“Homeward Bound” is a song by Simon & Garfunkel, an American music duo. It was released as a single on January 19, 1966, by Columbia Records. The song was written by Paul Simon and produced by Bob Johnston. Paul Simon wrote this song during his time in England, possibly while waiting for a train at Widnes railway station in the northwest of England.
During his stay in England, he met Kathy Chitty, who is the same Kathy mentioned in “Kathy’s Song” and “America.” Kathy later became his girlfriend. While waiting for a train from Liverpool to London after a performance, Paul Simon wrote the song to express how much he missed Kathy and his home.
The song reflects a strong longing for home and companionship as the singer thinks about the loneliness and emptiness of life on the road.
In this article, we will analyze the meaning behind the lyrics.
Table of Contents
Inspiration Behind “Homeward Bound”
“Homeward Bound” was written by Paul Simon after he returned to England in early 1964. He had previously spent time in Essex and frequented the Railway Hotel in Brentwood from April that year.
Before coming to England, Simon had been part of the folk scene in Greenwich Village, New York, and had recorded his first album with Art Garfunkel, titled “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.,” which he believed would not succeed.
During his time in England, Simon met Kathy Chitty, who worked as a ticket-taker at the club. They quickly became close, but Simon’s desire to perform in London eventually led to an emotional farewell.
After a performance in Widnes, Simon was at Widnes railway station, heading to his next gig in Humberside. Missing Chitty, he started writing “Homeward Bound” on a scrap of paper.
There’s a plaque at Widnes station commemorating the song’s creation, although some suggest Simon may have written parts of it in Liverpool and Wigan before finishing it at the station.
In a 1990 interview with SongTalk magazine, Simon discussed this song’s origin:
“That was written in Liverpool when I was traveling. What I like about that is that it has a very clear memory of Liverpool station and the streets of Liverpool and the club I played at and me at age 22. It’s like a snapshot, a photograph of a long time ago. I like that about it but I don’t like the song that much.
First of all, it’s not an original title. That’s one of the main problems with it. It’s been around forever. No, the early songs I can’t say I really like them. But there’s something naive and sweet-natured and I must say I like that about it. They’re not angry. And that means that I wasn’t angry or unhappy.
And that’s my memory of that time: it was just about idyllic. It was just the best time of my life, I think, up until recently, these last five years or so, six years… This has been the best time of my life. But before that, I would say that that was.”
“Homeward Bound” Lyrics Meaning
Before we delve into the story behind this song, let’s take a closer look at each verse of the lyrics.
[Verse 1]
I’m sittin’ in the railway station
Got a ticket for my destination, mmm
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
In Verse 1, Paul Simon describes sitting in a railway station with a ticket for his next destination, as he embarks on a tour of one-night performances.
He carries his suitcase and guitar, and every stop on his journey is carefully planned, emphasizing his role as a poet and a one-man musical act on the road.
[Chorus]
Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home, where my thought’s escaping
Home, where my music’s playing
Home, where my love lies waiting
Silently for me
In the Chorus of the song, Paul Simon expresses a strong longing for home.
He wishes he was “homeward bound,” where his thoughts find peace, his music plays, and his love patiently waits for him.
It’s a heartfelt expression of missing the comfort and familiarity of home while being on the road.
[Verse 2]
Everyday’s an endless stream
Of cigarettes and magazines, Mmm
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
In Verse 2, Paul Simon reflects on his daily experiences during his tour. He describes it as an unending stream of cigarettes and magazines.
He mentions that each town he visits looks the same to him, with a monotonous routine of movies and factories.
Every stranger’s face he sees reminds him of his longing to be somewhere else, suggesting a sense of weariness and disconnection from his surroundings.
[Verse 3]
Tonight I’ll sing my songs again
I’ll play the game and pretend, mmm
But all my words come back to me
In shades of mediocrity
Like emptiness in harmony
I need someone to comfort me
In Verse 3, Paul Simon conveys a sense of loneliness and isolation.
He mentions that he will sing his songs again and play a role, but he acknowledges that his words often come back to him in shades of mediocrity, implying that he may feel unfulfilled or unconnected despite his performances.
The reference to “emptiness in harmony” suggests a feeling of emptiness within himself, and he expresses a need for someone to provide comfort and companionship.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Homeward Bound”
“Homeward Bound” by Paul Simon is a song that reflects the singer’s longing for home and companionship while on tour. The song explores the feelings of loneliness and emptiness that can accompany life on the road, where each town seems indistinguishable, and every face appears as a stranger.
Paul Simon draws inspiration from his personal experience. During his stay in England, he encountered Kathy Chitty, a figure mentioned in other Simon & Garfunkel songs like “Kathy’s Song” and “America.” Kathy became his girlfriend, though they broke up later.
Paul Simon penned the lyrics while waiting for a train from Liverpool to London after a performance to express how deeply he missed not only his home but also the love of Kathy.
The title “Homeward Bound” reflects a strong desire to return home. The word “homeward” refers to the direction toward one’s home, and “bound” implies a sense of heading or moving in that direction.
In the song, Paul Simon describes “home” as a place that carries special meaning in his life, singing, “Home, where my thoughts are escaping, Home, where my music’s playing, Home, where my love lies waiting.”
Overall, “Homeward Bound” is about yearning for a time and place that has passed, a desire to escape the solitude and loneliness that can creep in when you’re constantly traveling. It’s a feeling we all experience at times – a longing for a simpler, happier, and brighter past.
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.