Welcome Back
John Sebastian Lyrics


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Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about
Well the names have all changed since you hung around
But those dreams have remained and they've turned around
Who'd have thought they'd lead ya
(Who'd have thought they'd lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back

We always could spot a friend, welcome back
And I smile when I think how you must have been
And I know what a scene you were learning in
Was there something that made you come back again
And what could ever lead ya
(What could ever lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back

And I know what a scene you were learning in
Was there something that made you come back again
And what could ever lead ya
(What could ever lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back

Yeah we tease him a lot, welcome back, welcome back
Cause we got him on the spot, welcome back, welcome back

Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back




Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back

Overall Meaning

The song "Welcome Back" by John Sebastian was written for the TV show Welcome Back, Kotter. The lyrics capture a sense of nostalgia and camaraderie between old friends. The first stanza speaks to the idea that dreams can lead us back to where we started, even if everything else has changed. The line "Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about" evokes a sense of fond memories and the idea that some things never really change. The repetition of "welcome back" is a welcoming and comforting refrain that reinforces this idea of coming home.


The second stanza seems to be directed specifically towards the individual who has returned. The singer is happy to see their friend again and wonders what it was that brought them back. The line "And I know what a scene you were learning in" implies that the person had left to learn and grow in some way, but ultimately something drew them back to this particular place. The phrase "Back here where we need ya" suggests that the singer and the group of friends are happy to have their friend back in their lives, and perhaps even need them for their own sense of camaraderie.


Overall, the song "Welcome Back" captures the idea of nostalgia and the comfort of returning to something familiar. The lyrics suggest that friends and dreams are what keep us grounded, even as the rest of the world around us changes.


Line by Line Meaning

Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out
We're happy you've returned and achieved your dreams, which allowed you to move on from this place.


Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about
Despite seemingly moving on from this place, you've returned to the place you once made fun of.


Well the names have all changed since you hung around
Things have changed since you were last here, including the people and their names.


But those dreams have remained and they've turned around
Despite the changes, your dreams have stayed with you and helped you improve your situation.


Who'd have thought they'd lead ya (Who'd have thought they'd lead ya) Back here where we need ya (Back here where we need ya)
It's surprising that your dreams have brought you back to this place, but we're glad you returned to help us out.


Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
We make fun of you because you're in a vulnerable position, but ultimately we're happy to have you back.


We always could spot a friend, welcome back
We can always tell when someone is our friend, and we're glad to have you back as one.


And I smile when I think how you must have been
I'm happy when I think about how you were doing before you left, and how much you've accomplished since then.


Was there something that made you come back again And what could ever lead ya (What could ever lead ya) Back here where we need ya (Back here where we need ya)
Is there a reason you've returned that we don't know about? Whatever the reason, we're grateful to have you here to help us.


Yeah we tease him a lot 'cause we got him on the spot Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back Welcome back, welcome back
Again, we make fun of you because you are in a vulnerable position, but we're still happy to have you back.




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JOHN BENSON SEBASTIAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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