Where I'm From
The Bottle Rockets Lyrics
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I'm moved out, got away and closed that door
The Mississippi River rolls on by
If I get down that way
So do I
Where I'm from was never gonna be my place
Never saw a future or a friendly face
Now where I'm from weighs heavy
On my mind
Where I'm from is not where I'm from
Not these days
Where I'm at is better in so many ways
If I get down that way I just feel numb
Maybe that was never
Where I'm from
Where I'm from is not where I'm from anymore
The Bottle Rockets's song Where I'm From is a powerful anthem about leaving behind one's past and moving forward toward a better future. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who has left their hometown behind, both physically and emotionally. The opening lines, "Where I'm from is not where I'm from anymore / I'm moved out, got away and closed that door," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer has not only physically left their hometown, but they have also emotionally moved on, closing the door on their past.
The song's chorus, "If I get down that way / So do I," speaks to the pull that the singer's past still holds on them. Even though they have moved on, they still feel a connection to their hometown, and returning there can bring up old feelings and memories. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that "Where I'm at is better in so many ways," indicating that they are happy with the choices they have made and the life they have built for themselves.
The final verse, "Maybe that was never / Where I'm from," is a powerful statement about the idea of home. For some people, home is a physical place, but for others, it is more of a feeling or a state of mind. The singer suggests that they have found a new sense of home where they are now, and that maybe their old hometown was never really where they belonged.
Overall, Where I'm From is a poignant song about leaving behind the past and finding a new sense of home. It speaks to the universal experience of growing up, leaving home, and forging your own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Where I'm from is not where I'm from anymore
The place that used to be my home doesn't feel like home anymore since I left.
I'm moved out, got away and closed that door
I left that place and made a conscious decision to move on and not look back.
The Mississippi River rolls on by
If I get down that way
So do I
The river of memories and emotions associated with that place flows alongside me whenever I visit it.
Where I'm from was never gonna be my place
Never saw a future or a friendly face
I never felt like I belonged there and couldn't envision a good future there, nor did I find any friendly people.
I took a chance and left it all behind
Now where I'm from weighs heavy
On my mind
I took a risk in leaving and starting anew, but memories of that place still haunt me and affect me emotionally.
Where I'm from is not where I'm from
Not these days
Where I'm at is better in so many ways
That place doesn't feel like my home anymore, but the place where I'm currently at is more fulfilling and satisfying than that place ever was.
If I get down that way I just feel numb
Maybe that was never
Where I'm from
Whenever I visit that place, I don't feel any emotional connection to it, which makes me question whether it was truly my home in the first place.
Contributed by Makayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.