His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
I'm Going Home
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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Leaves turn gold and then they fall
They've gone down, now they've grown
They're going home
Mountain streams may run and flow
Clean the sands on which they go
Stretching down like it had known
Sunrise early in the dawn
Slips away, then it's gone
Leaves the night to carry on
While it's going home
Once a man he lived and died
What he said death could not hide
Even though it's often tried
But he was going home
Now my friends it's time to go
And this love will live to grow
And I want you all to know
I'm going home
Arlo Guthrie's song "I'm Going Home" is a beautiful and introspective piece that contemplates the beauty of nature and the inevitability of death. The lyrics draw comparisons between life and nature, highlighting how just like the leaves of a tree turn gold and fall, our bodies too eventually age and wither away. The repeated line "they're going home" serves as a reminder that death is a natural part of the cycle of life, and just as the fallen leaves become part of the earth, so do we return to the universe.
The song also contemplates the passage of time and the transience of life. The imagery of the mountain streams cleaning the sands on which they flow and the sunrise slipping away emphasizes how time moves forward relentlessly, and that there's no escaping it. But even though life may be fleeting, the lyrics suggest that our souls will continue to survive beyond death. The mention of a man whose words are still remembered even though he's no longer alive serves as a testament to how our legacy can continue to live on through the memories we leave behind.
Overall, "I'm Going Home" is a beautiful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to reflect on the impermanence of life and the beauty of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the tree that grows so tall
Just like a tree that grows taller and taller, our journey of life continues to move forward.
Leaves turn gold and then they fall
Just like how leaves change colors and fall off the tree, we too experience change and the passing of time.
They've gone down, now they've grown
Although the leaves have fallen, they have helped the tree grow and will continue to do so even after they are gone.
They're going home
The fallen leaves are returning back to nature, completing the cycle of life.
Mountain streams may run and flow
Just like how mountain streams flow effortlessly, life too has its ups and downs.
Clean the sands on which they go
The fresh waters of the stream cleanse everything that it flows over, much like how we need to keep our minds and bodies cleansed for a happy life.
Stretching down like it had known
The stream seems to know where it is flowing toward, even if it is far away, just like how we have goals that guide us.
It's going home
The stream is returning back to its origin, just like how we are all looking for a sense of belonging in this world.
Sunrise early in the dawn
The morning sun brings a new day, new opportunities, and a fresh start.
Slips away, then it's gone
The sun's rays eventually disappear and the day comes to an end.
Leaves the night to carry on
As the day ends, the night begins, and life goes on despite the passing of time.
While it's going home
The sun's journey may end, but it is still going on its own path, much like how we have our own journeys.
Once a man he lived and died
Life is a cycle of birth, growth, and eventually death, just like how this man lived his life.
What he said death could not hide
Although the man has passed away, his words and legacy will continue to live on.
Even though it's often tried
Despite the efforts to forget, death cannot erase all the good someone has done in their lifetime.
But he was going home
The man's journey on earth may have ended, but he is now on his way back to his origin.
Now my friends it's time to go
Just like how the man had to leave, it's now time for the song's narrator and his friends to move on.
And this love will live to grow
Even though they may be leaving, the love they have shared with each other will continue to grow and thrive.
And I want you all to know
The singer wants his friends to remember that he loves and values them.
I'm going home
Although the song has come to an end, the artist is on his own journey back to his origin, wherever that may be.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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