Green Green Grass Of Home
Tom Jones Lyrics


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The old home town looks the same
As I step down from the train
And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa
Down the road I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries

It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home

The old house is still standing tho' the paint is cracked and dry
And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home

Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me
And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
Arm in arm, we'll walk at daybreak
Again I touch the green, green grass of home

Yes, they'll all come to see me




In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home

Overall Meaning

The song Green Green Grass Of Home by Tom Jones tells the story of a man who returns to his hometown after a long time away. As he steps down from the train, he sees that everything looks the same, including his old family home. His mother and father are there to meet him, and he sees his childhood sweetheart Mary running down the road with hair of gold and lips like cherries. He revels in the sensation of feeling the green, green grass of home beneath his feet.


However, he soon realizes that it was all just a dream. He's actually in prison, and his sentence is about to be carried out. He'll take one final walk with the sad old padre before he's laid to rest under the green, green grass of home. The song has a bittersweet quality that speaks to the universal human longing for a return to simpler times and the permanence of a loving family and community.


Line by Line Meaning

The old home town looks the same
As I return to my hometown, everything appears so familiar, full of memories which make my heart feel heavy.


As I step down from the train
As I disembark from the train, the feeling of homecoming fills my heart and I get ready to embrace my loved ones.


And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa
My parents, who have missed me all this while, have come to greet me, and their warm embraces fill me with joy.


Down the road I look and there runs Mary
As I look around, I see my beloved Mary, my friend from childhood, who is still as lovely as ever.


Hair of gold and lips like cherries
Mary's hair is as radiant as shining gold, and her lips are as red and inviting as ripe cherries.


It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home
The feel of the soft, green grass beneath my feet takes me back to my childhood days and makes me realize how much I've missed it all.


Yes, they’ll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly
I am greeted by my loved ones who are all here to embrace me and make me feel welcome.


The old house is still standing tho’ the paint is cracked and dry
Despite the passage of time, my childhood house is still here but it's now in a state of disrepair.


And there’s that old oak tree that I used to play on
In the nearby vicinity, there's the old oak tree that I used to love and climb up and down during my childhood days.


Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
I take a stroll down the lane with Mary, enjoying every moment of being together with her.


Then I awake and look around me
Suddenly, I wake up and come back to reality.


At four grey walls that surround me
I realize that I'm locked up in some sort of cell, surrounded by gray walls which remind me of my imprisonment.


And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming
I realize that everything that happened till now was a mere dream, and I'm still confined to my cell.


For there’s a guard and there’s a sad old padre
I see the guard and the priest beside me, who were present in my dream too.


Arm in arm, we’ll walk at daybreak
The priest and I will walk arm in arm, towards salvation and eternal peace when the day dawns.


Again I touch the green, green grass of home
I long to feel the soft, green grass of home once again, but it's now a mere memory, a longing for the past.


Yes, they’ll all come to see me
My loved ones will come to see me one last time.


In the shade of that old oak tree
The old oak tree, which was present during my childhood, will provide a tranquil and peaceful ambiance for my last journey.


As they lay me ‘neath the green, green grass of home
As I breathe my last, I'll be laid to rest beneath the green, green grass of home, which I held so dear all my life.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curly Putman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@lisas7046

My parents had this album…I was 4 years old at the time. That was the moment a little black girl from West Philadelphia, officially fell in love with Sir Tom Jones!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️

@valerieshepherd6823

We all fall in love with Tom Lisa xxx

@marycarr7038

Same here Lisa. As handsome as he was then, and that voice, he's even more so now as he's aged. Majestic.

@carolynjones6524

Born Treforest, Porthpridd,6 miles from where I was born.A WELSH LEGEND.LISA S,TAKE CARE.His Welsh accent is stronger then ever!!!!!

@mariateresaquesiti2515

We all fall in love with the great Tom Jones..❤️❤️👏👏👏

@peterfeltham5612

That's a lovely sentiment and memory to have.Tom turned out to be not just a wonderful singer,but also a truly nice man.

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@padraig7744

My mother loved Tom, all my childhood I would hear his voice echo through the house. Next Tuesday we shall lay her to rest and this song will play. She'll touch the green, green grass of home at last. Till we meet again , mum. x

@JerseyGiz

❤ may she rest in peace. I buried my mom last year in September. 😢

@mihaelasofiamihai6449

Anyone 2024????????

@OriginalSirTomJones

Thanks for your kind words, and the love you might have showed in a way or another in the past as a fan i appreciate.. And i do love all my fans 💖 💞 ❣️ how long have you been my fan?

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