I'm Coming Home
Delaney & Bonnie and Friends with Eric Clapton Lyrics

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Been out on the road 'bout six months too long.
I want you so bad, I can hardly stand it.
I'm so tired and I'm all alone.
We'll soon be together and that's it;
I'm comin' home to your love.

Hitchhiking on the turnpike all day long.
Nobody seemed to notice, they just pass me on by.

To keep from going crazy, I got to sing my song.
Got a whole lot of loving and baby that's why
I'm comin' home to your love.

Coming home.
Coming home.

Coming home.
Coming home.

Overall Meaning

The Delaney & Bonnie’s song Comin’ Home is a blues rock composition that depicts the longing of a man who has been on the road for a prolonged period. The singer has been away from his lover for six months, and the separation has taken a toll on him. He's so exhausted and alone that he cannot deal with the emotions anymore. All he wants is to hold his lover in his arms and be with her. Throughout the song, the lyrics highlight the emotional pain, helplessness, and loneliness that comes with being separated from a loved one.

The singer, in the second verse, reveals that he is hitchhiking, and nobody pays him any mind. To keep himself sane, he sings songs to remind himself of his lover's love. The chorus of the song emphasizes the desire to return home to his lover's embrace. The repetition of the phrase 'coming home' reflects the significance of the event to the singer, and it encapsulates the message of the song. He is coming home to his love, where he hopes to find comfort, love, and happiness.

In summary, the song Comin' Home is an emotional outpouring from a man who has been away from his lover for extended periods on the road. The song emphasizes the singer's loneliness, desperation, and the need to be with the person he loves. The phrase 'coming home' is a reminder that home is where the heart belongs, and for the singer, it is with his lover.

Line by Line Meaning

Been out on the road 'bout six months too long.
I've been away from you for too long, about six months to be exact.

I want you so bad, I can hardly stand it.
I miss you terribly and my longing for you is getting unbearable.

I'm so tired and I'm all alone.
I'm extremely fatigued and lonely without you by my side.

We'll soon be together and that's it;
We will soon reunite and nothing will come between us.

I'm comin' home to your love.
I'm returning home to experience your affection once again.

Hitchhiking on the turnpike all day long.
I've spent the entire day trying to get a ride on the highway through hitchhiking.

Nobody seemed to notice, they just pass me on by.
No one offered me a ride, they just continued driving past me.

To keep from going crazy, I got to sing my song.
To avoid losing my mind, I find solace in singing my own tunes.

Got a whole lot of loving and baby that's why
I have plenty of affection and that's the very reason why

I'm comin' home to your love.
I'm returning home to feel your love and care once again.

Coming home.
I'm returning home

Coming home.
I'm coming back to where I belong

Coming home.
I'm returning home to find solace

Coming home.
I'm back to where I feel loved and appreciated

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DALLAS GREEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@ochjim

10w↑5

Had the single (45 rpm) more than 50 years ago, and though I enjoyed this track it was the B side that captured me: the soulful vocal of Bonnie Bramlett on the gorgeous Groupie (Superstar) written by Bonnie B and Leon Russell . . Think Clapton did the lead guitar work on it. Holds up very well 5 decades later . .

@marcusliddington1491

6w↑1

Yes, Eric did...he had a short collaboration with them...a great piece of work

@thomasd9237

3w↑2

Amazed I found this. Very cool 👍👍

@anton1974new

40w↑6

One of the best rock songs ever made.

@mustlovepretzels

23w↑3

Thanks for posting. Happy Birthday today(November 8) to Bonnie Bramlett. Cheers!🥨

@woodhousetf

2y↑22

Saw them live in 1969 - a great moment. With Eric Clapton and, in the shadows, George Harrison.

@eddisstreet

1y↑3

No, Hank Marvin was the one in The Shadows!

@tristanwilkinson9516

1y↑1

@@eddisstreet Very good ! lol

@stephanieredden8861

9w↑3

Such a good jam.

@evaszokalo4169

32w↑4

I first heard this when I must have been about 9 years old. It was my first introduction into rock music and was absolutely mesmerized. D and B, you changed my life!

@jodylowe8476

3y↑47

Took me 55 years to discover Delaney/Bonnie. I've been hearing some of their songs live on Eric Claptons Crossroad's concerts, but didnt know where they came from. Still discovering great old music.

@jeffkokosinski1784

3y↑2

54 yrs for me what a groove

@martiniv8924

3y↑1

Give or take the same for me 👌🏻😎

@jeffreysiegel9125

2y↑1

There sure are a lot of great chestnuts that got buried in the leaves!!! Thank you for posting this one!!!😃🧡👍🏻

@Rippo-nater

2y↑1

I just discovered coming home today. I'll be giving the rest of their songs a listen now

@georgerabbetts5084

2y↑1

Me to what a waste of forty years

8 More Replies...

@timhale748

1y↑5

Whilst filling with fuel, this was playing in the car, both windows open. A lady in the next bay asked me to ‘turn it up’, it seems that those of a certain age still rock.

@shirleypena4133

2y↑12

Why is nobody here commenting on how utterly AMAZING Bobby Whitlock sounds when his voice erupts in "Comin' HOME!" I swear he sounds like a chorus of angels; such an AMAZING singer and musician!

@drduncanmcbride

29w

Agreed. His vocals on the Layla album are gorgeous

@ZelbeQahi

27w↑2

Grew up listening to D&B and Friends during the 70s and still love them. They always had the best lineup of musicians and live performances.

@technodemic6258

3y↑19

Gotta be one of the top 10 rock recordings ever.

@Broonzied

1y↑1

I completely agree.

@eldenjr

2y↑9

If you ain’t tapping your foot to this........check your heartbeat.

@tipple58

1y↑9

A truly, truly, truly magnificent song on every level!

@ryansmurda1552

3y↑17

Such a great tune! Cant believe that you never hear this played on classic rock radio. At least I never have. Lol.

@VlrGuitarWorld

4y↑19

Perfect lockdown discovery

@bradleydewey9083

1y↑4

cannot get better than this...50 years later...still true.

@drduncanmcbride

29w↑1

This song was just covered at the Crossroads concert in LA. Superb! And made me look it up cuz I love the DandB w Clapton live version

@gb5uq

6y↑29

Something inexplicable yet quite magical about this song. Takes me back to my boyhood. Wonderful.

@freakbennett2263

4y↑2

Bonnie's Voice, jus sàyin ¡😎¡

@jodylowe8476

3y↑2

Its everything.

@technodemic6258

3y↑3

Nothing inexplicable about it. It's fucking awesome.

@ZAKKWYLDE434

6y↑13

I always enjoy discovering bands and musicians for the first time. It's getting harder.

@bryanharrison7847

2y↑2

I always had a crush on Bonnie. Shes one intriguing lady!

@bryanpalmer9660

2y↑4

With songs like this they should have been hugely successful

@corpsefiend_

And Harrison Jim Gordon , radle clapton Whitlock behind them???? Very strange

@MrCherryJuice

1y↑2

The irony was that while Delaney & Bonnie did have some success, others from their band including Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, the horn section of Bobby Keys and Jim Price (went to the Stones), and Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock and Jim Gordon (became Derek's Dominos) went on to better things. With the exception of Bobby Whitlock, who was first to join D&B, all the band quit after their UK/Euro tour with Clapton (and George Harrison and/or Dave Mason guesting on some dates). There were simply too many issues.... D&B's marital problems - they were both into drugs and beating up on each other, his ego dominating everything (the band was originally Bonnie & Delaney, not Delaney & Bonnie), him paying the band poorly etc. drove everyone away, with most initially going to Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen, which also included former D&B drummer Jim Keltner alongside Gordon and also Leon's drummer, Chuck Blackwell. The bulk of the band was also enlisted for George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass' after Harrison told Clapton that he wanted his new group, what became the Dominos, to be the house band for the album.
'Coming Home' first appeared on their live album, 'On Tour with Eric Clapton'), so anyone with that was unlikely to get the single, which is rather flat by comparison, IMO. Also, it wasn't a great song for radio, especially at that time when there was so much great music happening.
They did have some radio action/hit status with covers of Dave Mason's 'Only You Know and I Know', Barbara Keith's 'Free The People', the tremendous 'Soul Shake', and 'Never Ending Love (For You)'.

@samthunders3611

13w↑2

IF YOU LIKE THIS YOULL GO CRAZY FOR THE ALBUM
" MOTEL SHOT "
BONNIES ALL ROCKING SOUL.& BLUES
THAT I PROMISE YOU ❤🎶

@stnicholas54

6y↑19

First heard this in 1970 when I was 15. Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. Christ.

@forestsoceansmusic

5y↑1

I was 14. : )

@funkyalfonso

Me too.

@SoulShines4U

5y↑1

I was 10yrs old myself but the year was 1990. My father made sure I grew up with great music.

@dawstep

4y↑1

And me, aged 13. First track to my knowledge I ever heard with Clapton on, on a compilation album someone brought into at school and put on the old record player one lunchtime. The album's owner announced 'this one's got Clapton on' and we knew of him and his Godhood so a bunch of us stood nodding along reverently. I don't remember what we thought - it's a nice enough song but in terms of guitar divinity well, Spoonful it ain't. If we were underwhelmed none of us let on as far as I recall.

@jgalt155

stnicholas54 with you there brother, just when I learned lassies were fun..........

3 More Replies...

@joeschmidl3837

2y↑2

Never heard of them until I saw a Clapton documentary....great band

@grahamparsons859

3y↑6

Takes me back what a great track

@hankreardon6998

4y↑6

Freaking awesome. This was real music. CD number 2 on Clapton anthology.

@slimtimslide

4y↑7

Bought the single when it came out, wish I hadn't sold it. Clapton's solo album was around the same time - his first and best.

@ninjavigilante5311

Ocean boulevard!

@EdinaCloud

6y↑8

Saw them in Croydon UK 1970s surprise guest - Eric Clapton. Sang this. Pure unadulterated joy.

@TrevorRBrunwin

3y↑1

I was there too. Fairfield Hall :)

@EdinaCloud

3y↑1

@@TrevorRBrunwin Yes it was. I was wrong on the date. It was 1969. There’s also a live recording of that very concert on YouTube. Happy days.

@TrevorRBrunwin

3y↑1

@@EdinaCloud Could not remember the exact date used to go to Fairfield hall and the Greyhound opposite nearly every weekend in those days. Good times :)

@MrCherryJuice

1y↑1

Clapton may have been a surprise to you, but he was no surprise guest - it was he who brought the band over to the UK for a tour and then on to dates in Europe. He had started playing with them when D&B were openers for the Blind Faith tour of America. It was George Harrison who recommended them to Clapton, after he had been introduced to them by Harry Nilsson and wanted them on the Apple label (for the album 'The Original Delaney & Bonnie - Accept No Substitute', which went to the Elektra label).
The album 'Delaney & Bonnie - On Tour with Eric Clapton' contains tracks from Colston Hall in Bristol and Fairfield Halls, Croydon, though one gets the impression they are all from Croydon based on the MC's announcement prior to the final number, which is a medley of Little Richard tunes.
George Harrison also did some dates and there are video clips of him in Europe with Clapton and the band on YouTube. Traffic's Dave Mason also played some gigs with the band including Croydon.
In addition to the aforementioned single-disc live album there is also a 4-CD set with informative booklet, a deluxe version. This includes the Royal Albert Hall performance, Bristol and Croydon in their entirety. As you can imagine, most numbers are repeated from show to show. And unlike the single album there is no 'fix it in the mix'. Still the great engineers Gly and Andy Johns did the recording, so it is fine without any production tricks. Don't know Gly Johns? There is a great 2-part interview of YouTube. Here is part one. From the Who and the Small Faces to the Beatles, Led Zep, Steve Miller, the Eagles and the Stones, he has done it all...including Eric Clapton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge28VPi8Z_A&ab_channel=RaisedOnRadio

@maxsno

47w

Bramlett a singular voice, once a Rayette I believe.

@thewoodys_surf_instrumental

6y↑7

The power of just 3 chords

@thegoodwolf4255

30w

The cover is ingenious, only stoners would come up with something like that, love it

@steveredgrave1945

3y↑2

Fabulous sound of Friend Eric Clapton guitar playing 🙏🏻

@jeffcruz1578

2y↑2

Amazing song!!

@halkufahl5632

2y↑3

I just get goose bumps when this song comes on! If you want to hear an absolutely great remake of this one, take a listen to Magpie Salute, which is lead by Rich Robinson and then also listen to Hichcock Railway, they are amazing!

@christy7698

And Slade, as well!

@ritchiepeyton

7y↑17

Still have my 6' vinyl single from 1969. Atlantic Records, 584308. The B side is Groupie (Superstar). Bought it in West Germany as my dad was stationed there with the BAOR between '65 - '72.

@YeOldeFootballChannel

Took one year to ask you... How on Earth is A BLOODY 6-INCH RECORD?!

@arthurharris6510

Mine's a 7 inch - makes all the difference!😁😁

@funkyalfonso

Ritchie Peyton You mention the b side. Karen Carpenter covered it and changed Bonnie Bramlet's words...' I can hardly wait to sleep with you ' to ' I can hardly wait to BE with you.' I was outraged.

@carlosarturosousagarridole9361

Richard Carpenter change the words, not Karen.

@workingtheworld68

@@arthurharris6510 mine goes to 11, for that extra punch

@overtimefreak2685

7y↑6

so much soul...

@markmontieth8815

5y↑7

Some say this was the inspiration for George Harrison's Wah-Wah. The guitar parts.

@dawstep

Not another one he nicked? The man just couldn't be trusted round other people's songs.

@marywealth6475

I thought Harrison took the Wah-Wah guitar line from McCartney's "I've Got A Feeling".

@widescreennavel

@@dawstep Like saying you can't frame your painting in a rectangle. Wah wah stands on its own.

@ryancrockford-musicuk1013

@@marywealth6475 funny I can hear I've got a feeling in this tune

@andyandcallie

3y↑5

Bonnie Bramlett--the only white singer to sing with Ray Charles. Amazing song.

@MrCherryJuice

I've never heard or read anywhere in 50+ years that she sang with Ray Charles. She might have but... However, she was, though just for a few days, and Ikette with Ike & Tina Turner, complete with browned up face and a black wig. BTW, Bonnie Raitt sang with Ray Charles. So did Willie Nelson. So did Tom Jones. So did...a lot of white folk.

@OU812cheeto

1y↑2

@@MrCherryJuice Oh Im sorry! It was the Ikettes I was thinking of! Thank you for the correction.

@MrCherryJuice

1y↑1

@@OU812cheeto Tina is credited as part of a really extensive list of players on the final D&B album 'Together', which contains 'Coming Home'.

@lazafare2460

5y↑2

What a great jam...just love this...1971, as I recall

@fredfloyd34

2y↑1

You guys are great .....!We love your tunes.

@christinesmith1246

5y↑3

Fantastic ! just superb ! !

@philipbrackpool941

1y↑1

I don't know if the allman brothers ever covered this but they should have.

@MrCherryJuice

Duane was a part of Delaney & Bonnie's band whenever he had time off from the Allmans.
This is available on CD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IcT_UctcDM&ab_channel=JohnSmith

@John-uz3oy

My favorite song

@philipsnell4931

3y↑1

This was the start of the Mad dogs tour.

@lastrada52

4y↑15

What a great classic rock song -- and rock radio seldom if ever plays it. It even has Eric Clapton on guitar. And this is just one great Delaney & Bonnie song. Yeah, play some more Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," that's far more important to a seasoned rock ear. And that R&R Hall of Fame...yeah let's induct Biggie Smalls and Whitney Houston into the ROCK and Roll Hall of Fame -- they belong there.
But no, not Delaney and Bonnie. Of course not, what was I thinking? Is this beginning to get pathetic or is it me?

@larrydrinnon3168

4y↑1

John LaStrada, I agree, Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame has become a joke.

@bobh28630

4y↑1

@@larrydrinnon3168 Has always been a laugh.

@stanvanderlugt8271

The couple divorced after all, it wasnt a steady relation ...........Delany used to beat up Bonnie. She was sometimes on stage with sun-glasses to mask her beaten eyes. Bonnie did confirm it years later

@barscotch

3y↑1

Yeah, D & B for sure deserve to be in the RRHOF. Clapton did, though, and if I remember correctly, isn't he the only 3-time inductee?

@groovtoon

2y↑2

Agreed. And no Warren Zevon? Give me a break. The Hall of Fame is a joke.

@stephenquail3168

5y↑2

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh

@davidmcintyre7880

4y↑1

What a song

@franksuarez4471

bad ass country rockers

@MrCherryJuice

They were and r&b/rock 'n' roll band, though on the 'Together' album they did a tune named 'Country Life' (original version of the album was named that). But they weren't a country-rock band. Heck, their debut album, 'Home', was on the Stax label and had Booker T & the MG's as the band, with Isaac Hayes adding backing vocals.

@forestsoceansmusic

5y↑5

MUCH better than the live recording of this. Great song. I can't find any reference to this studio recording on Wikipedia (only Discogs gave all the releases and thankfully had a link to here).
I'm trying to find out exactly when in 1969 this was recorded, and exactly who played what. Even though it sounds a bit like co-composer Eric Clapton singing, I'm pretty sure it's Delaney Bramlett singing lead, yes? George Harrison also toured with them, is that him on the high slide guitar? Is Delaney playing any of the guitars (I can hear 4 in there). Also, is that Carl Radle & Jim Gordon on the rhythm section with Jim Price & Bobby Keys on the horns? Also, the Copyright year given is wrong. It was first released in most Western countries in 1969, and re-released in the US the following year.

@TrevorRBrunwin

Dave Mason (guitar) from Traffic also toured with them

@bumblefritz

3y↑1

I'm pretty sure at least one of the guitar tracks is Delaney, and yes he is singing lead. Delaney and Eric have similar voices. Eric had said he had modeled his singing after Delaney quite a bit while he was still finding his own voice.

@impalaman9707

46w↑1

Delaney's voice sounds a lot like Eric Clapton's--maybe an octave higher--but very similar

@petewentz3528

2y↑1

Probably Eric Clapton at his thinnest, undistorted guitar licks of all time. No filters, signal enhancements, etc. Just plain old electric guitar played clean through an amp, no toughening up the guitar tone whatsoever. If Keith Richards thought George Harrison had a rather "thin" guitar sound, he needs to listen to Eric when he played guitar for Delaney * Bonnie as a "Friend".