Feel Like Going Home
Charlie Rich Lyrics


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Lord I feel like going home
I tried and failed and I'm tired and weary
Everything I've done was wrong
And I feel like going home

Lord I tried to, to see it through
But it was too much for me
So now I'm coming home to you
Yes I feel like going home

Cloudy skies are closing in
And not a friend around to help me
From all the places I have been
Lord I feel like going home

Lord I feel like going home
I tried and I failed and I'm tired and weary




Everything I've done was wrong
Lord I feel like going home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Charlie Rich's song Feel Like Going Home speak to the idea of returning to a place of comfort and safety after experiencing failure and exhaustion. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer expressing a deep desire to return to a familiar place of belonging. The repetition of "Lord I feel like going home" throughout the song highlights the song's central theme of yearning for a place of comfort and respite.


The second verse speaks to the struggle that the singer has faced in trying to see something through to completion, ultimately leading to exhaustion and a sense of defeat. The line "everything I've done was wrong" further emphasizes the feelings of failure and weariness that the singer is experiencing. However, despite these feelings, the singer is drawn to the idea of returning home to find solace and comfort.


The final verse adds to the sense of isolation and loneliness that the singer is feeling, with "cloudy skies" closing in and "not a friend around to help me." This further highlights the idea that home represents a place of safety and refuge, free from the struggles of everyday life. The final repetition of "Lord I feel like going home" affirms the song's main message, that despite life's challenges, there is always a place to return to for comfort and restoration.


Line by Line Meaning

Lord I feel like going home
I have a strong desire to return to my place of comfort and safety.


I tried and failed and I'm tired and weary
I made an effort, but it was not successful, which has left me exhausted and disheartened.


Everything I've done was wrong
I have come to the realization that all of my actions were incorrect or misguided.


And I feel like going home
As a result of the aforementioned circumstances, I have an overwhelming inclination to return to my place of comfort and safety.


Lord I tried to, to see it through
I attempted to see a particular task or endeavor to completion.


But it was too much for me
However, the effort required to see it through was too great for me to handle.


So now I'm coming home to you
Consequently, I have decided to return to my place of safety or the embrace of someone trusted and comforting, likely a loved one or spiritual entity.


Cloudy skies are closing in
The weather is turning dark and ominous, with an impending sense of doom or danger.


And not a friend around to help me
I am completely alone in this situation and have no one to turn to for assistance or comfort.


From all the places I have been
Despite all of the locations and experiences I have encountered, none have been able to provide me with the security and comfort I seemingly require at this moment.


Lord I feel like going home
Once more, I feel an irresistible urge to return to familiar and comforting territory.




Lyrics ยฉ BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MC KINLEY MORGANFIELD

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

Joe Palma

@martinezq1 To do a cover of this very personal and soulful song by one of the most sensitive artists who
ever lived, not just my opinion, and to publish it on YouTube without so much of a mention of his name is a sin,
an unforgivable omission, & not an unintentional omission, when you see the long list of names that ARE mentioned
No way Jones' & Knopfler's million-$$-cover rises to the level of Rich's soulful music & words crying out & baring his
soul to God. Some people weighing in here get it; but for you to compare it to "many songs on YouTube," I don't think
you do. I don't mean to be critical; but this song evokes strong emotions in some listeners, including me. And I know they would understand how I feel about Knopfler not crediting Charlie Rich with writing this deeply personal song at the time he placed it on YouTube. This exemplifies what so many of the comments here about Charlie Rich
are expressing, the failure by so many, including in the music industry, to give Rich the kind of credit that his huge
talent and years of struggle, as reflected in this very song, deserved....and which failure Knopfler perpetuates.

Knopfler may have more hits on this song on YouTube; But, for me, only this and the original recording Rich
made, I believe in his home studio right after writing it, have meaning. It's a one-of-a -kind-song that "only" has
meaning when sung by its one-of-a-kind-creator, singing it .to his creator "and" to those of us who would be able
to feel what he was feeling during that very difficult time in his life the day he wrote it. It was also written for and dedicated to a very close and supportive friend in the music industry Peter Guralnick. He gave it to him first.
I don't even have a sense that Charlie Rich ever received royalties for this or maybe any of the music he wrote
during the years he worked for Sam Phillips at Sun Records.

"And that's It!" In case you don't know, those are the words he spoke at the end on his 1st home-recording
of this song, probably the day he wrote it. Bottom line for me: the covers sound okay. But they're irrelevant;
because they are missing the true depth of emotion and soul that went into the creation of this song, and
if you listen carefully to anyone else sing it, you should be a able to detect what I'm describing. It may sound
okay, but it misses the mark. The feeling isn't there; i.e., I guess any other voice singing it is the wrong voice.
That's just how personal this particular song is. AND THAT'S IT, martinezq:) The Lord had real big plans for
Charlie first.



All comments from YouTube:

Susan Higgins

This is gotta be one of the most underated songs. The way he sings this song puts you there really there where the rubber meets the road, it puts every thing into perspective, this should of had been a hit, maybe too much reality for some?

RINGO PRODUSHOW

It's a hit, for me it is.

Gary Higgins

The most underrated artist out there.

ALL OUT Wildlife Control, LLC

Amen. He could sing ANYTHING and make it his own. He should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame, but he'll never make it. He spent too much time in rockabilly or criticizing the Nashville establishment.

Jason Sorrell

I grew up on Charlie Rich this hiy is kne of the baddest, period the end... This song will be played at my funeral... When i hate my life I always come back to this...

Jason Sorrell

@ALL OUT Wildlife Control, LLC f the establishment man

Dane Parsons

He had some of the best vocals ever in country music

boysnips

agree

3 More Replies...

Bob Lane

I just heard this for the first time. I was on my way back home from seeing my children for Christmas. I had to pull in because I couldn't drive for the tears in my eyes. What a song. โค๏ธ

Sean Swinton

I know the feeling. This song did it to me when I heard the newer version by the Mark Knopfler band the Notting Hillbillies in 1990. That was also my reaction when I heard Vince Gill's "Go Rest High On That Mountain."
I was on my way to work and had to pull into a gas station. It brought tears to my eyes. I had to explain it to the clerk and then my coworkers when I arrived at work. I worked in a music store at the time. I told coworkers at the time to skip that song at first. I forced myself to get used to it because it's popularity and impact I knew was going to be big. I grew up listening to Charlie Rich with Mother. I was too young to understand the true meaning of these lyrics at the time. Check to other version if you're not familiar. The entire album was pretty good.

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