Tones of Home is the second track off the album, and is one of their more well-known songs.
The lyrics and instrumentation for this song were written by every band member. This includes late frontman and acoustic guitarist Shannon Hoon, guitarist Christopher "Chris" Thorn, bassist Brad Smith, guitarist Rogers Stevens and drummer Glen Graham.
This track, much like the rest of Blind Melon's discography, would be overshadowed by the hit single "No Rain", from the same album.
Tones of Home
Blind Melon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I stood up and I walked away
Nobody here really understand me
And so I'll wave goodbye I'm fine
Tones of home said
You don't know the way I'm living
You don't like me
And so I'll wave goodbye.
I'm flyin' I'm flyin' home
And I always thought this would be
The land of milk and honey
Oh but I came to find out
That it's all hate and money
And there's a canopy of greed holding me down.
See I'm so high to you, so I'll fade away
I said your on your own
Your mom and daddy said,
That your sister said, and your brothers saying
Everybody is saying
Everybody, is saying I, eye God I gotta go!!
All my friends patronize me and
They say yo hey boy!
Have you found what your looking for.
It seems they don't really know me 'cause it's here
And it's what they can't see.
The lyrics to Blind Melon's "Tones of Home" express a feeling of disconnect with the world and a longing for a place of belonging – a "home" of one's own. The first verse starts with the question of what others would say if the singer simply walked away from everything, as no one seems to understand them. The refrain – "Tones of home said you don't know the way I'm living, you don't like me, tones of home, tones of home" – emphasizes this idea, that the singer simply doesn't fit in with the world around them.
The second verse addresses the singer's disappointment with the world they thought would be a utopia ("the land of milk and honey"), but ultimately turned out to be consumed by greed and hate. The repetition of the phrase "and so I'll wave goodbye" empowers the singer with the decision to choose their own path, to fly home to where they can truly belong. The third verse addresses the feeling of alienation from even one's own friends and family, who don't seem to understand or see the true self of the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of "Tones of Home" express a powerful sentiment of feeling lost and alone in a world that doesn't seem to accept or understand the singer. The idea of "flying home" becomes a symbol for finding a place of belonging and identity that can't be found in the external world.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you think they would say
Asking rhetorically what people would say if he left.
If I stood up and I walked away
Imagining the scenario of leaving and parting ways.
Nobody here really understand me
Feeling misunderstood by everyone around him.
And so I'll wave goodbye I'm fine
Leaving and saying goodbye, even though he feels alright about it.
Tones of home said
Describing the message conveyed in the sounds of home.
You don't know the way I'm living
Not comprehending the lifestyle and choices he's made.
You don't like me
Feeling rejected by others.
And so I'll wave goodbye.
One more time, stating the intention to leave.
I'm flyin' I'm flyin' home
Going home in a metaphoric sense, finding his true self.
And I always thought this would be
Acknowledging a sense of expectation and anticipation.
The land of milk and honey
An idealized place of abundance and prosperity.
Oh but I came to find out
Experiencing a sort of disillusionment and disappointment.
That it's all hate and money
Realizing that cynicism, greed and negativity prevail.
And there's a canopy of greed holding me down.
Being trapped by the pervasive and stifling atmosphere of greed.
See I'm so high to you, so I'll fade away
Seeing that he appears differently to others, and fading away from their sight.
I said your on your own
Telling others that he can't help them.
Your mom and daddy said,
Referring to the advice and expectations of family.
That your sister said, and your brothers saying
Including the opinions of siblings.
Everybody is saying
Feeling the pressure of others' opinions and criticism.
Everybody, is saying I, eye God I gotta go!!
Feeling the urgency and inevitability of leaving, seen as a divine intervention.
All my friends patronize me and
Feeling that his friends are condescending and dismissive of him.
They say yo hey boy!
Using a friendly but mocking tone towards him.
Have you found what your looking for.
Questioning his search and his goals.
It seems they don't really know me 'cause it's here
Feeling that they don't see the truth about him and his situation.
And it's what they can't see.
The reality that others are blind to.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRAD SMITH, CHRISTOPHER THORN, CHRISTOPHER JOHN THORN, GLEN GRAHAM, HOWARD BESCHAN, SHANNON HOON, THOMAS STEVENS, THOMAS ROGERS STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scoutdogfsr
I was born in 68 and now at 54yrs old I can say that the 90's were the best decade I've experienced. Great music that pushed the limits and artists who could truly sing and play instruments from the soul.
@spacegunblazeproject5136
Humanity peaked in the 90's, technology has taken over already. We are just planting the seeds
@chrisbailey9377
Absolutely... It was the pinnacle of music in my opinion.
50s good. 60s better. 70s awesome. 80s sucked ..sorry if that offended anyone. 90s.. set the standard. Untouchable. 2000s bayc to good....now.? Ehhhhh. Dont really feel much of it at all. If any.
Though older bands are making music again. So maybe it'll jump start a rebirth of greatness again.
@chrisbailey9377
Back*
@chrisbailey9377
Don't get me wrong there are great bands making rock music still. Most definitely. But the rest...... Uggghhh.
@MacintoshT.Reznor
?????
@JJexciter
The most underrated band of the 90s. Blind Melon was one of a kind.
@michaelpal5807
They really were So AMAZING!!
@DeluxedOnYT
Yes I wish Shannon Hoon was with us stil
@stardogMLB
They were a terrific band but they are too similar to Janes Addiction to call them one of a kind.