Wherever I Lay My Hat
Cornel Campbell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

By the look in your eye I can tell you're gonna cry, is it over me?
If it is, save your tears for I'm not worth it, you see.
For I'm the kind of guy who is always on the roam,
Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home.

You had a romance, did you break it by chance over me?
If it's so I'd like for you to know that I'm not worth it, you see.
For I'm the type of guy who is always on the roam,

Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home,

You keep telling your friends that I'm your man.
What do I have to do to make you understand?
For I'm the kind of guy that gives girl the eye, everybody knows.
But I love them and I leave them, break their hearts and deceive them
everywhere I go.

I'm the type of guy who is always on the roam,
Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home.

Overall Meaning

In Cornel Campbell's song "Wherever I Lay My Hat," the lyrics describe a man who is constantly traveling and therefore, unable to be anchored to any one place or person. The first verse begins with the man noticing that the woman he is with is upset, and he assumes it is because their relationship is ending. However, he tells her that she should not waste her tears on him because he is not worth it, due to his nomadic lifestyle. He explains that he is the type of guy who is always on the go, therefore, he has no permanent home. The chorus emphasizes his sentiment further, "Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home", meaning that his home is wherever he happens to be at the moment.

The second verse continues with the man questioning whether the woman he is speaking to broke up with her previous partner because of him. He again reiterates that he is not worth it, and that he continually moves around with no fixed intentions. The bridge highlights the fact that the woman has been introducing him to her friends as her partner, but he is not on the same page as her. He comments on how he is known for attracting females everywhere he goes but also how he leaves them and breaks their hearts.

The song is a glimpse into a lifestyle of a man who is perhaps a bit lost and searching for something, yet is unable to realize that the reason he can't find what he is looking for is because he is always on the move. The lyrics and the melody of the song create an interesting contrast, as the rhythm of the music is almost upbeat and cheerful, while the lyrics are sad and self-reflective.

Line by Line Meaning

By the look in your eye I can tell you're gonna cry, is it over me?
You appear sad, is it because the relationship between us is ending?

If it is, save your tears for I'm not worth it, you see.
If that's the case, don't waste your tears over me because I'm not deserving of them.

For I'm the kind of guy who is always on the roam,
I am the type of person who always moves from place to place and never stays in one spot for too long.

Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home.
No matter where I go, that place becomes my temporary home.

You had a romance, did you break it by chance over me?
Did our relationship cause problems in your past romance?

If it's so I'd like for you to know that I'm not worth it, you see.
If that's the case, I want you to realize that I don't deserve your sadness or regret.

You keep telling your friends that I'm your man.
You constantly refer to me as your significant other in front of others.

What do I have to do to make you understand?
What actions can I take to make you comprehend my true nature?

For I'm the kind of guy that gives girl the eye, everybody knows.
As a person who flirts with women often, this is a widely-known characteristic of mine.

But I love them and I leave them, break their hearts and deceive them everywhere I go.
Despite this flirtatious nature, I ultimately hurt the women I become involved with by tricking and abandoning them.

I'm the type of guy who is always on the roam,
My tendency to travel from place to place and never stay put is a defining characteristic.

Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home.
Wherever I may end up, I will consider it my temporary home for the duration of my stay.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS