Northern Girl
Cheryl Wheeler Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why are the rain clouds comin', pourin' down on me?
Why can't the north wind turn and blow the other way?
Where has the sunshine gone? Oh I can barely see,
This northern rain is fallin', and home is callin' me.

Sun in a southern sky is all I need to see.
Watchin' a small bird fly, above the fields and me
Walkin' a dusty road and there's nothin' 'round the bend
Except those golden tones of goin' home again.

Goin' home - goin' home

Muddy old river flowin' 'neath a fallen tree,
Sunflower garden growin' twice as tall as me
Sister and father hear me, what I've learned today
I ain't no northern girl, I've been too long away.

Goin' home - goin' home

On a starry old summer evenin'
Hummin' warm and sweet
I hit the road believin' I was bound to leave

It took a new England sky to teach me how to say
I ain't no northern girl, I've been too long away




I ain't no northern girl, I've been too long away
This ain't no northern song - I've been too long away.

Overall Meaning

Cheryl Wheeler's song "Northern Girl" is a poignant and nostalgic tune about longing for home. The first verse sets the scene with vivid imagery, as the singer laments the rain clouds and north wind that won't let up. Through her words, we sense her desperation to return home, where the sun is shining and everything is familiar.


In the second verse, the singer reflects on the simple pleasures of home, such as watching a bird fly or walking down a dusty road. Her longing for home is further reinforced in the chorus, where she sings about "goin' home" with conviction.


The final verse provides closure to the song, as the singer discovers that she doesn't belong in the north anymore. She describes a starry summer evening when she realizes that she has been away for too long, and that she speaks with a different accent now. The song ends with a declaration that "this ain't no northern song", cementing the idea that the singer has moved on and is looking forward to finding her place in the world.


Overall, Cheryl Wheeler's "Northern Girl" is a beautifully crafted ballad that captures the sense of longing and homesickness that many of us feel at some point in our lives. The descriptive language and heartwarming imagery make it easy to connect with the singer's feelings, and the chorus is catchy enough to make it a crowd-pleaser at live shows.


Line by Line Meaning

Why are the rain clouds comin', pourin' down on me?
Questioning the current situation and why everything seems to be going wrong.


Why can't the north wind turn and blow the other way?
Wishing for a change in circumstances and hoping things will improve.


Where has the sunshine gone? Oh I can barely see,
Feeling lost and hopeless without a clear path forward.


This northern rain is fallin', and home is callin' me.
Longing for home and a sense of familiarity during difficult times.


Sun in a southern sky is all I need to see.
Craving something different and escaping to the south for a new perspective.


Watchin' a small bird fly, above the fields and me
Finding solace in the simple pleasures of nature and forgetting about the worries of the world.


Walkin' a dusty road and there's nothin' 'round the bend
Feeling lost and unsure of what the future holds.


Except those golden tones of goin' home again.
Holding onto the hope of returning home and finding comfort there.


Muddy old river flowin' 'neath a fallen tree,
Painting a picture of a familiar and beloved setting from home.


Sunflower garden growin' twice as tall as me
Remembering a specific spot in the home garden and how it has grown and changed over time.


Sister and father hear me, what I've learned today
Reflecting on the journey and what has been gained along the way.


I ain't no northern girl, I've been too long away.
Realizing that being away from home for so long has had an impact on personal identity.


On a starry old summer evenin'
Transporting the mind back to a specific past moment in time.


Hummin' warm and sweet
Recalling the emotions felt during that past moment and how they were positive.


I hit the road believin' I was bound to leave
Setting out on a journey with a sense of purpose and intention.


It took a new England sky to teach me how to say
Realizing that a change of scenery was necessary to gain a new perspective and learn an important lesson.


I ain't no northern girl, I've been too long away
Reaffirming how much has been gained from being away from home for so long.


This ain't no northern song - I've been too long away.
Claiming and acknowledging a new, evolved personal identity that is no longer tied to a specific geographic location.




Contributed by Camilla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions