On The Road
Tom Waits (& Cynthia Witthoft) Lyrics

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I left New York in 1949
To go across the country without a bad blame dime
Montana in the cold cold fall
Found my father in the gambling hall

Father, Father where you been?
I've been out in the world and I'm only ten
Father, Father where you been?

I've been out in the world and I'm only ten

Don't worry about me if I should die of pleurisy

Across to Mississippi, across to Tennessee
Across the Niagara, home I'll never be
Home in ol' Medora, home in Ol' Truckee
Apalachicola, home I'll never be

Better or for worse, thick and thin
Like being married to the Little poor man
God he loves me (God he loves me)
Just like I love him (just like I love him)
I want you to do (I want you to do)
Just the same for him (just the same for him, yeah)

Well the worms eat away but don't worry watch the wind
So I left Montana on an old freight train (on an old freight train)
The night my father died in the cold cold rain (in the cold cold rain)

Road to Opelousas, road to Wounded Knee
Road to Ogallala home I'll never be
Road to Oklahoma, road to El Cahon
Road to Tahachapi, road to San Antone

Hey, hey

Road to Opelousas, road to Wounded Knee
Road to Ogallala, home I'll never be
Road to Oklahoma, road to El Cahon
Road to Tahachapi, road to San Antone

Home I'll never be, home I'll never be

Home I'll never be, home I'll never be
Home I'll never be, home I'll never be

Overall Meaning

In Tom Waits's song "Home I'll Never Be," the singer reflects on their journey across the country and their struggle to find a place to call home. The opening lines set the scene, with the singer explaining that they left New York in 1949 with barely any money, intending to travel across the country. They eventually make their way to Montana, where they find their father in a gambling hall. The lyrics suggest that the singer had a difficult relationship with their father, who seems to have been absent for much of their life.

Throughout the song, the singer mentions various locations they have traveled to, including Mississippi, Tennessee, and Niagara, but suggests that none of them feel like home. They even reference small towns like Medora and Truckee, implying that they have searched both big cities and rural areas for a sense of belonging. The final verse includes several road names, including Opelousas, Wounded Knee, and El Cahon, emphasizing the singer's meandering journey and the turmoil they have faced along the way.

Overall, "Home I'll Never Be" is a poignant reflection on the search for a place to call home. The singer has traveled far and wide, but has yet to find the sense of belonging they crave. The song's melancholic tone and vivid imagery paint a vivid picture of the singer's struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

I left New York in 1949
I departed from New York City in 1949

To go across the country without a bad blame dime
I traveled across the United States without any money

Montana in the cold cold fall
I arrived in Montana during a cold autumn

Found my father in the gambling hall
I discovered my father in a place where he was gambling

Father, Father where you been?
I asked my father where he had been

I've been out in the world and I'm only ten
My father informed me that he had been exploring the world despite being young

Don't worry about me if I should die of pleurisy
My father assured me not to worry if he died from a lung infection called pleurisy

Across to Mississippi, across to Tennessee
I crossed the Mississippi River and Tennessee state

Across the Niagara, home I'll never be
After crossing the Niagara River, I realized I would never be able to return home

Home in ol' Medora, home in Ol' Truckee
I remembered my old homes in Medora and Truckee

Apalachicola, home I'll never be
Even if I reached Apalachicola, I would never truly feel at home

Better or for worse, thick and thin
No matter what happens, through good and bad times

Like being married to the Little poor man
It is like being married to someone who is unfortunate and struggling financially

God he loves me (God he loves me)
I believe that God loves me

Just like I love him (just like I love him)
I love God just as much

I want you to do (I want you to do)
I expect you to do the same

Just the same for him (just the same for him, yeah)
Expecting the same from God

Well the worms eat away but don't worry watch the wind
Physical decay is inevitable, but do not be troubled by it

So I left Montana on an old freight train (on an old freight train)
I departed from Montana on a dilapidated train

The night my father died in the cold cold rain (in the cold cold rain)
My father passed away on a rainy night

Road to Opelousas, road to Wounded Knee
The path towards Opelousas and Wounded Knee

Road to Ogallala home I'll never be
Even if I reached Ogallala, I would never truly feel at home

Road to Oklahoma, road to El Cahon
The route towards Oklahoma and El Cahon

Road to Tahachapi, road to San Antone
I traveled on the roads leading to Tahachapi and San Antone

Hey, hey
An interjection to grab someone's attention

Home I'll never be, home I'll never be
A reminder that no matter where I go, I will never find my true home

Home I'll never be, home I'll never be
Reinforcing the fact that I will never truly feel at home

Home I'll never be, home I'll never be
Repeatedly reminding that the feeling of being at home will always elude me

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: THOMAS ALAN WAITS, JACK L KEROUAC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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