Homeward Bound
BYU Combined Choirs and Orchestra Lyrics
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Got a ticket to my destination.
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
And ev'ry stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Homeward bound,
Home where my thought's escaping,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me.
Ev'ry day's an endless stream
Of cigarettes and magazines.
And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories
And ev'ry stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be,
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Homeward bound,
Home where my thought's escaping,
Home where my music's playing,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me.
Tonight I'll sing my songs again,
I'll play the game and pretend.
But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity
Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Homeward bound,
Home where my thought's escaping,
Home where my music's playing,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me.
Silently for me.
The song "Homeward Bound" by BYU Combined Choirs and Orchestra speaks to the feeling of being lost and disconnected from one's self and the world around them. The singer is on a tour and feels like he is moving through life without a clear purpose, singing at one-night stands and feeling like his music is empty. Though he seems to enjoy the thrill of the road, he is constantly reminded of his longing for home and the people he loves.
The focus on a "one-man band" emphasizes the isolation of the singer's journey and highlights the solitude that comes with pursuing a creative passion. He is surrounded by people but feels disconnected from them, describing every stranger's face as a reminder of what he is missing back home. Even in the midst of the excitement of the road, the singer is searching for a sense of belonging and a place where he feels truly understood.
Overall, "Homeward Bound" is a song about the universal human desire for connection and a place to call home. The singer is grappling with the balance between independence and loneliness, and is ultimately searching for a way to reconcile those two impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting in the railway station.
I am currently at a railway station.
Got a ticket to my destination.
I have a ticket that will take me to my intended location.
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
I am currently on a tour where I only stay at each location for one night, and I have my suitcase and guitar with me.
And ev'ry stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
Each stop on my tour is thoughtfully arranged for someone like myself, who writes and plays music alone.
Homeward bound,
I yearn to travel back to my true home.
I wish I was,
I have a longing desire to be in my own abode.
Home where my thought's escaping,
My true place of comfort is where my mind is free to wander.
Home where my music's playing,
My true place of comfort is where I can listen to my own music.
Home where my love lies waiting Silently for me.
My true place of comfort is where my beloved partner is silently waiting for me.
Ev'ry day's an endless stream Of cigarettes and magazines.
Every day feels like an unending cycle of smoking cigarettes and reading magazines.
And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories
Each location I visit appears identical to others, with standard movie theaters and factories.
And ev'ry stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be,
Seeing the visage of each unknown person reminds me of how much I yearn to go back home.
Tonight I'll sing my songs again,
This evening, I will perform my music once more.
I'll play the game and pretend.
I will continue with this charade to maintain appearances.
But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity
All the lyrics I write seem average and uninspired.
Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
I feel like my music sounds empty and lacking, and I require someone to help me feel better.
Silently for me.
My partner is still waiting for me in silence, as I continue on this tour.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY LANDIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mahonraibonaobra2453
In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing
And the sky is clear and red,
When the summer's ceased its gleaming
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure's lost its meaning -
I'll be homeward bound in time
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow
If you find it's me you're missing
If you're hoping I'll return,
To your thoughts I'll soon be listening,
And in the road I'll stop and turn
Then the wind will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
And the path I'll be retracing
When I'm homeward bound again
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow
(louder)
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow
@PeterHollens
I CANT STOP WATCHING THIS IT IS SOOOOO GOOOOD.
@Lilaco_
+Peter Hollens :D Hey it's your face!!!
@connorfrederick5735
+Peter Hollens Please do a version of this yourself. PLEASE
@vocalpointbyu
Thanks, Peter! We're still loving the idea of collaborating with you at some point! :)
@gracenicholas964
Oh My Gosh I know right! This is so fantastic! It is just so awesome and so relaxing. The voices are so amazing!😊
@katiehanna90
+BYU Vocal Point PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN.
@CalebHyles
Fantastic, adored this so much <3
@vocalpointbyu
Thanks so much, Caleb! We're thrilled to hear that you liked it!
@sarahgodwin6362
BYU Vocal Point ff
@EmmyV2002
I remember that this song is a piece of my high school choir's solo and ensemble contest. God, this song is undeniably beautiful :')