Homesick
Tree River Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I try to climb up my family tree
Its limbs are lost like an amputee
I'm getting sick of swallowing my pride
I drink it down but my mouth is dry

It won't show, no
Don't deny, grow
Seven souls in a quiet cage
Pretend the world's gonna be okay
I drew a line so I can't look back
I need the lying like a heart attack

Don't know where I stand
And the silence is resounding
It's harder to demand
Than give in to your surroundings

Don't know where I fit
But it doesn't even matter




It's harder to commit
Than to will the ice to shatter

Overall Meaning

In the song "Homesick" by Tree River, the opening lyrics depict the singer's struggle to connect with their family roots. The metaphor of climbing up a family tree conveys a sense of longing and seeking to understand where they come from. However, the imagery of the tree's limbs being lost like an amputee suggests a disconnect or loss within the family structure. The line "I'm getting sick of swallowing my pride" hints at a sense of internal conflict and reluctance to confront personal emotions or vulnerabilities. The act of drinking down pride despite feeling emotionally empty symbolizes a coping mechanism that ultimately does not fulfill the singer.


The repetition of the lines "It won't show, no / Don't deny, grow" underscores the internal struggle and desire for growth despite facing adversity. The juxtaposition of denial and growth highlights the conflicting emotions the singer is grappling with, as they try to navigate their inner turmoil and personal growth. This internal conflict is further emphasized through the imagery of "seven souls in a quiet cage," portraying a sense of confinement and emotional suppression.


The theme of struggling with inner turmoil and external pressure continues in the following lines, where the singer discusses pretending that the world will be okay despite their own uncertainties and struggles. Drawing a line to prevent looking back symbolizes a desire to move forward and leave behind past pain or regrets. However, the need for lying "like a heart attack" reveals the suffocating nature of deception and the toll it takes on the singer's emotional well-being.


The final verses of the song delve into themes of uncertainty and the difficulty of making decisions or commitments. The singer expresses a sense of not knowing where they stand or fit in, highlighting feelings of disorientation and alienation. The repetition of "It's harder to commit / Than to will the ice to shatter" encapsulates the struggle between embracing change and breaking free from emotional barriers. Ultimately, the lyrics of "Homesick" by Tree River explore themes of internal conflict, familial disconnect, and the challenges of navigating personal growth and self-acceptance in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

I try to climb up my family tree
Attempting to connect with my roots and ancestry


Its limbs are lost like an amputee
Feeling disconnected and fragmented from my family history


I'm getting sick of swallowing my pride
Tired of suppressing my ego and sense of self-worth


I drink it down but my mouth is dry
Trying to accept reality but finding it difficult to do so


It won't show, no
My emotions are hidden from view


Don't deny, grow
Instead of denying, embrace growth and change


Seven souls in a quiet cage
Feeling trapped and constrained by the expectations of society


Pretend the world's gonna be okay
Putting on a facade that everything is fine despite inner turmoil


I drew a line so I can't look back
Creating boundaries to prevent dwelling on the past


I need the lying like a heart attack
Dependent on falsehoods as a coping mechanism


Don't know where I stand
Feeling uncertain about my place or position in life


And the silence is resounding
The lack of clarity and direction is overwhelming


It's harder to demand
Challenging to assert my needs and desires


Than give in to your surroundings
Easier to conform to external influences than resist them


Don't know where I fit
Uncertain about where I belong or fit in


But it doesn't even matter
Realizing that the search for belonging may be futile


It's harder to commit
Difficult to fully invest in a particular path or choice


Than to will the ice to shatter
More challenging to break free from restrictions and limitations




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Julie Rozansky, Phil Cohen, Trevor Friedman, Zac Pless

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions