The Johnstons were a popular Irish group in the late 1960s and early 1970s,… Read Full Bio ↴The Johnstons were a popular Irish group in the late 1960s and early 1970s, out of Slane, a small village north of Dublin, Ireland (more recently known for its annual outdoor concerts at Slane Castle). The band gained fame on both sides of the Atlantic. The final lineup was stabilized in 1967, with sisters Luci and Adrienne Johnston, plus Mick Moloney and Paul Brady. The group was influenced by traditional Irish music, skiffle, and of course the American folk revival of the '60s, with which they are most often associated today.

Moloney left in 1971, followed by Brady in 1973, by which time the group was no longer as significant as it had been. The Johnstons remain influential for mixing genuine traditional Irish music with popular folk of the day, and particularly for bringing close four-part vocal harmonies to traditional Irish songs.

The Johnstons played a reunion concert in Canada in 1976, but never performed again. Adrienne Johnston died under mysterious circumstances on May 27, 1981 (age 35) in the U.S.

Going Home
The Johnstons Lyrics

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I was bored in California
So I packed up all my things
Ya know, I've seen it all before, yeah
Pretty people pulling strings

Riding down the highway
Going Home

Went from Lc up to Vegas
crizona, Santa Fe
Up to Denver, Colorado
Kansas City, Tennessee
Come with me

Riding down the highway
Going Home

When I made it to my hometown
Feeling steady and alive
No more looking over shoulder
Now I'm looking deep inside
I know that's right

Riding down the highway
Going Home
Going Home

I'm Going Home
Going Home
I'm Going Home
Going Home
I'm Going Home
Going Home

I'm Going Home
Going Home

Overall Meaning

The Johnstons's Going Home is a haunting and introspective song that speaks to feelings of emptiness and impending mortality. The singer is clearly wrestling with a sense of disconnection from the world around them, as evidenced by the opening lines: "Baby, I can hardly recognize myself / Touch me". The use of the word "baby" suggests that the singer may be making a plea for human connection or intimacy, but it is unclear whether they are able to find it.

The following lines describe the world waking up ("The light is going blue / Morning approaches") while the singer remains in pain and feeling empty. This is juxtaposed with "Sounds of the world / Of laughter and tears", suggesting that the world is both joyous and sorrowful, but the singer is unable to connect with either emotion. The repeated refrain of "I'm empty, empty, empty" underscores the singer's sense of isolation and detachment from the world.

The song takes a more somber turn as the singer acknowledges their impending death: "Heaven is forbidden / But I'm going soon". The use of the word "forbidden" suggests that the singer may have lived a life that is not in accordance with religious or moral guidelines, but they are at peace with the idea of leaving this earth. The repeated line "Kiss me, one last time" suggests a desire for human connection in the face of mortality, and the repetition emphasizes the singer's sense of urgency.

Line by Line Meaning

Baby, I can hardly recognize myself
I feel so disconnected from who I used to be

The light is going blue
The day is starting, but I feel melancholy

Morning approaches
I can see the light of day coming

The pain's still here
Despite the new day, my emotional pain hasn't disappeared

I'm empty, empty, empty
My heart and soul feel hollow and unfulfilled

Sounds of the world
I hear the noises of everyday life

Of laughter and tears
People are experiencing all different kinds of emotions

I've nothing left
I feel as though I have nothing meaningful to contribute or offer

Heaven is forbidden
I know that death is taboo, but it's what I want

But I'm going soon
My time on this earth is coming to an end

Kiss me, one last time
I need to experience the comfort of a loved one's embrace before I go