Midlake began in 1999 by a group of jazz students at the University of North Texas. The original lineup consisted of Tim Smith (vocals, guitars, keyboards), McKenzie Smith (drums), Paul Alexander (bass), Eric Nichelson (guitar), and Evan Jacobs (keyboards). Their initial work (under the working name The Cornbread All-Stars) consisted of funk/jazz explorations heavily influenced by Herbie Hancock.
Later the band began to lean more toward an indie rock sound. Tim Smith quit playing saxophone and began writing songs that were heavily influenced by bands such as Jethro Tull, Radiohead, Travis, and Grandaddy. Smith says about that: "We don't want to get called a Radiohead rip-off band. I think Radiohead is a lot closer to my natural tendencies as a songwriter than a band like, um, Jethro Tull. I listen to way more Jethro Tull than I do Radiohead these days, but I could write 10 Radiohead songs before I could write one Jethro Tull song. I want to sound more like Jethro Tull, but I just can't. That's a big struggle."
Jacobs left the band and Eric Nichelson took over on keyboard. Jason Upshaw joined the band as a guitarist. Live recordings from this period, recorded at Denton's Panhandle House studio, were never released as the band felt they had moved beyond the material.
Soon before their debut EP, Milkmaid Grand Army, was recorded, Upshaw was replaced on guitars by Eric Pulido, a longtime friend of drummer Smith, to form the current lineup. Their debut full-length album, 2004's Bamnan and Slivercork, was recorded at home in Denton, Texas and mastered at Abbey Road Studios. It showed a move in the direction of lo-fi psychedelic electronica, embracing influences such as Grandaddy and The Flaming Lips. The album even caught the ear of skateboarder-turned-actor Jason Lee, who produced and directed the music video for the song 'Balloon Maker', and who continues to support and promote the band.
In 2006, after nearly a year and a half of recording and re-recording, they completed their second release for Bella Union – The Trials of Van Occupanther. The album was met with generally positive reviews.
The 3rd album release by the band is called The Courage of Others. It was released on February 1, 2010. The album sleeve pays homage to Andrei Rublev, a 1966 film by Russian writer and director Andrei Tarkovsky.
In this album Smith focusing on the human condition, death, courage (as per the album’s title), and nature. The band put aside the wonderfully corny synthesizers they used on the last record in favor of a 100-percent organic approach that fits their bearded poets of the mountain image. The album received overwhelmingly positive review.
www.midlake.net
Head Home
Midlake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They must've all gone off without me again
I think I'll head home
Maybe I'll find them gathered 'round my doorstep
Oh, to sleep in a comfortable bed
I think I'll head home
They must've all gone off without me again
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
Bring me a day full of honest work
And a roof that never leaks
I'll be satisfied
Bring me the news all about the town
How it struggles to help all the farmers out
During harvest time
But there's someone I'd like to see
She never mentions a word to me
She reads Leviathan
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
Bring me a day full of honest work
And a roof that never leaks
I'll be satisfied
Bring me the news all about the town
How it struggles to help all the farmers out
During harvest time
But there's someone I'd like to see
She never mentions a word to me
She reads Leviathan
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
The lyrics to Midlake's song Head Home express the feeling of loneliness and the desire for a sense of belonging. The singer feels left out as everyone seems to have gone off without them, yet they still long to return to their own comfort zone. The repetition of the line "I think I'll head home" emphasizes the singer's desire for familiarity and simplicity in their life, rather than the chaos and unpredictability of being with others. The second half of the song includes a list of things the singer wishes for, including an honest day's work, a leak-free roof and news about the town's efforts to help farmers during harvest time. However, their ultimate desire is to see someone who has not been acknowledging them, someone who reads Leviathan, possibly suggesting a literary interest that the singer shares.
Line by Line Meaning
No one seems to be around today
The singer is alone and there seems to be no one in sight.
They must've all gone off without me again
This has happened before; the singer has been left out of social events.
I think I'll head home
As a result of being alone, the singer decides to return home.
Maybe I'll find them gathered 'round my doorstep
The artist hopes to find their friends at their house.
Oh, to sleep in a comfortable bed
The thought of having a good night's sleep excites the artist.
I think I'll head home
The singer reiterates their decision to go home.
No one seems to be around today
The singer repeats their observation that they are alone.
They must've all gone off without me again
The artist reiterates their suspicion that their friends have deliberately excluded them.
I think I'll head home
The artist repeats their decision to leave.
I think I'll head home
The artist reiterates their decision again.
Bring me a day full of honest work
The singer desires a day of fulfilling work.
And a roof that never leaks
The artist wants a secure, comfortable place to live.
I'll be satisfied
The singer will be content with these basic amenities.
Bring me the news all about the town
The singer wants to be informed about what's happening in their community.
How it struggles to help all the farmers out
The singer is interested in learning about the difficulties faced by local farmers, and how the community is addressing these issues.
During harvest time
The artist specifies that they want to know about the farmers during a specific time of year.
But there's someone I'd like to see
The artist has a specific person in mind that they want to see.
She never mentions a word to me
This person doesn't initiate conversation with the singer.
She reads Leviathan
The singer knows that this person enjoys reading certain books.
I think I'll head home
The artist thinks about leaving again.
I think I'll head home
The artist repeats their decision.
I think I'll head home
The artist repeats their decision again.
I think I'll head home
The singer makes their final decision to leave.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC NICHELSON, ERIC PULIDO, MCKENZIE SMITH, PAUL ALEXANDER, TIM SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@earth2fan
Bring me a day full of honest work
And a roof that never leaks
I'll be satisfied
Bring me the news all about the town
How it struggles to help all the farmers out
During harvest time
But there's someone I'd like to see
She never mentions a word to me
She reads Leviathan
@alexglontaru4072
No one seems to be around today
They must've all gone off without me again
I think I'll head home
Maybe I'll find them gathered 'round my doorstep
Oh, to sleep in a comfortable bed
I think I'll head home
No one seems to be around today
They must've all gone off without me again
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
Bring me a day full of honest work
And a roof that never leaks
I'll be satisfied
Bring me the news all about the town
How it struggles to help all the farmers out
During harvest time
But there's someone I'd like to see
She never mentions a word to me
She reads Leviathan
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
Bring me a day full of honest work
And a roof that never leaks
I'll be satisfied
Bring me…
@ChrMmn
In another life over a decade ago, I'd be next door to these guys scoring my fix. I saw Midlake more times than I can count in situ at their home And after getting into the car to head home this song would play on the local station. I always made it home safely & got out of that toxic lifestyle unlike so many others. This song takes me straight back to that intersection of space & time in that college town. To everyone out there struggling & to all the lost souls, may you head home & find yourselves some peace tonight.
@MrAlistar99
Next door?
@chadmcwickan6472
‘Bring me a day full of honest work and a roof that never leaks and I’ll be satisfied’
Pure poetry
@jackthurgood3207
Yes that is my favourite part of the song!
@rebelwithoutapplause5629
Cos there's someone I'd like to see , she never mentions a word to me, she reads Leviathan..
@christy6606
Midlake is somehow able to take me back to a simpler time that I can't even remember
@ebonystevenson8142
Well put.
@calliope7030
this song seriously deserves more recognition
@diwakarguptalic8299
Calliope hi
@omrishooshan9784
No its not..once it is a well knowed song it is no longer special