If I could go back home…

I’ve been sitting on this blog post for two months now, since I first listened to Home Again (on June 24, if I recall correctly). I’m not sure why, except that there was plenty of activity in Elton cyberspace about the song to keep me occupied. So I just let it sink in, coming back to listen to it from time to time. And now, as the September 24th release date of The Diving Board approaches, I thought it might be a good time to put down my thoughts.

First impression

I like it! Is it the best song he’s ever done? Well, no. But I think it’s very good. Will it be a hit? Well, no. It’s just not the type of music that will appeal to the (younger) masses. It’s promising to see that there has been much more promotion of this song (and the album) than most from recent past, but it won’t be a chart buster.

In any case, Elton’s voice is quite strong, and the piano line is appropriately (imho) melancholy, if not haunting. Plus, I found the chorus very catchy – I was singing it and humming it throughout the day, even after listening to it only one time.

And Bernie’s lyrics are spot on – he really knows how to pull at my heart strings:

If I could go back home, if I could go back home
If I’d never left I’d never have known
We all dream of leaving but wind up in the end
Spending all our time trying to get back home again

I’m pretty sure that everyone can relate. I know I couldn’t wait to get out of my home town. I couldn’t wait to leave everything behind for (what I thought were) bigger and better things. But over the years, especially as I started my own family, it was natural – and inevitable – that I would go home again.

Perhaps it’s (a little bit) funny, but these more “mature” themes of Bernie’s really hit home (no pun intended) with me. As I mentioned in my blog post Still crazy after all these years…, I feel like the boys’ music has grown up with me, and when I heard Home Again for the first time, the message rang true.

The video

A very simple vignette painted against breathtaking scenery, the video captures the essence of the song perfectly.

While I was watching the video last week, my daughter heard Home Again for the first time. She commented that it was a very, very sad song.

I get that, but I guess I find it more poignant than sad. Especially since, when you finally do go home again, it can be a comfort and a blessing (at least it was for me).

So there you go. What do you think about Home Again?

Sadly, I have not yet heard Home Again played on the radio here in South Florida. I almost expected to hear it while shopping at Publix (since that’s the one and only time I heard The Bridge on the radio several years ago), but I haven’t heard it there yet either.

Anyway, I’m sure I’ll share more thoughts when the album comes out…in less than a month!!! But do give me some time before I blog about The Diving Board. If you recall, I must listen to a new album and spend some time with it by myself for a while. If I may borrow Elton’s own words, when I experience The Diving Board next month, I will be entering “a movie made up of Elton’s music and Bernie Taupin’s words. It’s a private world. Before it belongs to anyone else, it belongs to me.”

Counting down to September 24…

Home Again (The Diving Board – 2013)