Back in The U.S.A.
Jonathan Richman/The Modern Lovers Lyrics


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Well take me way up north to meet your Mom and Dad,
So they'll see that Jonathan ain't quite so bad.
I wanna be back in your life
I wanna be back in your life
Baby baby baby
Baby baby baby

Take me to the fields you used to roam
So your pal Jonathan can call them home
When I'm back in your life
I wanna be back in your life
Baby baby baby
Baby baby baby

Well, Take me to your favorite covered bridge,
And the road that leads high o'er the ridge.
I wanna be back in your life
I wanna be back in your life
Baby baby baby
Baby baby

well Gimme a break! Bang Bang!
Gimme a break! Bang Bang!
Gimme a

Well, show me the saddle and show me the stirrup,
And then we'll help your daddy when he goes out for maple syrup
I wanna be back in your life
I wanna be back in your life
Baby baby baby
Baby

I will wait a long time, if that's what it takes,
But someday I wanna help your mamma when she brings out the pancakes
I wanna be back in your life
I wanna be back in your life
Baby baby
I wanna be back in your life

And time's-a-wastin'
Cuz what once was a puppy is now a dog
And what once was a piglet is now a hog




and I wanna be back in your life
oh I wanna be back in your life.

Overall Meaning

In Jonathan Richman's song, "Back In Your Life," the singer addresses a lover, asking them to take him to their hometown so that he can meet their family and convince them that he is a good match. The singer mentions specific landmarks, such as fields and a covered bridge, that are significant to the lover's childhood memories, showing that he wants to be a part of their past as well as their present. The repeated refrain of "I wanna be back in your life" emphasizes the singer's desire to be with his lover, who he may have lost touch with for a time. In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that time is running out and compares their relationship to the fleeting youth of a puppy or piglet, further emphasizing his urgency to be reunited with his partner.


The lyrics of "Back In Your Life" suggest a sense of nostalgia combined with a willingness to move forward with a relationship. The specific references to the lover's childhood and family home evoke a longing for a simpler time in the past. The singer's repeated plea to be "back in your life" implies that he may have made mistakes or lost touch with his partner, but he is now committed to making things work.


Overall, the song suggests that love and relationships require effort and a willingness to understand and connect with one another's pasts. The specific references to the lover's hometown and memories show that the singer is interested in more than just a surface-level connection, but is invested in building a long-term relationship based on shared experiences and understanding.


Line by Line Meaning

Well take me way up north to meet your Mom and Dad,
I want to meet your parents so they can see that I'm not a bad guy after all.


So they'll see that Jonathan ain't quite so bad.
I want to change your parents' opinion of me and prove that I'm actually a decent person.


I wanna be back in your life
I want to be a part of your life again and start fresh.


Baby baby baby
I miss you and want to make things right between us.


Take me to the fields you used to roam
Take me to the special places that are meaningful to you so I can share in those memories too.


So your pal Jonathan can call them home
I want to be a part of your life to the point where even these small places are familiar to me and I feel like I belong there too.


Well, Take me to your favorite covered bridge,
Show me the places you love so I can love them too.


And the road that leads high o'er the ridge.
Take me to the scenic routes that you adore and let me share in your passion for them.


Well Gimme a break! Bang Bang!
This is exasperating! I want to get on with things and make progress between us!


Well, show me the saddle and show me the stirrup,
I want to learn about the things that are important to you, even if they're unfamiliar to me.


And then we'll help your daddy when he goes out for maple syrup
I want to be a part of your life in every way possible, even the mundane everyday things.


I will wait a long time, if that's what it takes,
I'm willing to put in the time and effort to prove to you that I'm serious about making things work between us.


But someday I wanna help your mamma when she brings out the pancakes
I want to be a part of your family and do things that families do, like helping with breakfast.


And time's-a-wastin'
We shouldn't waste any more time being apart from each other.


Cuz what once was a puppy is now a dog
Time passes quickly and things change, so we need to act fast if we want to make up for lost time.


And what once was a piglet is now a hog
If we don't act soon, we'll miss out on things that could have been great if we had just taken the opportunity when we had it.


oh I wanna be back in your life.
I miss being a part of your life and I want to make things right between us.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Jonathan Michael Richman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@sauquoit13456

On this day in 1959 {June 22nd} Chuck Berry's "Back In The U.S.A." entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #37 and spent 8 weeks in the Top 100... In 1978 Linda Ronstadt covered it; her version peaked at #16 on the Top 100 chart... The B-side was "Memphis"; two covered versions of this song made the Hot Top 100, in 1963 Lonnie Mack reached #5 with his instrumental version and in 1967 Johnny Rivers' 'recorded live' version peaked at #2 {for 2 weeks}...

@giuliogrifi7739

Primordial rock'n'roll...if possible, more than that of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@chrisz6381

I'm so glad I was brought up in the USA

@nowaylon2008

It's true!

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