Although he has only put out two albums, Rolling Stone magazine named Randolph as one of the 100 greatest guitar players of all time.
Robert Randolph set the music world on fire in late 2000 and early 2001 when he began to play his first club dates in New York City. These were a result of being discovered playing his pedal steel guitar at the first Sacred Steel Convention in Florida in the spring of 2000. Randolph started playing the pedal steel as a teenager and started playing at his Orange, NJ, church just outside of Newark. The House of God Church, an African-American Pentecostal denomination, has been implementing steel guitars (or "Sacred Steel") in services since the '30s, with the pedal steel in particular being introduced during the '70s. Randolph learned to play by watching other steel players in his church. Jim Markel was the man who heard Randolph play at the Sacred Steel Convention, and he later introduced him to his friend, Gary Waldman. Waldman, who already managed several artists, invited Randolph to audition for him. Waldman and Markel began to manage Randolph; they played the audition tape over the phone to Matt Hickey, talent buyer at Manhattan's Bowery Ballroom. Hickey signed Randolph on as the opening act for the North Mississippi Allstars and it was the beginning of a very large explosion. Within a month, Randolph was playing to thousands with Medeski, Martin & Wood (MMW) at the Beacon Theater. Allstars and MMW keyboardist John Medeski liked Randolph so much that he asked him to record an all-instrumental gospel/blues album with them. The Word was released in August 2001 to great critical and popular acclaim. Randolph's own band, the Family Band, includes cousins Danyell Morgan and Marcus Randolph (bass and drums, respectively) and John Ginty (Hammond B-3 organ). Their career began with opening gigs for a variety of blues, jazz-funk, and jam bands such as the Derek Trucks Band, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, and Soulive. Headlining gigs became the norm within a few months. Robert Randolph & the Family Band released Live at the Wetlands in fall 2001. 2003's Unclassified and its single, "I Need More Love," introduced Randolph to an even wider audience. Colorblind followed in 2006
Homecoming
Robert Randolph & The Family Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They got lovin' back to ? root
We got wild upon the roof
Enter live, we'll get with you
People loved it in the Spain
All the parties we're gonna sing
Back to Memphis, back to Maine
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Mama gonna fetch me a plate
Everybody's gonna get 'em a taste
Come on and celebrate
I can't hardly wait
'Cause they're gonna get on the drums
Yeah, my brother gonna get on the keys
Your brother gonna lay it on the bass
Yeah, well, I'll go stand the leads, it's gonna be
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Feeling kinda alone
And I'm feeling in my bones
And I'm ready, ready
Got to get back home, yeah
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
We want to go home
We want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
Homecoming, homecoming
Homecoming, we want to go home
We want to go home
We want to go home
We want to go home
We want to go home
We want to go home
We want to go home
Come on, come on
Come on, yeah
The song, "Homecoming" by Robert Randolph & The Family Band is a lively and joyful song about returning home. The lyrics talk about the excitement of returning home, the joy of being reunited with loved ones, and the anticipation of celebrating with a community. In the first verse, the lyrics describe a group of people who had previously been elusive and unattainable, but they have now returned to their roots and are ready to party. The chorus repeats the phrase, "homecoming, we want to go home" which is a sentiment that is relatable to many people, and evokes feelings of nostalgia and longing.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more specific about the type of celebration that is happening. The second verse talks about the plates of food that Mama is bringing out and the different instruments that will be played during the celebration. The bridge of the song introduces a moment of reflection as the singer talks about feeling alone and wanting to get back home. However, the chorus returns with renewed enthusiasm and the song ends on an upbeat note, encouraging listeners to join in on the celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
Just elusive, they got loose
The things we seek are hard to find and often slip away from our grasp
They got lovin' back to ? root
In returning to our origins, we rediscover the love that was always there but needed to be found again
We got wild upon the roof
We let go of our inhibitions and celebrated freely in the open air
Enter live, we'll get with you
Join us in this vibrant celebration and we'll connect with you through the music and the moment
People loved it in the Spain
We experienced great joy and appreciation from the people we encountered in Spain
All the parties we're gonna sing
We brought energy and music to every party we attended
Back to Memphis, back to Maine
We traveled far and wide, but now it's time to return to our roots
Everywhere we played, it feels like
The connections we made through our music made everywhere we played feel like home
Homecoming, homecoming
We're looking forward to returning to our origin and reconnecting with our roots in a grand celebration
Mama gonna fetch me a plate
We're anticipating the warm embrace of family and welcoming meals upon our return home
Everybody's gonna get 'em a taste
Everyone is looking forward to partaking in the joyous celebration and the good food that comes with it
Come on and celebrate
Let's join together to express our shared joy and appreciation
I can't hardly wait
We're filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming festivities
'Cause they're gonna get on the drums
The music and instruments our family members traditionally play will be brought out for this joyous occasion
Yeah, my brother gonna get on the keys
My brother will play the keyboard and enrich the celebratory mood with his music
Your brother gonna lay it on the bass
Your brother will play the bass and add depth and rhythm to the music
Yeah, well, I'll go stand the leads, it's gonna be
I'll play the lead instrument and bring a dynamic energy to the music that will define our celebration
Feeling kinda alone
Despite all the joy we feel and the wonderful connections we've made, there is still a lingering feeling of loneliness
And I'm feeling in my bones
This melancholic feeling is deep-seated and can't be easily shaken
And I'm ready, ready
But despite all that, I'm ready and excited to return home and celebrate with family
Got to get back home, yeah
The pull to return to one's familial roots is strong and undeniable
We want to go home
The desire to return to the family and the familiarity of home is universal and deeply felt
Come on, come on
Let's go back to our roots and celebrate the love and joy that has always been waiting for us there
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW RAMSEY, SHANNON SANDERS, ROBERT JERMAINE RANDOLPH, DANYEL MORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind