While ARS would never reach the commercial success of Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Marshall Tucker Band, the group had a strong following in the south and charted a number of hits such as "Imaginary Lover," "I'm Not Going to Let it Bother Me Tonight," "Champagne Jam," "So Into You," and a remake of a Classics IV hit, "Spooky."
The band also influenced a number of rock and country artists, notably Travis Tritt, who recorded a cover of the ARS songs, "Back Up Against the Wall" and "Homesick." The group Shudder to Think covered "So Into You."
Home Sick
Atlanta Rhythm Section Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scream so blue sound so right
Make you homesick
Listen close to the guitar man
A native son in a foreign land
The boy is homesick
Homesick four days gone by
Smokin' dope and drinkin' wine
Just a outlaw
Distant drums beat an old refrain
Shakes the feet pounds the brain
Like a buzzsaw
In the darkness down the hall
Blacklight posters on the wall
Jimi Hendrix
Someone's lost in yesterday
Hazy dreams of Monterey
And Woodstock
Homesick
Four days gone by
To kiss the sky
Guitars ring through the dead of night
Sing so blue sound so right
Makes you homesick
Listen close to the guitar man
A native son in a foreign land
The boy is homesick
Atlanta Rhythm Section's song "Home Sick" is a sentimental and soulful song that speaks of feeling homesick, longing to be back to the familiar surroundings of one's homeland. The first verse introduces the sound of guitars ringing through the dead of night accompanied by an intense bluesy scream that is enough to let anybody listening know that they are homesick. The sound of guitars brings a sense of comfort and familiarity to the singer in a foreign land as he listens closely to the guitar man. The use of the phrase "native son" further emphasizes the singer's connection to his homeland, which he has left behind.
The second verse speaks to the challenges of being in a foreign land by mentioning the beat of distant drums as well as a buzzsaw sound that has the power to shake their feet and pound their brain. The lyrics, "Someone's lost in yesterday, hazy dreams of Monterey and Woodstock" refer to a feeling of nostalgia for the past, clearly highlighting how the artist feels torn and longing for being back in the familiar surroundings of home.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "homesick four days gone by" a few times, emphasizing how the feeling of homesickness has been gradually increasing over the past few days. The song evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia, reminding the audience of the deep emotional response a person can have when they're separated from the land they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Guitars ring through the dead of night
The sounds of guitars reverberate through the silence of night-time
Scream so blue sound so right
The notes played on the guitars are emotionally intense and perfectly executed
Make you homesick
The music triggers feelings of nostalgia and longing for home
Listen close to the guitar man
Pay attention to the person playing the guitar
A native son in a foreign land
An individual who belongs to a particular place is in an unfamiliar environment
The boy is homesick
The young person is experiencing a strong desire to return home
Homesick four days gone by
It has been four days since the person has been longing to be back home
Where were you in '69
Asking someone about their whereabouts in the year 1969
Smokin' dope and drinkin' wine
Participating in drug use and consuming alcohol
Just a outlaw
A person who does not abide by conventional rules or laws
Distant drums beat an old refrain
Drums from afar play a familiar pattern
Shakes the feet pounds the brain
The rhythm of the drums creates excitement throughout the body and mind
Like a buzzsaw
The intense vibrations of the sound wave cut through the listeners
In the darkness down the hall
Somewhere that is hard to see, located within the corridors
Blacklight posters on the wall
Posters that emit ultraviolet light depicting psychedelic imagery
Jimi Hendrix
Referring to the renowned guitarist and musician Jimi Hendrix
Someone's lost in yesterday
An individual is trapped in their nostalgic memories
Hazy dreams of Monterey
Vague recollections of the music festival that took place in Monterey, California
And Woodstock
Also making reference to the music festival that took place in Woodstock, New York
To kiss the sky
To ascend upwards towards the heavens
Sing so blue sound so right
The sorrowful tone of the music is perfectly executed
The boy is homesick
Repetition of the sentiment previously expressed
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: BORIS WILLIAMS, LAURENCE ANDREW TOLHURST, PORL THOMPSON, ROBERT JAMES SMITH, ROGER O'DONNELL, SIMON GALLUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gwynnielsen5081
This band had a lot of hits. They are all coming back to me now. Awesome!
@TheMeristem
The more I hear the new stuff the more I like the old stuff!
@johndavid8815
I saw them last in Talladega Alabama in 2010 at the historic Ritz theatre. They still jam hard.
@jimhall8979
Still one the most talented and under appreciated Southern Rock bands in music history. Got to see these dudes around Atlanta back in the 70's and 80's, and at Champagne Jam. RIP boys.
@benjaminlewis25
This is one of the best songs I have ever heard. Just learned of them from one of my buddies dads, and I must say, very impressed. This song is catchy. Phenominal Musicians.
@hughwright1860
What a song!
S Rock legend imo.
If your listening to this in 2022 you are a legend.
@brianab31
NICE!!! Speaking of "homesick", my bro and I were driving back down from Chicago a few months back. And when we were in Tennessee we picked up a N. GA station playing an entire ARS album. We teared up a little and were thankful we were just about home to ATL. Even now, ARS welcomes you home! LOVE 'EM!!!
@sylviaross5486
Briana B Must be nice. Birmingham used to have two great album rock stations in the 70's & early 80's. Now they're crappy. Hell, even my hometown of Albertville had an album rock station in the 70's. Now it's a damn country station. I'm definitely homesick for those days. I now stream The Goat WXYG in St. Cloud/ Sauk Rapids, MN & Classic Deep Cuts: two great stations!!!
@twylat212012
Still sounds so good today, right now, on the last day of 2020.
@robgeorgia8801
Champagne Jam 1979
I was 16. My first rock concert. There were 60,000 people there and the show was 12 hours with six bands including Aerosmith and Mothers Finest.
I never thought of the Atlanta Rhythm Section as being underrated.
Mother's Finest was most definitely underrated.