Dan Auerbach (born Daniel Quine Auerbach on 14 May 1979 in Akron, Ohio) is … Read Full Bio ↴Dan Auerbach (born Daniel Quine Auerbach on 14 May 1979 in Akron, Ohio) is an American musician. A multi-instrumentalist, Auerbach is best-known as the guitarist and vocalist for The Black Keys, a blues/rock group from Akron, Ohio.

Auerbach grew up in a family with musical roots. His second cousin once removed was the late guitarist Robert Quine, an American guitarist known for his innovative guitar solos. Auerbach became infatuated with blues music during his childhood after being exposed to old records by his father. Auerbach often uses an index finger fingerpick along with his thumb to play chords, a technique similar to many earlier blues players.

Formerly of the three piece Akron band The Barnburners from 2000 until 2002, Auerbach formed The Black Keys with drummer Patrick Carney.

Auerbach released a solo album - Keep It Hid - in 2009. Auerbach played most of the instruments on the album, with his cousin James Quine contributing rhythm guitar on two songs and harmony vocals on two more.

Goin' Home
Dan Auerbach Lyrics

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I've spent too long away from home
Did all the things I could have done
Gone are the days of endless thrills
I know I'm not the only one

So long, I'm goin', goin' home'

I saw the streets all ripe with jewels

Balconies and the laundry lines
They tried to make me welcome there
But their streets did not feel like mine

So long, I'm goin', goin' home'

I want the sun to hit my face
Through oak trees in the open lot
Forget about the things you want
Be thankful for what all you got

So long, I'm goin', goin' home'

Overall Meaning

In "Goin' Home," Dan Auerbach sings about his experiences away from his home, and feeling the need to go back. He expresses regret for the things he didn't do while he was away and reflects on the changes that he sees in the town he left behind. The first verse highlights his sense of detachment from his own hometown: he's been gone so long that the town no longer feels like home, and he feels like he's missed out on experiences he might have had if he had stayed. The second verse starts with him admiring the beauty he sees in the streets he's visiting. However, he then explains that he doesn't feel at home there. He can appreciate the good things, but ultimately he wants to be back in his own familiar surroundings. Finally, the last verse shows some appreciation for his own hometown. The sun hitting his face feels like an old friend, and he just wants to soak in the familiarity of his surroundings without worrying about all the new things he might have missed out on.

The song captures a universal feeling of homesickness that many people encounter. It speaks to the idea that as much as people might want to leave their roots behind, there is always a pull to return. Auerbach uses specific, sensory details to convey his own experiences and emotions, making the song feel deeply personal.

Line by Line Meaning

I've spent too long away from home
I have been away from my home for too long.

Did all the things I could have done
I did everything that I could have done while I was away from home.

Gone are the days of endless thrills
The days of limitless excitement are over.

I know I'm not the only one
I am aware that there are others who feel the same way I do.

So long, I'm goin', goin' home'
I am saying goodbye and heading home.

I saw the streets all ripe with jewels
I observed the streets that were filled with valuable things.

Balconies and the laundry lines
There were some balconies and clotheslines on these streets.

They tried to make me welcome there
They attempted to make me feel welcome in that area.

But their streets did not feel like mine
I did not feel like I belonged there.

So long, I'm goin', goin' home'
I am saying goodbye and heading home.

I want the sun to hit my face
I desire sunlight to touch my face.