Their music is heavily influenced by guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana. Mato Nanji's style and skill has drawn comparisons to each of these guitarists. The band has also shared the stage with artists of varying musical genres such as B.B. King, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, the Indigo Girls, Jackson Browne, Dave Matthews Band, and Los Lonely Boys. The band has headlined its own tours several times.
The Nakota Nation members grew up on South Dakota's Yankton Indian Reservation, where their father, Greg Zephier became a spokesperson for Native American rights. A musician in his own right during the 60s and '70s, Zephier provided his children with records from blues musicians such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Freddie King, and taught them to play their respective instruments. The family started touring together, and soon the children were performing on their own.
The group released their debut album, Things We Do on Pachyderm Records in 1998. In 1999, Indigenous won three Native American Music Awards for their debut record, including two top honors: Album of the Year and Group of the Year. A video for the lead single and title track was directed by Chris Eyre (acclaimed director of Smoke Signals) won the American Indian Film Festival award and was shown three times at the Sundance Film Festival. The track "Now That You're Gone" peaked at #22 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, making Indigenous one of the first Native American bands to break into that realm. Amazon.com named the band Blues Artist of the Year, and soon after they were featured on broadcast shows such as NPR's "All Things Considered", "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "CBS Saturday Morning," and "Austin City Limits." B.B. King became a self-proclaimed fan, and invited the band to join his Blues Festival Tour.
Later that year, Indigenous released an EP, Blues This Morning, and a full-length album, Live at Pachyderm Studios in 1999, and continued the momentum. Live at Pachyderm won two Native American Music Awards for Best Blues Album and Group of the Year in 2000. Their next LP, Circle, settled into place in Billboard's Top 10 blues albums after its release in 2000.
Following this was the 2003 self-titled album, Indigenous (Zomba), and then another EP, Long Way Home in 2005 (on their own record label). This seven-song EP contains five originals, as well as an acoustic version of a song from Things We Do, "Rest Of My Days", and a live version of their first single, "Things We Do". After recording their 2006 album, Chasing the Sun (Vanguard) the band split. Mato took the Indigenous name but left brother Pte and sister Wanbdi in favor of a new band. In 2007 Mato parted company with Vanguard Records and is now looking for a new record label.
COME ON HOME
Indigenous Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a million million miles
I feel like i'm chasing the sun
I want to slow down for just a little while
So come on home, your all i know
Your in my soul, i'll never let you go
So please take my hand
Show me once what you need
Cause right beside you is where i'll be
So come on home, you are all i know
You're are in my soul, i'll never let you go yeah
Over and over again
Through the falling rains
I try to wipe away, wipe away this pain
(Solo...
So come on home, you are all i know
You are in my soul i'll never let go
Come on home, you are all i know
In my soul .all i know.all i know
The song 'Come On Home' by Indigenous is a beautiful ballad that showcases the concept of longing and the idea of being with someone you love. The song opens up with the artist declaring that he has traveled up and down the same road countless times, feeling like he's been chasing the sun for an eternity. He expresses his desire to slow down and catch a breath, telling his partner that she is all he knows and they are inseparable. The chorus repeats the words 'Come On Home' several times, communicating the idea that the artist wants his partner back with him, connecting the song to the theme of homecoming.
The song is layered with emotions, and the artist has created a narrative that is introspective and reflective. The bridge of the song is a guitar solo that conveys the despair and pain the artist is feeling, a technique that adds more weight to the song's mood. By the end of the song, the artist reiterates the chorus, singing that his partner is all he knows and that he will never let go. 'Come On Home' is a beautiful song that portrays the universal human experience of longing and the feeling of being with someone who understands you better than anyone.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've been up and down this road
I've been traveling for a long time now.
For a million million miles
I've gone a very long distance.
I feel like I'm chasing the sun
I feel like I'm constantly chasing something that I can't catch.
I want to slow down for just a little while
I want to take a break and rest.
So come on home, you're all I know
I want to go back to where I feel comfortable and safe with you.
You're in my soul, I'll never let you go
You are a part of me and I will always hold onto you.
So please take my hand
Please help me and guide me through this difficult time.
Show me once what you need
Please tell me what you need from me so I can fulfill it.
Put all your worries behind
Don't worry about anything, I'll take care of you.
Cause right beside you is where I'll be
I will always be by your side.
Over and over again
I keep going through the same cycle.
Through the falling rains
Even in difficult times and situations.
I try to wipe away, wipe away this pain
I try to forget and move on from the pain I feel.
Come on home, you're all I know
Please come back to me, you're the only thing I know and trust.
In my soul, all I know, all I know
You're so important to me, you're all I know and I will always cherish you.
Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.