Homeward Bound
Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson Lyrics
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Got a ticket for my destination.
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
And every stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
[Chorus]
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Home where my thought's escaping,
Home where my music's playing,
Home where my love lies waiting
Silently for me.
Every day's an endless stream
Of cigarettes and magazines.
And each town looks the same to me,
The movies and the factories
And every stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be,
[Chorus]
Tonight I'll sing my songs again,
I'll play the game and pretend.
But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity
Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
[Chorus]
Silently for me.
The lyrics to "Homeward Bound" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson convey the feelings of a traveling musician who is longing for the comfort of home. The first stanza paints a picture of a weary traveler, sitting in a railway station with a ticket to his destination in hand. He is touring the country, playing one-night stands with his suitcase and guitar by his side, with every stop carefully planned for his performance as a poet and one-man band.
The chorus then repeats the phrase "Homeward bound" four times, reflecting the musician's desire to return home where his thoughts can escape, his music can play, and his love is waiting for him silently. The second stanza highlights the monotony of life on the road with endless streams of cigarettes and magazines, and each town looking the same to him with its movies and factories. The sight of strangers' faces only reminds him of his longing to be home where he can find solace.
The final stanza reveals the musician's realization that all his words are coming back to him in shades of mediocrity, empty and without harmony. He needs someone to comfort him and provide the support he needs to overcome the emptiness of life on the road. The song is a touching expression of the universal desire to return to a place of safety, love, and comfort after a journey of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting in the railway station.
The singer is reflecting on his current location.
Got a ticket for my destination.
The singer has a clear idea of where he is going.
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand.
The singer is a musician who travels from city to city for performances.
And every stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band.
The artist has a routine for each performance and prepares accordingly.
Homeward bound,
The artist wishes to return home.
I wish I was,
The singer is longing for home.
Homeward bound,
The singer repeats his desire to return home.
Home where my thought's escaping,
The artist finds solace in being home and free from the chaos of touring.
Home where my music's playing,
The artist's passion for music is still present at home.
Home where my love lies waiting
The artist has someone they love waiting for them at home.
Every day's an endless stream
Being on tour feels monotonous for the singer.
Of cigarettes and magazines.
The artist passes the time by mindlessly consuming these items.
And each town looks the same to me,
The singer sees no distinguishable characteristics in the cities they visit.
The movies and the factories
The entertainment and industrial structures of each city blend together for the singer.
And every stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be,
Seeing new faces only reminds the singer of their longing for home.
Tonight I'll sing my songs again,
Despite his feelings, the artist will still perform as planned.
I'll play the game and pretend.
The artist will put on a facade of enjoying touring despite his inner turmoil.
But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity
The singer's passion for performing is dwindling and his lyrics no longer feel inspired.
Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
The singer struggles with feelings of loneliness and the need for human connection.
Silently for me.
The artist's loved one will be waiting for him when he returns home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY LANDIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind