Homeward Bound
Paul Simon; Art Garfunkel Lyrics


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I'm sitting in the railway station.
Got a ticket to my destination.
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
And ev'ry stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Homeward bound,
Home where my thought's escaping,
Home where my music's playing,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me.
Ev'ry day's an endless stream
Of cigarettes and magazines.
And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories
And ev'ry stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be,
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Homeward bound,
Home where my thought's escaping,
Home where my music's playing,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me.

Tonight I'll sing my songs again,
I'll play the game and pretend.
But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity
Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Homeward bound,
Home where my thought's escaping,
Home where my music's playing,
Home where my love lies waiting




Silently for me.
Silently for me.

Overall Meaning

The song "Homeward Bound" by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel is a reflection on the life of a travelling musician. The song speaks to the feelings of isolation and longing that come with constantly being on the road. The singer of the song is sitting in a railway station with his suitcase and guitar, waiting to continue his tour of one-night stands. He yearns for the comfort of home, where his thoughts, music, and love await him.


Throughout the song, the singer describes the monotony of life on the road, where every day is an endless stream of cigarettes and magazines and every town looks the same. He longs for the familiarity of home and the people he loves. The song reaches its emotional crescendo when he sings, "Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me." This line speaks to the universal need for human connection and the loneliness that can come with a life spent constantly on the move.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm sitting in the railway station.
I find myself in a station, feeling unsure and aimless.


Got a ticket to my destination.
I have a ticket that tells me where I should go, but I feel lost.


On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
I'm on tour, traveling from town to town with my guitar and suitcase, performing one-night shows.


And ev'ry stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
I've organized every stop, adhering to a schedule fit for a writer who performs solo.


Homeward bound,
I want to go back home.


I wish I was,
I long for the comfort of my home.


Home where my thought's escaping,
My thoughts can roam free in my home.


Home where my music's playing,
I can play my music in my home, without any interruptions.


Home where my love lies waiting
My love is waiting for me in my home.


Silently for me.
Waiting patiently, without any complaints.


Ev'ry day's an endless stream
Each day feels like a never-ending river.


Of cigarettes and magazines.
It's a routine of smoking and reading material that doesn't fulfill me.


And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories
Every town I visit looks identical, with only the usual movie theaters and factories. No distinctions.


And ev'ry stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be,
When I see new people, it drives me to want to return home.


Tonight I'll sing my songs again,
I'll perform my repertoire of songs once more tonight.


I'll play the game and pretend.
But it all feels like an act, pretending to enjoy every moment.


But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity
All my words seem average and forgettable.


Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
My music feels empty, so I crave someone's consolation.


Silently for me.
My love is still waiting patiently for me.


Homeward bound,
I still want to return home.


I wish I was,
I continue to long for my house.


Home where my thought's escaping,
The only place for my thoughts to feel free is home.


Home where my music's playing,
Only in my home can I fully indulge in my music.


Home where my love lies waiting
My home is where my partner is waiting for me.


Silently for me.
My loved one is still waiting patiently for me to come home.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY LANDIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@MyNamesCollin

Lyrics for future watchers :)

I'm sittin' in the railway station
Got a ticket to my destination
On a tour of one-night stands
My suitcase and guitar in hand
And every stop is neatly planned
For a poet and a one-man band

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home where my thought's escapin'
Home where my music's playin'
Home where my love lies waitin'
Silently for me

Every day's an endless stream
Of cigarettes and magazines
And each town looks the same to me
The movies and the factories
And every stranger's face I see
Reminds me that I long to be

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home where my thought's escapin'
Home where my music's playin'
Home where my love lies waitin'
Silently for me

Tonight I'll sing my songs again
I'll play the game and pretend
But all my words come back to me
In shades of mediocrity
Like emptiness in harmony
I need someone to comfort me

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home where my thought's escapin'
Home where my music's playin'
Home where my love lies waitin'
Silently for me
Silently for me



All comments from YouTube:

@uncletacobones

My dad always tells the story of how the first time he heard this song was on a little transistor radio while sitting on the deck of a ship in the middle of the Pacific on the way to Vietnam

@jonahs.8694

underrated comment

@Wilco362

Love it!

@AnnieBe65

I'm glad he made it back to tell you that. God love our Vietnam vets.

@jonnababo4783

@@jonahs.8694
❤😅

@bethiahpoyneer8916

What a sacrifice. We appreciate him so much!!

29 More Replies...

@Dan-zh4mt

They played that song on the plane coming home from Vietnam. Still remember everyone’s reaction.

@stereodreamer23

I've been a fan of S&G for nearly 50 years and I just realized today that the tempo changes and the snare drum in this song mimic the sound of a locomotive speeding up and slowing down as it moves from town to town. How did I never catch that before?

It's details like that which make songs like this truly timeless--even after half a century of listening, I'm still finding new reasons to love this song...

@kristinwright6632

I also hear so much more in the old favorites fin 50 years ago. I get it.

@italyearl8304

This was the most played song on the jukebox at the officer's club, 355 Tac Fighter wing,Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand during the Vietnam War. All of our missions were flown to Hanoi and the rest of North Vietnam. On these missions, we lost over 335 of our F-105s. God bless those Heroes that didn't come home!

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