Green Green Grass Of Home
Bobby Bare Lyrics


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The old hometown looks the same as I step down from the train
And there to meet me is my mama and my papa
And down the road I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green, grass of home

Yes, they'll all come to meet me
Arms reaching smiling sweetly
It's so good to touch the green, green, grass of home

The old house is still standing though the paint is cracked and dry
And there's the old oak tree that I used to play on
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green, grass of home

Then I awake and look around me
At the gray walls that surround me
And I realized I was only dreaming

For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak
Again I'll touch the green, green, grass of home

Yes, they'll all come to see me




In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me 'neath the green, green, grass of home

Overall Meaning

Bobby Bare's song, "Green Green Grass of Home," is a poignant ballad about a prisoner who dreams of returning to his hometown. As he steps off the train, he is relieved to see everything the same as when he left. He is greeted by his parents and Mary, his sweetheart with beautiful hair and cherry lips. He's grateful to be able to touch the "green, green grass of home," which brings back happy memories of his youth. Everyone he loves gathers around him, smiling and welcoming him back. The old house is still standing, and the oak tree on which he used to play is still there. As he walks down the lane with Mary, he yearns for the comfortable familiarity of his past.


However, he soon awakens to the reality that he is still behind bars, surrounded by gray walls, and guarded by a watchful eye. Although he is only dreaming, he is afraid that he will never have the chance to return to his old way of life. The guard and the priest will accompany him on his final journey, and he will once again be buried under the "green, green grass of home."


In "Green, Green Grass of Home," the singer is trapped between the reality of his life as a prisoner and his dream of returning to his past. The song speaks to the conflicting emotions that can arise when we are forced to leave behind our homes and everything we hold dear.


Line by Line Meaning

The old hometown looks the same as I step down from the train
As Bobby Bare returns to his hometown, everything looks unchanged as he steps down from the train.


And there to meet me is my mama and my papa
His parents have come to greet him as he returns.


And down the road I look and there runs Mary Hair of gold and lips like cherries
Bare spots Mary, an old love interest, who still looks lovely with her golden hair and cherry red lips.


It's good to touch the green, green, grass of home Yes, they'll all come to meet me Arms reaching smiling sweetly It's so good to touch the green, green, grass of home
Bare expresses his joy at being home and seeing his loved ones, stating that it feels good to touch the green grass of home.


The old house is still standing though the paint is cracked and dry And there's the old oak tree that I used to play on Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary Hair of gold and lips like cherries It's good to touch the green, green, grass of home
He notes that the old house and oak tree still stand, reminding him of happy memories. He takes a walk with Mary and again feels the happiness of being home.


Then I awake and look around me At the gray walls that surround me And I realized I was only dreaming
Suddenly, Bare wakes up realizing that it was all a dream, and he is actually still in prison surrounded by gray walls.


For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak Again I'll touch the green, green, grass of home
Bare knows he will never be able to return home but hopes that one day the guard and padre will take him for a walk, and he can feel the grass beneath his feet one last time.


Yes, they'll all come to see me In the shade of that old oak tree As they lay me 'neath the green, green, grass of home
Bare envisions being buried under the green grass of home beneath the old oak tree, with loved ones coming to pay their respects.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curly Putman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Charlotte

The old home town looks the same
As I step down from the train
And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa
Down the road I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
The old house is still standing tho' the paint is cracked and dry
And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me
And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak
Again I touch the green, green grass of home
Yes, they'll all come to see me
In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home



All comments from YouTube:

Charlotte

The old home town looks the same
As I step down from the train
And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa
Down the road I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
The old house is still standing tho' the paint is cracked and dry
And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me
And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak
Again I touch the green, green grass of home
Yes, they'll all come to see me
In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home

Betty Swedensky

Always loved this . My husband liked it so much . he played it on his guitars on home.

rbheiss

This is my favorite version of the song. Thank you for the upload Bobby. Take care, Rolland B. Heiss

Ginny with a G!

It was Bobby's song, he wrote it. To me, he did it best.

My Daughter, when in grade school, she liked this song. She liked a lot of music. She and I were listening to The BeeGees singing, "I've Just Got to Get a Letter to You." I mentioned about the character is on Death Row. Apparently that young, she wasn't listening well to the lyrics. She didn't like knowing that's what it was about! I told her you like "Green, Green Grass of Home," too. She didn't realized it about this song either! After knowing, she didn't like either of these songs after that, back then.

Julio Perdomo

I second this

Света Вострикова

thanks Stranger things 2 for giving us so many such beautiful songs<3

Charles Peterson

Just Wonderful

Elda Fajardo

Hermosa aa!!

Lilit Hovakimyan

Where can I find the chords of this cover?

Electro Music Drops

Stranger Things 2 brought me here <333

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