Their name comes from a term that refers to Indian immigrants that move to England, in that they often own street corner stores. Their music is a fusion of Indian music, British indie rock, and electronic dance.
In 1997, Cornershop shot into the UK charts with the song 'Brimful of Asha' reaching number 60! Things changed when DJ Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) remixed the track for re-release in 1998. The remix topped the chart, selling over 200,000 copies in 7 days! The track featured lyrics about Bollywood playback singer, Asha Bhosle.
Good to Be on the Road Back Home
Cornershop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'll realize that I am gone
I'll be sitting in a back bar drinkin'
Drinking to my friends
And drinking to my foes
For both keep a young heart moving
It's good to be on the trail
From where my heart set sail
Puttin' anchor down
For friends and good beer
So I'll have another one
Then I'll be moving on
It's good to be on the road back home again, again
It's good to be on the road back home again
And by the time that he arrives
He will read, I have lied
He'll go drinking to his friends and to his foes
But drinking in the devil
That tears one apart, leaving
Memories of what should have been and wasn't
Son, petit business
In Tokyo town
Italy for the apples
To where my heart is now
Now it's giddy up or whoa
And I'm afraid it?s good to be back on the road home
It's good to be on the road back home again, again
It's good to be on the road back home again
I swear I meant to leave Chattanooga, but
But I had another one
And I realized what I'd gone
I need to be on the first bus back
Into her arms
It's good to be on the road back home
Too many nights
In dirty London town
Italy for the apples
To where my heart is now
For I've lost myself, searchin'
For what I ain't
It's good to be on the road back home again, again
It's good to be on the road back home again
Leave Chattanooga
Walk in to New York City
Aeroplane down to Nippon ground
Meets some friends in Tokyo town
Across to West Malva
Showboat to West Malay
Leave my foes to their woes
Sometimes that's how it goes
It's good to be on the road back home again, again
It's good to be on the road back home again
The song "Good to Be on the Road Back Home" by Cornershop is a reflective tune about travelling and the joy of returning home. The lyrics capture the feeling of being on the road, the physical strain and the emotional fatigue that comes with long journeys, and the excitement of coming back to one's loved ones. The song is a paean to the simple pleasures of life, such as good beer, good friends, and the sense of freedom and adventure that comes with travelling.
The first stanza of the song talks about a woman who comes back home and realizes that the singer has left. He is sitting in a back bar, drinking to his friends and foes, acknowledging that both keep a young heart moving. The second stanza talks about a man who arrives and reads that the singer has lied. He too goes drinking to his friends and foes, but instead of enjoying it, he is consumed by the devil that tears one apart and leaves memories of what should have been but was not. The third stanza mentions the different places the singer has been to, including Tokyo town and Italy for the apples, and how at times he gets lost while searching for something he is not.
The song is a reflection of the band's travels and their experiences of being on the road. It conveys the sense of freedom that comes with travelling, as well as the feeling of being disconnected from one's roots. The lyrics also explore the theme of homecoming and the joy of returning to one's loved ones. The slow and contemplative melody of the song complements the reflective nature of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
And by the time that she gets home
She'll realize that I am gone
I'll be sitting in a back bar drinkin'
Drinking to my friends
And drinking to my foes
For both keep a young heart moving
After she gets home, she'll notice that I left and went to a bar. I'm drinking to both my friends and my enemies because they both keep me feeling alive.
It's good to be on the trail
From where my heart set sail
Puttin' anchor down
For friends and good beer
So I'll have another one
Then I'll be moving on
It feels great to be traveling again, going back to where everything began for me. I'll stop for some good beer and good company, but then I'll be back on my journey.
It's good to be on the road back home again, again
It's good to be on the road back home again
Returning home on the road feels wonderful, and it's great to be doing it again.
And by the time that he arrives
He will read, I have lied
He'll go drinking to his friends and to his foes
But drinking in the devil
That tears one apart, leaving
Memories of what should have been and wasn't
When he gets there, he'll read that I lied, and then he'll also drink to both his friends and enemies. But often, when you drink too much, it can make you feel worse, making you focus on what didn't go right.
Son, petit business
In Tokyo town
Italy for the apples
To where my heart is now
Now it's giddy up or whoa
And I'm afraid it?s good to be back on the road home
I've been doing business in Tokyo and going to Italy for apples, but now it's time to decide whether to keep going or stop. But I'm excited to go back on the road and head back home.
I swear I meant to leave Chattanooga, but
But I had another one
And I realized what I'd gone
I need to be on the first bus back
Into her arms
It's good to be on the road back home
I had intended to leave Chattanooga, but I kept drinking and realized I needed to go back to her. I'm happy to be taking the first bus back and heading home.
Too many nights
In dirty London town
Italy for the apples
To where my heart is now
For I've lost myself, searchin'
For what I ain't
I've spent too many nights in London, and going to Italy for the apples hasn't helped me find who I am. I've lost myself because I've been searching for what I'm not.
Leave Chattanooga
Walk in to New York City
Aeroplane down to Nippon ground
Meets some friends in Tokyo town
Across to West Malva
Showboat to West Malay
Leave my foes to their woes
Sometimes that's how it goes
I'm leaving Chattanooga and walking into New York City, then taking an airplane to Nippon ground. I'll meet some friends in Tokyo and move on to West Malva, eventually arriving in West Malay. I'm leaving my enemies to suffer, as that's just how life is sometimes.
It's good to be on the road back home again, again
It's good to be on the road back home again
It's wonderful to be on the road and heading back home again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edenbrough5101
Just one of the best songs ever. ‘Make way for a lady….’ And pan pipes.
@obxwave
This is a GREAT band...vastly under appreciated, in my view.
@vampirebiggie2236
Agreed. Check out his song with soko too
@mve8625
Couldn’t agree more. I think they were either a couple years ahead, or maybe a couple behind the last guys.
Dude can write a song…that’s what he does.
@iaingeddes4288
Being a committed contrarian and an avowed hater of country music, I’ve always loved this tune. When Paula Frazer steps forward, she completely owns my heart and makes me feel somewhat twattish. Fucking country music
@NeilDurrant
Remember playing this with a new bird.. "Drinking is the devil" - yes that's right. Such a simple song, but communicating so much.
@jeezya4830
I love this song now and I am only 32 years of age, I said to myself I don't think I'll never listen to this great hit every day, but it now motivates me for the day, good job cornershop band
@CajunMan77
I've been a fan of Cornershop since 1997. This song hits home because I lost my stepdad and my dad both this year. This song reminds me of both of them both.
@nevillebowden4948
I just read that this was written after the death of the singer's mother.
@nevillebowden4948
sorry, I thought I was listening to "Sleep on the Left Side"...