You're My Only Home
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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I will stay if you let me stay
And I'll go if you let me go
But I won't go far away
Because you're my only home

And I will hide what you want hidden
And I'll roam if you say roam
But I just as soon you didn't
Because you're my only home

When you cancel dinner plans
When you cross the street and you don't take my hand
When you make impossible demands
I wish I didn't understand

I will stay if you let me stay
And I'll go if you let me go
But I won't go far away
Because you're my only home

I will hide what you want hidden
And I'll roam if you say roam




But I just as soon you didn't
Because you're my only home

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields' song "You're My Only Home" is about a person who wants to stay with their partner and make whatever sacrifices are necessary to be with them. The opening line sets the tone for the song: "I will stay if you let me stay, and I'll go if you let me go." It's a straightforward message about commitment and the willingness to stay together, even when times get tough.


As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges the difficulties of the relationship. "When you cancel dinner plans, when you cross the street and you don't take my hand, when you make impossible demands, I wish I didn't understand," they sing. Despite these challenges, however, the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to stay with their partner.


The refrain of the song is perhaps the most powerful, with the singer returning to the idea that their partner is their "only home." It's a metaphorical way of saying that being with this person makes the singer feel safe and secure, like they belong somewhere. The repeated phrasing is both declarative and desperate, conveying the depth of the singer's feelings.


Line by Line Meaning

I will stay if you let me stay
If you allow me to remain, I will stay and maintain my current position.


And I'll go if you let me go
If you permit me to leave, I'll go away from here.


But I won't go far away
Even if I go away, I won't go too far from you.


Because you're my only home
Since you're the only person that provides me warmth and comfort, I'll never go too far away from you.


And I will hide when you want hidden
Whenever you choose to conceal yourself, I'll conceal myself as well.


And I'll roam if you say roam
If you ask me to wander, I'll be readily available.


But I just assume you didn't
However, I'm under the impression that you won't ask me to wander.


Because you're my only home
Because I depend on you for every bit of comfort and genuine belonging, I think you'll prefer me to stay close.


When you cancel dinner plans
When you choose to cancel our meal schedule, I feel hurt because it's something I look forward to.


When you cross the street and you don't take my hand
When you're walking, and you don't hold my hand while we cross the street, it makes me feel distant.


When you make impossible demands
When you ask for things that are beyond my control, it makes me feel helpless.


I wish I didn't understand
I wish I didn't possess the wisdom to comprehend how much these events upset me.




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Merritt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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