Ohio
Wonderful Town Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why did i ever leave Ohio?
Why did i wander to find what lies yonder
When life was so cozy at home?
Wondering while i wander,
Why did i fly?
Why did i roam?
Did i leave Ohio?
Maybe I'd better go
Home.
O -- h -- i -- o.
Maybe I'd better go home.
Now listen
Ohio was stifling.
We just couldn't wait to get out of the place,
With mom saying --, what no date for this evening?
And pop with, do be home, dear, by ten.
Ugh!
The gossipy neighbors
And everyone yapping who's going with whom --
And dating those drips that I've known since I'm four.
The Kiwanis club dance.
On the basketball floor.
Cousin Maude with her lectures on sin
What a bore!
Jerry black!
Cousin min!
Ezra Nye!
Hannah finn!
Hopeless!
Babbity!
Stuffy!
Provincial!
Thank heavens we're free!
Why, oh why, oh why, oh --
Why did we ever leave Ohio?!
Wondering while we wander,
Why did we fly?
Why did we roam?
Oh, why oh, why oh
Did we leave Ohio?
Maybe we'd better go
Home.
O -- h -- i -- o.
Maybe we'd better go home.
The first stanza of “Ohio” from the musical Wonderful Town is a reflection on homesickness. The singer asks why they ever left Ohio, a place they once called home. They wonder why they ever wandered and left the coziness of Ohio, realizing that they should have stayed there. The repetition of “why, oh why, oh why, oh” emphasizes the regret and longing for Ohio that the singer feels. The chorus continues this theme, as the singer wanders and wonders why they left Ohio, questioning why they roamed and flew away from the familiarity of their hometown. The last line serves as a call to action, where the singer suggests they should go back home to Ohio.
The second stanza shifts to a different tone, as the singers are now assessing Ohio with fresh eyes, acknowledging the stifling feeling they once felt there. They mention the gossipy neighbors, dated activities, and the boredom that came with living in a small town. Cousin Maude’s lectures on sin also serve as a reminder of the doubts and worries that once plagued them in Ohio. The singers mention various names of people from their past, emphasizing the feeling of being stuck there, and then end the stanza with a declaration of being free from that life. The chorus repeats, with the two speakers agreeing that they should go back to Ohio.
Overall, “Ohio” is a song that evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for home. It captures the feeling of being lost and aimless, questioning the decisions made in life. However, it also highlights the fact that leaving home can make one appreciate it more and perhaps even recognize the faults of their hometown.
Line by Line Meaning
Why, oh why, oh why, oh --
Expressing regret and frustration over the decision to leave Ohio
Why did i ever leave Ohio?
Questioning the decision to leave Ohio
Why did i wander to find what lies yonder
Asking why the singer left Ohio to seek new experiences elsewhere
When life was so cozy at home?
Reflecting on the comfort and familiarity of home in Ohio
Wondering while i wander,
Reflecting on the decision to leave Ohio while wandering elsewhere
Why did i fly?
Asking why the singer left Ohio by plane
Oh, why oh, why oh
Continued reflection on the decision to leave Ohio
Did i leave Ohio?
Questioning the artist's decision to leave Ohio
Maybe I'd better go
Considering the possibility of returning home to Ohio
Ohio was stifling.
Describing Ohio as a place that felt suffocating or oppressive
We just couldn't wait to get out of the place,
Expressing a strong desire to leave Ohio and move elsewhere
With mom saying --, what no date for this evening?
Describing an overbearing mother who pressures the artist to have a date on a given evening
And pop with, do be home, dear, by ten.
Describing a strict father who enforces a curfew for the singer
The gossipy neighbors
Describing neighbors who are overly interested in one another's personal lives
And everyone yapping who's going with whom --
Describing a society that places too much emphasis on who is dating or in a relationship with whom
And dating those drips that I've known since I'm four.
Reflecting on the tedium of dating people from one's hometown
The Kiwanis club dance.
Describing a social event that feels outdated and unenjoyable
On the basketball floor.
Adding context to the previously mentioned Kiwanis club dance, which takes place on a basketball court
Cousin Maude with her lectures on sin
Describing a relative who is overly judgmental or rigid in their beliefs
What a bore!
Expressing exasperation or boredom
Thank heavens we're free!
Expressing relief and gratitude that the artist is no longer stuck in Ohio
Maybe we'd better go
Returning to the idea that the artist might go back to Ohio
Home.
Stressing the importance of home and one's roots
O -- h -- i -- o.
Spelling out the name of the state where the artist is from
Contributed by Andrew V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tonywoodward1994
Most underrated song and musical ever!!
@anthonyhenrysmith
the vocal blend is gorgeous!!!!
@51698emmy
I played Ruth in my schools production of Wonderful Town and this was the hardest song I've ever had to sing. So much respect for her nailing this
@swarze
Just curious, but what did you find hard about it? It's pretty straightforward.
@flyinghow
This is flawlessly beautiful. Brava!
@marleneandreaunda
me encanto, bello concierto
@msubiras
Excellent performance!
@bandfan217
Love this, I was born in Ohio!
@Wayminem
oh my god it's so damned good :D
@mapromediorojo3b
donde puedo encontrar este concierto? lo he buscado por todos lados!