Hometown
Sarah Kay Lyrics

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If your home town
is also your first lesson in love,
then it will not surprise you to learn that I am an expert in longing.
I know I am never the only lover,
that there is a good chance my name
won't ring a bell if you ask of me tomorrow.
I know every ode I attempt has been written before,
that where I belong

does not belong to me.
Let me confess that it is true:
I am always dizzy
with motion,
that sleep is that good drug I read about
in a doctor's office
but have never tried.
And yes, my traffic
is constant.
And yes, I am addicted
to flux, desperate for the high of discovery,
scared to be caught wearing
the same corner store twice.
We inherit the vices of
those who infatuate us.
So I too have
the habit of blushing
and spinning before tourists
that whisper, will you look at that?
Can you blame me?
Sometimes litter feels less like trash
when a foreigner wants to photograph it.
I can tell who is trying to capture me.
I know who is looking for a souvenir
with which they can return
to a safe town,
boasting of the time they braved
my dangers, confident they
understand my strangeness now.
I let them. It makes the loneliness rattle
a little less loudly,
even if it doesn't stick.
Besides. The ones who can forgive
the bitter Februaries and
summer's relentless crowding,
the ones who do not flinch at
the cockroach's scuttle
across the subway tracks at dawn,
are the ones who do not need to be told
that there are as many corners
of quiet as there are of honking,
that it is possible to be
both home
and still unknown,
to turn a familiar corner
and gasp,

I have lived here my whole life,
but I have never seen this before.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "HOMETOWN" by Sarah Kay delve deep into the complex emotions and experiences tied to the idea of home and belonging. The singer reflects on their hometown being intertwined with their first lessons in love, suggesting that this foundation has shaped them into an expert in longing. This sets the tone for a narrative that explores themes of identity, displacement, and the continuous search for intimacy and connection.

The singer expresses a profound sense of impermanence and detachment, acknowledging that their presence may easily fade into obscurity in the memories of others. They grapple with the recurring feeling of displacement and restlessness, likening their state to being in a perpetual state of motion, yearning for something beyond the confines of familiarity. This perpetual longing is juxtaposed with a sense of addiction to change and discovery, hinting at a fear of stagnation and a craving for novelty.

The lyrics also touch upon the idea of validation and recognition, as the singer admits to seeking external approval and validation from outsiders. This need for affirmation manifests in a desire to be noticed and commemorated by others, even if it is fleeting and superficial. The singer is aware of the transient nature of these interactions but finds solace in the temporary alleviation of their loneliness, suggesting a complex relationship between seeking validation and navigating solitude.

Furthermore, the lyrics delve into the duality of feeling at home yet still being a stranger in one's own surroundings. The singer navigates the contradictions of familiarity and unfamiliarity, highlighting the capacity for simultaneous discovery and disorientation within the spaces they inhabit. This internal conflict is encapsulated in the closing lines, where the singer experiences a moment of astonishment and revelation in a place they thought they knew all too well, underscoring the endless layers of complexity and contradiction within the concept of home.

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Joel Shaw

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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