Homeward Bound
Peter & Gordon 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

Peter & Gordon's Homeward Bound is a wistful ballad about a touring musician who longs to return home. In the song, the singer is sitting in a railway station with his guitar and suitcase, feeling tired and disconnected from the world around him. He's on a tour of one-night stands and every stop is neatly planned, leaving him little time to rest or reflect. He wishes he were homeward bound, where his thoughts could escape, his music could play, and his love would be waiting silently for him.


The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the monotony and loneliness of life on the road. The endless stream of cigarettes and magazines, the uniformity of each town, and the anonymity of every face create a sense of disconnection and longing. Even when the singer is performing, he feels empty and uninspired, as though his words are devoid of meaning. He needs someone to comfort him and bring him back to the place where he feels truly at home.


Overall, Homeward Bound is a poignant reflection on the joys and sorrows of a musician's life, and the longing we all feel for a place to call home.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm sitting in the railway station.
The singer is currently at a train station.


Got a ticket to my destination.
The singer has a ticket for their planned trip.


On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
The singer is a traveling musician, with all their necessary possessions in tow.


And ev'ry stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
Each stop on the tour is purposefully chosen for the artist to perform their music and share their art with others.


Homeward bound,
The artist wishes to return home.


I wish I was,
The singer desires to be at home rather than on the road.


Home where my thought's escaping,
The singer's mind is at ease and relaxed when they are at home.


Home where my music's playing,
The artist enjoys playing music at home.


Home where my love lies waiting Silently for me.
The artist's significant other is patiently waiting for them to return home.


Ev'ry day's an endless stream Of cigarettes and magazines.
The artist's daily life on tour is monotonous and unexciting.


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,
The singer is tired of constantly being in new places and seeing strangers. They yearn for the familiarity of home.


Tonight I'll sing my songs again, I'll play the game and pretend.
The artist will continue to perform for their audience, even if they do not truly feel like it.


But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
The singer feels uninspired and empty in their performances. They crave emotional support and comfort.


Silently for me.
The singer's significant other is eagerly anticipating their return home.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Paul Simon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@SingleMalt77005

Fantastic. Those harmonies are spot-on.

@Graphicxtras1

Absolutely wonderful !!

@alohablue2907

I like this version as much as Simon & Garfunkel !

@moemcgovern7345

I do as well.

@lemurianchick

I didn't know they did a version of this! So interesting. I wonder if it was released before Simon & Garfunkel...I will see if it charted in the USA.

@apexjoe4769

The song Homeward Bound was written by Paul Simon in 1964 and was first recorded by Chad and Jeremy on November 26, 1965 but released in Aug.1966. It was first released by Simon and Garfunkel on Jan.19,1966. It was then covered by Peter & Gordon, June 3, 1966.

@thomasmarthinussen8978

@@apexjoe4769 Nice and accurate info there!

@apexjoe4769

@@thomasmarthinussen8978 Thanks.

@thomasmarthinussen8978

@@apexjoe4769 Surely Simon and Garfunkel recorded the song before Chad and Jeremy or am I mistaken?

@apexjoe4769

@@thomasmarthinussen8978 Yes.Chad & Jeremy "first recorded it" Nov.,1965 but released it 9 months later.Simon & Garfunkel "first released it" Jan.,1966.I know its a bit confusing.lol Great song !

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