Hoping my mind don't slip
Sailing on a sinking ship
Into the sunset in day
Dark night on a long highway
Little lights in the houses say
There's somebody staying up late
Whoa-oh

I'll be true to you
Oh yeah, you know I will
I'll be true to you forever or until
I go home

God, it's great to be alive
Takes the skin right off my hide
To think I'll have to give it all up someday

And if I ever treated you mean
You know that it was only because
I'm sorry I couldn't have you for my own
Whoa-oh

I'll be true to you
Oh yeah, you know I will
I'll be true to you forever or until
I go home
I go home
I, I, I, I go home
I, I, I, I go home
I, I, I, I go home

Overall Meaning

M. Ward's song To Go Home is a reflective piece that speaks to the uncertainty and melancholy that can accompany transitions and leaving behind what is familiar. The opening lines express a sense of mental instability, as the singer worries about their mind slipping while they sail on a sinking ship. The sun setting and dark night on a long highway serve as symbols of the unknown road ahead. The little lights in the houses suggest a craving for stability and familiarity, as seeing others staying up late provides a sense of comfort in the midst of uncertainty. The repetition of "whoa-oh" adds a touch of wistfulness to the song, as if the singer is lamenting the fact that they can't stay in one place forever.

The next verse reveals a sense of gratitude for life and all its ups and downs, even if it sometimes feels like it's taking "the skin right off my hide." The singer then apologizes for any past mistreatment towards someone they couldn't have for their own, perhaps hinting at a romantic relationship that ended due to circumstances beyond their control. The repeated refrain of "I'll be true to you" serves as a pledge of devotion, either to the person they wronged or to someone else entirely. The final line, "I go home," suggests that even in the midst of uncertainty, there is still a place of belonging somewhere.

Line by Line Meaning

Hoping my mind don't slip
I'm worried that my mental health might deteriorate

Sailing on a sinking ship
I feel like I'm in a hopeless situation that's only going to get worse

Into the sunset in day
I'm attempting to move forward and reach a better place

Dark night on a long highway
Sometimes there are obstacles that seem never-ending and make us feel alone

Little lights in the houses say
The lives of other people keep moving and living while I'm struggling to keep going

There's somebody staying up late
Other people have their own experiences that might be different from mine, but are equally as important

Whoa-oh
A musical interlude to reflect on what's been said

I'll be true to you
I want to build trust and commitment with someone I care about

Oh yeah, you know I will
I'm confident that I can follow through on my promise

I'll be true to you forever or until
My commitment to you is long-lasting but may have its limitations

I go home
The ultimate goal is to reach a point of comfort and stability

God, it's great to be alive
Despite the challenges, I cherish the gift of life and try to make the most of it

Takes the skin right off my hide
The journey of life can be painful and difficult, but also rewarding

To think I'll have to give it all up someday
There's a bittersweet feeling to life knowing that it's temporary and will come to an end

And if I ever treated you mean
I regret causing harm to someone I care about

You know that it was only because
I had personal struggles that made it hard for me to treat you better

I'm sorry I couldn't have you for my own
I wish things could have turned out differently between us

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