Born Major Merriweather (or Merewether) in Atlanta, Georgia, he taught himself how to play piano. In the 1920s he moved to Detroit and began playing parties and clubs. In 1941, a desire to record led him to Chicago where he met and befriended Tampa Red. Red introduced him to Lester Melrose of Bluebird Records, who signed him to a recording contract.
His first record was "Worried Life Blues" (1941), which promptly became a blues hit and remained his signature piece. Other classic piano blues recordings such as "Chicago Breakdown" followed. His piano style developed from players like Leroy Carr and Roosevelt Sykes, as well as from the boogie-woogie style of Meade "Lux" Lewis and Albert Ammons.
His career was cut short in 1946 by a stroke. However, he was one of the most influential blues piano players of the 1940s and his style had an impact on practically every post-World War II blues pianist of note. His most famous song, "Worried Life Blues" is a staple of the blues repertoire, with artists such as Eric Clapton featuring it regularly in performances.
Big Maceo is also on Last.fm as Big Maceo Merriweather.
COME ON HOME
Big Maceo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dark, painful stares
Take a look inside
Come on home
When it hurts to breathe
And you're lyin' there
Bring your heavy thoughts
When there's nothing left to say but tears
When there's nothing left for all those years
When there's nothing left
We're not the same, We're both the same,
I know, I know
Just Come on home
When you turn your back
Injured memories
Nothin' feels the same
So come on home
When the struggle fades
And you try your best to make it right
Slowly fix the pain
Come on home
When there's nothing left to say but cries
When there's nothing left for all those tries
When there's nothing left
We gave it all, did we try at all
I know, I know
Just Come on home
Will you walk away this time
Please bring back what was mine
When you figure out what's lost and found
You try to find
Oh yea yea
When there's nothing left to sacrifice
When the words will never come out right
When there's nothing left
We both should fight, let's try not to fight
I know, I know
When there's nothing left to say but tears
When there's nothing left for all these years
When there's nothing left
We're not the same, yea we're both the same
I know, I know
I know
Just Come on home
Just Come on home
Just Come on home
Just Come on home
The lyrics of "Come on Home" by Big Maceo speak of a plea for unity and reconciliation between two individuals that have gone through a difficult period of hurt, pain, and struggles. The repetitive phrase "Come on home" is a call to return to a place of safety, comfort, and love, both physically and emotionally. The first verse acknowledges the difficulties in communicating when words fail and the hurt is too deep, but encourages the person to dig deep and find a way to return home. The second verse speaks of the difficulty of holding onto memories that are tainted by pain and a sense of disconnection that feels unfamiliar, but again emphasizes the importance of returning home to find peace and heal from the hurt. The bridge references the need to confront the issues that led to the separation and emphasizes the importance of fighting for the relationship.
The song's message is one of hope and an invitation to return to a place of safety and healing, to find peace after a period of turmoil. The lyrics provide a reflection of the need for forgiveness and reconciliation in any relationship, as well as the fundamental human desire to have a place to call home where we feel loved and accepted. The use of repetition throughout the song heightens the sense of urgency and pleading to return to a place of love and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're out of words
When you have nothing left to say
Dark, painful stares
A feeling of intense sadness and despair
Take a look inside
Reflect on your feelings and thoughts
Come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
When it hurts to breathe
Feeling an overwhelming sense of pain and discomfort
And you're lyin' there
Being in a position of vulnerability
Bring your heavy thoughts
Bring your burdens and troubles along
Come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
When there's nothing left to say but tears
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed and unable to express oneself
When there's nothing left for all those years
When all attempts at communication have failed
When there's nothing left
When everything seems to have been exhausted
We're not the same, We're both the same,
We are unique but also share common experiences and emotions
I know, I know
A reassurance that it will be okay
Just Come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
When you turn your back
When you act distant and aloof
Injured memories
Memories that are associated with pain and heartbreak
Nothin' feels the same
Feeling a sense of disconnection and detachment
So come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
When the struggle fades
When a once arduous task becomes easier to deal with
And you try your best to make it right
When you put in effort to resolve issues and make amends
Slowly fix the pain
Gradually resolve the emotional turmoil and heartbreak
When there's nothing left to say but cries
When words are unable to express the depth of emotional pain
When there's nothing left for all those tries
When all attempts to resolve issues have failed
We gave it all, did we try at all
Did we give enough effort to resolve issues?
I know, I know
A reassurance that it will be okay
Just Come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
Will you walk away this time
Are you going to turn your back again?
Please bring back what was mine
Return what was taken or lost
When you figure out what's lost and found
When you discover what was lost and what has been found
You try to find
Make an attempt to restore what was lost or broken
When there's nothing left to sacrifice
When all that could be given has been given
When the words will never come out right
Finding it hard to express oneself
We both should fight, let's try not to fight
We should work together to resolve issues instead of fighting
I know, I know
A reassurance that it will be okay
When there's nothing left to say but tears
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed and unable to express oneself
When there's nothing left for all these years
When all attempts at communication have failed
When there's nothing left
When everything seems to have been exhausted
We're not the same, yea we're both the same
We are unique but also share common experiences and emotions
I know, I know
A reassurance that it will be okay
Just Come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
Just Come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
Just Come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
Just Come on home
Return to a place of comfort and familiarity
Writer(s): Maceo Merriweather
Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.