Home Sweet Home
E. Y. Harburg & Harold Arlen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Come on
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago
Come on
Come on
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago
Two and two is four, babe
Four into two is eight
Come on now girl, don't you now make me late
And I've got to leave
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago
One and one is two
Two and two is four
I'm here lonely, I hook and I gotta go
And I cry please
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago
Come on
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Come on
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago
Come on
Baby, don't you wanna go
Come on
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago
The lyrics of the song Home Sweet Home, written by E. Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen, are a story of a man who is urging his lover to come back home with him to Chicago. He is tired of the land of California and wants to go back to his sweet home in Chicago. The repetition of the phrase "Baby, don't you wanna go home" highlights the urgency in his voice and the need for his lover to understand why he wants to go back. He reminds her that "Two and two is four, babe, Four into two is eight", implying that going back home with him is their logical choice.
The urgency in his voice grows as the song progresses. He says he's getting late and has to go, and cries out "please", begging her to come back with him. The repetition of the lyrics "One and one is two, Two and two is four" emphasizes his frustration as he tries to convince his lover that going back home to Chicago is the right thing to do.
Overall, the song Home Sweet Home is a tale of a man desperate to return to the comfort of his home in Chicago, and he hopes that his lover will come with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on
Encouraging the listener to take action
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Asking the listener if they want to return to their place of origin
Back from the land of California
Returning from a specific location
To my sweet home Chicago
Returning to a beloved place of residence
Two and two is four, babe
Stating a basic mathematical fact
Four into two is eight
Incorrectly stating a mathematical equation
Come on now girl, don't you now make me late
Urging the listener not to delay departure
And I've got to leave
Expressing the artist's need to depart immediately
One and one is two
Stating a basic mathematical fact
Two and two is four
Stating a basic mathematical fact
I'm here lonely, I hook and I gotta go
Describing the singer's loneliness and need to depart
And I cry please
Expressing the artist's plea to the listener to accompany them
Come on
Encouraging the listener to take action
Baby, don't you wanna go
Asking the listener if they want to leave
Come on
Encouraging the listener to take action
Baby, don't you wanna go home
Asking the listener if they want to return to their place of origin
Back from the land of California
Returning from a specific location
To my sweet home Chicago
Returning to a beloved place of residence
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Judy Meyer
Thank You Democracy Now for posting this.. I've always loved music and this man wrote most of my favorite songs. I never knew that until now. (and I shared this for my viewers). Also, my mom played piano and played all these and many other songs...and I got piano lessons for 25 cents a week. I still have all that old sheet music and music books.
RB
cool
Rocío Aguilera
That filthy McCarthy era. Shame on McCarthy et al
The comparison with Pachelbel's canon is awesome
Edgar (Yip) Harburg. Unknown name, eternal music. Thank you for giving tribute to this excellent musician whose name I ignored
All the heroes of tomorrow are the heretics today. Beautiful and deep
QkrAnarchist
I adore Finian's Rainbow musical. So pleased for this deep cut on Yip's life and work.
schoolcoach1
Kudos to Democracy Now for this wonderful 2018 Holiday tribute of Yip Harburg's timeless lyrics!
Per Spellman
Thanks so much for posting. It's truly important to widen ones perspective in both music and general culture history, but also the sad political aspects, with the paranoia of the mccarthyism where people were persecuted and oppressed simply for having a social democratic heart. The disease of anti socialism is still thick as cheese in the US.
Jason Carpp
Great video. I love "Democracy Now!" It's one of my favourite shows to watch on YouTube and to listen to on "Alexa".
jon dee
Thanks DN for this amazing show, great music and very informative.
Paddy Maguire
Thanks, DN!
Happy Holidays everybody.
John Hampton
Oh man. Dare to dream was my motto when I was young. That phrase just jumped out when I heard this! Peace!