true. I wish I could go home to a time when me and my family were all in the same house . Now its rare for us all to be together, and it just makes me remember how I took those days for granted. I have so much regret that my child self wished those days away, I just didn't know at the time that those days would be the best days of my life. I know its pointless to tell kids to slow down and soak in every moment but I wish they would realize how fast life goes bye, don't wish your days away, and hug your mom. Tell her you love her, and try not to be mean to her because one day, the times you treated her badly will haunt you like they do me
@user-kj1pq6zh3x
Your comment touched me
@Mr98778909
I could never return home after I left.i was on my own at 19 😢
@stewartfenton7660
I can't understand how I never appreciated this brilliant track. It's about 99%,until she cries "Mama! " Then it's utter perfection. I've loved these girls for years and years, but only just starting to really learn about them.
@agegroot5666
True masterpiece, excellent composition sung full with emotion by the right girls, really nothing could be done better.
@bluecatky
My mom had a heart valve operation 6 years ago and at that time it looked like we might lose her. One day, I was on the way to the hospital to see her and this song came on the radio. I had to pull over because I was so upset. Thankfully the operation was a success and she is still alive and doing fine today. But don't ever take your mother for granted. You never know when you might lose her.