“Homecoming” is a song by Kanye West, the American hip-hop artist. It’s from his third album, Graduation, released in 2007. Kanye, along with Warryn Campbell, produced the track. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, also makes an appearance.
In “Homecoming,” Kanye raps about his upbringing in Chicago, seeing it through the eyes of a local kid returning to his old neighborhood.
Drawing from Common’s “I Used To Love H.E.R.,” Kanye uses a metaphor to express his love for Chicago, comparing it to a lost girlfriend.
In this article, we’ll dig into the deeper meaning behind the song’s lyrics.
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“Homecoming” Lyrics Meaning
[Intro: Kanye West]
Yeah
And you say Chi city!
Chi city! Chi city!
The intro sets the scene with Kanye West saying “Yeah” and encouraging listeners to chant “Chi city!” which refers to Chicago, his hometown. It establishes a sense of pride and nostalgia for the city where the song is based.
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
I met this girl when I was three years old
And what I loved most, she had so much soul
She said, “Excuse me, little homie, I know you don’t know me, but
My name is Windy and I like to blow trees,” and
From that point, I’d never blow her off
Niggas come from out of town, I like to show her off
They like to act tough, she like to tow ’em off
And make ’em straighten up their hat ’cause she know they soft
And when I grew up, she showed me how to go downtown
In the nighttime, her face lit up, so astoundin’
I told her in my heart is where she’ll always be
She never messed with entertainers ’cause they always leave
She said, “It felt like they walked and drove on me”
Knew I was gang affiliated, got on TV and told on me
I guess that’s why last winter she got so cold on me
She said, “Ye, keep makin’ that, keep makin’ that platinum and gold for me”
In Verse 1, Kanye West expresses his love for Chicago, his hometown, by metaphorically personifying it as a lost girlfriend named Windy. The nickname “Windy” is a nod to Chicago, also known as the Windy City.
He recalls meeting Windy at a young age and admiring her soulfulness, as he sings, “I met this girl when I was three years old, And what I loved most, she had so much soul.”
In the lines, ‘She said, “Excuse me, little homie, I know you don’t know me, but My name is Windy and I like to blow trees,” Kanye fondly recalls her introduction, where she mentioned liking to smoke marijuana.
Kanye expresses his loyalty to Windy, showing her off to others and defending her honor (“Niggas come from out of town, I like to show her off”).
The line “They like to act tough, she like to tow ’em off” means that when outsiders come to Chicago and behave in a tough or aggressive manner, the city itself, represented metaphorically as “she” or “Windy” in the song, has a way of confronting or handling them.
The phrase “Straighten up their hat” implies that they are being made to correct their demeanor or attitude, possibly because the city recognizes that they are not genuinely tough or strong (“soft”).
He reflects on how she taught him about city life and always remained in his heart, as he sings, “And when I grew up, she showed me how to go downtown, In the nighttime, her face lit up, so astoundin’, I told her in my heart is where she’ll always be.”
However, he also mentions feeling betrayed when people from outside the city, like entertainers, exploited and misrepresented him, causing a rift in their relationship.
Despite this, Windy encourages Kanye to continue his success in music, as reflected in her desire for platinum and gold records.
[Chorus: Chris Martin]
I’m comin’ home again
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
‘Cause I’m comin’ home again
-Min’ home again
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then? Oh!
Now I’m comin’ home again
Maybe we can start again
In the chorus, the singer, represented by Chris Martin, asks whether the city of Chicago, metaphorically represented as “you,” thinks about him.
He questions if the city, which holds significant memories and meaning for him, still remembers him and reflects on their shared past.
The repetition of “Do you think about me now and then?” emphasizes the singer’s longing for a connection with the city and suggests a sense of nostalgia or longing for the familiarity of home.
The singer expresses a desire to return to Chicago (“I’m comin’ home again”) and possibly reconcile with the city after being apart.
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
But if you really cared for her
Then you wouldn’t’ve never hit the airport to follow your dreams
Sometimes I still talk to her
But when I talk to her, it always seems like she talkin’ ’bout me
She said, “You left your kids, and they just like you
They wanna rap and make soul beats just like you
But they just not you,” and I just got through
Talkin’ ’bout what niggas tryin’ to do just not new
Now everybody got the game figured out all wrong
I guess you never know what you got ’til it’s gone
I guess that’s why I’m here and I can’t come back home
And guess when I heard that? When I was back home
Every interview, I’m representin’ you, makin’ you proud
Reach for the stars, so if you fall, you land on a cloud
Jump in the crowd, spark your lighters, wave ’em around
If you don’t know by now, I’m talkin’ ’bout Chi-Town
In Verse 2, Kanye West addresses the idea that if he truly cared for Chicago, he wouldn’t have pursued his dreams at the expense of leaving the city behind.
Despite this, Kanye acknowledges that he still maintains a connection with Chicago, represented as “her” in the song. He sings, “But if you really cared for her Then you wouldn’t’ve never hit the airport to follow your dreams.”
However, in the lines “Sometimes I still talk to her But when I talk to her, it always seems like she talkin’ ’bout me,” their interactions seem to be fraught with tension, as Kanye feels like Chicago is talking about him when he speaks to her, suggesting a sense of betrayal or misunderstanding.
Kanye reveals that even though he left Chicago to pursue his career, he still feels tied to the city, especially through his children who aspire to follow in his footsteps, as expressed in the lines, “She said, ‘You left your kids, and they just like you, They wanna rap and make soul beats just like you.'”
The lines “Talkin’ ’bout what niggas tryin’ to do just not new, Now everybody got the game figured out all wrong” convey Kanye West’s frustration with the lack of originality in the music industry. He critiques the misconception that everyone in the industry has a clear understanding of how to succeed.
Kanye acknowledges that sometimes people don’t fully appreciate the importance of something until they no longer have it, as expressed in the lines, “I guess you never know what you got ’til it’s gone, I guess that’s why I’m here and I can’t come back home.” He reflects on his current situation, where he recognizes the significance of his hometown, Chicago, but feels unable to return to it.
The lines “And guess when I heard that? When I was back home, Every interview, I’m representin’ you, makin’ you proud” suggest that Kanye West realized the significance of representing Chicago positively in every interview and public appearance.
Kanye West encourages listeners to aim high and pursue their dreams (“reach for the stars”), with the metaphorical idea that even if they fail (“if you fall”), they’ll still find some level of comfort or success (“you land on a cloud”).
The phrase “Jump in the crowd, spark your lighters, wave ’em around” is a metaphor for participating in life’s experiences with enthusiasm and energy.
In the final line “If you don’t know by now, I’m talkin’ ’bout Chi-Town,” Kanye West declares that if the listener hasn’t already understood, he is specifically discussing Chicago and its significance in his life and music.
[Chorus 2: Chris Martin]
I’m comin’ home again
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
‘Cause I’m comin’ home again
-Min’ home again
Baby, do you remember when
Fireworks at Lake Michigan? Oh!
Now I’m comin’ home again
-Min’ home again
Baby, do you remember when
Fireworks at Lake Michigan? Oh!
Now I’m comin’ home again
Maybe we can start again
In Chorus 2, Chris Martin once again addresses Chicago, metaphorically represented as “you,” expressing a desire to reconnect with the city and relive past memories.
The chorus begins with Martin asking if the city remembers him and if it still thinks about him, singing, “I’m comin’ home again Do you think about me now and then? Do you think about me now and then?”
This repetition emphasizes the singer’s yearning for a connection with Chicago and suggests a sense of nostalgia for the past. Martin reminisces about specific memories shared with the city, recalling fireworks at Lake Michigan: “Baby, do you remember when Fireworks at Lake Michigan? Oh!”
[Outro: Chris Martin]
Loy-oy-al, loy-oy-al
Comin’ home again
Loy-oy-al, loy-oy-al
Comin’ home again
Maybe we can start again
In the Outro, Chris Martin repeats the word “loyal,” emphasizing the theme of loyalty and commitment. He sings “Loy-oy-al, loy-oy-al” multiple times, suggesting a deep connection and dedication to something or someone. This repetition reinforces the idea of loyalty as a central theme of the song.
The outro also echoes the sentiment of returning home, with Martin singing “Comin’ home again” repeatedly. This phrase reflects the overarching theme of the song, which is about returning to one’s roots and finding a sense of belonging.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Homecoming”
“Home (Windy)” is a heartfelt tribute to Chicago, Illinois, written by Kanye West. The lyrics reflect West’s personal connection to his hometown, portraying Chicago as a feminized figure.
Throughout the song, West reminisces about growing up in Chicago, his love for the city, and his feelings of guilt for leaving to pursue his music career. He also references “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” a 1994 rap song by his friend and fellow Chicago artist Common.
This song is often misunderstood as being about a girl named Wendy because Kanye West slurs the word “Windy.” However, it’s actually about Chicago, West’s hometown. This is made clear when West says, “If you don’t know by now, I’m talkin’ ’bout Chi-town.”
In other words, Kanye West is using an extended metaphor, portraying his hometown of Chicago as a childhood sweetheart named Wendy.
In an interview with Concrete Loop on October 5, 2007, Kanye West described the song as “very emotional” and revealed that “Homecoming” was one of his top three favorite songs from the album Graduation.
Throughout the song, West tells the story of how his childhood sweetheart, representing Chicago, slipped away from him. His poetic language captures the complexity of his relationship with the city he once called home.
After each verse, Chris Martin sings a triumphant chorus about West’s return: “Do you think about me now and then? / ‘Cause I’m coming home again.” This chorus emphasizes the theme of West’s longing to return to his roots and reconnect with his hometown.
In the end, “Homecoming” is a celebration of identity and roots. It’s about embracing where you come from, even as you venture out into the world. The song serves as a reminder that no matter where life takes you, there will always be a piece of home in your heart.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.