Homeward Bound
Simmon And Garfunkel Lyrics


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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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel's song "Homeward Bound" convey a sense of loneliness and longing for home. The singer is on a tour of one-night stands, carrying only a suitcase and a guitar. He describes each stop on the tour as neatly planned, indicating that he is following a set routine, and every town looks the same to him. The repetition of the line "homeward bound, I wish I was" reinforces his desire to return to the comforts of home.


The singer is also portrayed as a poet and a one-man band, which suggests that he is a creative force but is also solitary. He has no one to turn to for comfort and is trapped in a cycle of cigarettes and magazines. He plays the game and pretends to be happy, but his words come back to him in shades of mediocrity, highlighting the emptiness of his current existence.


The theme of longing for home was a common theme in Simon and Garfunkel's music, and "Homeward Bound" is one of their most beloved songs. The catchy melody and touching lyrics resonate with listeners of all ages. The song has endured as a classic, and it continues to be played on the radio and covered by other artists to this day.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm sittin' in the railway station
I am currently seated at the train station.


Got a ticket to my destination
I possess a ticket for my intended location.


On a tour of one-night stands
I am traveling to various locations for brief performances.


My suitcase and guitar in hand
I am carrying my luggage and musical instrument.


And every stop is neatly planned
My itinerary is thoroughly organized.


For a poet and a one-man band
I am a performer who writes and plays music alone.


Homeward bound
I yearn to return home.


I wish I was
I deeply desire to be home.


Home where my thought's escapin'
My mind can comfortably wander only when I'm home.


Home where my music's playin'
I can create and enjoy music only in my home environment.


Home where my love lies waitin'
My beloved is waiting for me at home.


Silently for me
My lover is patiently waiting without complaining.


Every day's an endless stream
My daily routine feels monotonous and never-ending.


Of cigarettes and magazines
I consume cigarettes and reading materials regularly.


And each town looks the same to me
I cannot differentiate between different places; everything looks similar.


The movies and the factories
I see neither variation in entertainment nor work environment during my travels.


And every stranger's face I see
Each new person I encounter reminds me of my homesickness.


Reminds me that I long to be
Seeing strangers reminds me of my strong wish to return home.


Tonight I'll sing my songs again
I'll perform my music again tonight.


I'll play the game and pretend
I'll act like I'm fully enjoying my journey and performances.


But all my words come back to me
I realize the mediocrity of my own songs once I'm alone.


In shades of mediocrity
My own music turns out dull and unremarkable.


Like emptiness in harmony
My music feels uninspired and hollow.


I need someone to comfort me
I long for someone to provide me emotional support.


Silently for me
I expect my loved one to offer me silent understanding and assistance.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments 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



@peteirie1075

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:

@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!

@daviddriscoll8547

😢

@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

@Jonah S.
❤😅

@bethiahpoyneer8916

What a sacrifice. We appreciate him so much!!

23 More Replies...

@tylerdwayne6365

One of my all time favorite songs. These guys lyrics and harmonies are all time amazing

@Internutt2023

Paul Simon and Bob Dylan were definitely the 2 great lyricists of the 60's, and their work still stands high in comparison with anything that followed it to this day

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