Homeward Bound
Simon And Garfunkel (The Definitive Simon 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 song "Homeward Bound" by Simon and Garfunkel tells the story of a traveling musician who is tired of constantly being on the road. He longs to return home where he can escape his mundane daily routine of endless cigarettes and magazines, and where his music can be played in the comfort of his own space. The lyrics describe the tedium of life on the road, with every stop planned out and every town looking the same, filled with faceless strangers.


The chorus repeats the phrase "Homeward bound" as a kind of mantra, expressing the singer's intense desire to return home. He wishes to be back in the arms of his loved one who is waiting for him, cradling him in a warm embrace. The final verse reveals the melancholy reality behind the musician's life. Despite his profession, he feels empty and longs for someone to comfort him. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus as a reminder of his longing desire to return home.


Overall, "Homeward Bound" is a poignant meditation on the loneliness and isolation that comes with a life on the road. It captures the yearning for a sense of belonging and the comfort that only home can provide.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm sitting in the railway station.
I'm currently waiting in a train station.


Got a ticket to my destination.
I have already secured a ticket for where I'm going.


On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
I'm traveling from place to place with my guitar and luggage.


And every stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
Each stop is organized for a solo artist like myself.


Homeward bound,
I'm longing to be back home.


I wish I was,
It's my desire to be home.


Home where my thought's escaping,
Going back to where my ideas and thoughts are free.


Home where my music's playing,
I miss the place where I can hear my music loudly.


Home where my love lies waiting Silently for me.
I'm excited to go back where my lover is patiently waiting for my return.


Every day's an endless stream Of cigarettes and magazines.
Daily routine is just a cycle of buying cigarettes and magazines.


And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories
Every place I visit looks identical with the same scenery and attractions.


And every stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be,
Watching every unknown person only reminds me of how much I want to be home.


Tonight I'll sing my songs again, I'll play the game and pretend.
I'll perform my music like I always do, pretending I love being away from home.


But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity
No matter what I sing, all my lyrics feel average and uninspired.


Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
To fill the void of sadness, I need someone to console me.


Silently for me.
Being quiet for me.




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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