The Road Home
Bill Miller Lyrics


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There's a hitchhiker standing on the side of the road off of exit 104
And a forgotten billboard for a all night diner that ain't even there no more

Three deserted farms just like monuments standing cold and still
While a hawk and a lonely state trooped stand guard out on lookout hill

CHORUS:
I'm just following the road home on a trail of memories
Just a battle weary native son is there still a home for me
When you see me coming don't you turn away
'Cause this hometown boy needs a place to stay

And a little understanding on the road home
The road homeâ?¦
There's still mud on my boots from across the sea
Ain't gonna kick it off
Cause it makes me remember what I need to forget
When I'm feeling lonesome and lost

There's a river of scars and it's running deep
Right down to my very soul
And this battle rages every step of the way
While I try not to let it show


(REPEAT CHORUS)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bill Miller's song The Road Home talk about a journey back home, filled with memories of the past and struggles of the present. The first verse describes the physical setting of the journey, including a hitchhiker and a forgotten billboard for an all-night diner. The second verse, however, shifts to a more emotional description of the inner journey the singer is going through. He talks about the "deserted farms" as monuments and a "river of scars" running deep in his soul, referring to the struggles and wounds he has endured in life. Despite these challenges, the singer is determined to reach his destination, his home, and find comfort and understanding.


The chorus reiterates the theme of the journey, with the singer asking for a place to stay and a little understanding on the road home. He is a "battle weary native son," tired of the battles he has fought in life and seeking a sense of belonging and acceptance. The use of the term "native son" also carries a deeper meaning, referring to the Native American heritage of the singer and the struggles of his people.


Overall, the song reflects on the themes of homecoming, memory, struggle, and identity. It is a poignant tribute to the human experience, and especially the experience of Native Americans and their search for belonging in a world that has often marginalized and oppressed them.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a hitchhiker standing on the side of the road off of exit 104
There is a solitary traveler waiting for a ride on the roadside near exit 104


And a forgotten billboard for a all night diner that ain't even there no more
Also, there is a billboard advertising a 24-hour diner that doesn't exist anymore


Three deserted farms just like monuments standing cold and still
Three empty farms, like memorials, stand silent and unmoving


While a hawk and a lonely state trooper stand guard out on lookout hill
A hawk and a solitary state trooper are watching from a nearby hill


I'm just following the road home on a trail of memories
I am traveling back to my hometown and remembering my past as I go


Just a battle weary native son is there still a home for me
As a weary veteran of conflicts, I wonder if there is still a place for me to call home


When you see me coming don't you turn away
Please don't ignore me when you notice me returning to my hometown


'Cause this hometown boy needs a place to stay
As a person who grew up here, I am in need of a place to reside


And a little understanding on the road home
I would appreciate some compassion and empathy as I travel back to where I grew up


There's still mud on my boots from across the sea
I am still wearing dirt on my footwear from serving overseas


Ain't gonna kick it off
I won't remove it


Cause it makes me remember what I need to forget
The dirt reminds me of things that I wish to forget


When I'm feeling lonesome and lost
During times when I feel isolated and unsure of myself


There's a river of scars and it's running deep
I have numerous emotional wounds, and they run very deep


Right down to my very soul
These wounds have affected me all the way to my core


And this battle rages every step of the way
I am struggling every step of the way


While I try not to let it show
Although I hope to conceal it


(REPEAT CHORUS)
Repeat the chorus lyrics




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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