Cope lived in Houston, Texas during his high school years and attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He has been closely associated with the music of Especially for Youth (EFY), with seven EFY albums having songs he composed. He also has served as an LDS missionary in Switzerland and France from 1980-1982. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah and serves as an LDS Bishop.
Going Home
Kenneth Cope Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kindly fires burning there
That warm my soul.
Yearning for the ones
I call my own,
I'm goin' home.
Steady shoulders gather there
To share the load.
I'm learning how to give
What's needed most
Right at home.
This longing to be there
Is calling me there;
It's stronger than words can tell.
And once in home's sweetness,
I taste the love of heav'n.
Heav'nly home.
Holy faces wait for me,
And cheer me on.
I will do all that it takes
To reach their arms,
Where I belong.
Goin' home.
The song "Going Home" by Kenneth Cope talks about the longing to go back to one's true home, where they find warmth and understanding. The first stanza describes the yearning for the ones the singer calls his own, where the kindly fires are burning to warm his soul. He longs to be in the comfort of his home, where he feels right at home. In the second stanza, he talks about how the steady shoulders gather there to share the load, where he is still learning how to give what is needed most. This is a testament to the strength of the support network at home that helps him through the hard times.
The chorus talks about the longing to be back home, calling him there with a force stronger than words can tell. Once there, he can taste the sweetness of love from heaven. The final stanza speaks of holy faces waiting for him, cheering him on. The singer is willing to do everything it takes to reach their arms as that is where he belongs. The song is a bittersweet reminder of the importance of family and the need to come back home, where one can find love, support and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Going home
Returning to a place I belong
Kindly fires burning there
Warmth and comfort await me
That warm my soul.
Deeply fulfilling and satisfying
Yearning for the ones
Strong desire to be with loved ones
I call my own,
People who are closest to me
I'm goin' home.
I am eagerly returning to where I am loved and needed
Steady shoulders gather there
I have support and help when I need it
To share the load.
Others lift me up and work with me
I'm learning how to give
I am developing as a person and becoming more compassionate
What's needed most
Providing support and assistance based on others' actual needs
Right at home.
All of this is happening in my place of belonging
This longing to be there
The desire to be with loved ones is strong
Is calling me there;
I cannot ignore this powerful, emotional pull
It's stronger than words can tell.
The feeling is overwhelming and beyond explanation
And once in home's sweetness,
When I finally return to my place of belonging
I taste the love of heav'n.
I experience an intensely positive emotional response, as if I were in heaven
Heav'nly home.
My place of belonging is truly special and wonderful
Holy faces wait for me,
I have a loving, welcoming community that is eager to receive me
And cheer me on.
Others celebrate and encourage me to succeed
I will do all that it takes
I am willing to put in the necessary work and effort
To reach their arms,
I am striving to return to the embrace of my loved ones
Where I belong.
This is where I am meant to be, in my true home.
Goin' home.
I am on my way back to my place of belonging.
Contributed by Isabelle Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.