This is a series of posts about the music I listen to while writing. This time I’m up to another Paul Simon song, Homeward Bound. This song was written by Simon in 1964 while in England. He had been performing around the country and often taking a train somewhere. Homeward Bound was first released by Simon and Garfunkel as a single in 1966 by Columbia Records. It reached number five on the pop charts and later was included in their album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.
Simon wrote this at a time of uncertainty in his career. He wasn’t widely known at the time he wrote it, but now who could imagine not hearing this song when thinking of Simon and Garfunkel. It’s a simple tune and straight forward lyrics and like most Simon songs, it stands alone as good piece of poetry. This is one of the things that draws me to artists like Simon. I have always felt that in the heart of a great song writer is a great poet. In just two and half minutes Homeward Bound tells the story of a lonely disillusioned song writer. The loneliness and self-doubt just drip from each verse.
These feelings are just strengthened by the chorus with its strong call home. Home, that place in our hearts where things are good, peaceful and comforting. How many of us think about just going home when confronted by hardship or obstacles? I know I’ve said it often enough at the end of a bad day of work, “I just want to go home.”
It’s in the third verse of the song where I often feel just like the singer in the song. It’s classic self-doubt with: “But all my words come back to me / In shades of mediocrity / Like emptiness in harmony “.
I can’t count the times that the critic in my head has looked at something I’ve written and just thought that it’s not even good enough to be mediocre. I imagine that many artists and creative people feel this way from time to time — that horrible feeling of things just not being right and we’re not good enough.
This song ends up on my writing playlist for just that reason. While Simon is expressing doubt and feelings of not being good enough, he manages to create a masterful work. Simple, clear and to the point in a most poignant way. This is the kind of poetry I aspire to and hearing these words, tell this story are oddly inspiring to work to find the creativity in even the most bleak situation.
Here’s the song for you to listen to again:
Andrew's View of the Week 
Has it really been that long? Seems like just a couple of years ago. Love these guys.
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Two years go by fast.
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I’m glad that song inspires you to write better, not depresses you to give up. I might be more inclined to the latter. It sounds so sad.
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I can’t imagine you giving up. Kicking them in the face, maybe, giving up, no …
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I won’t call it giving up then. I’ll just call it stopping. It will have to happen eventually.
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One of my favourites too, Andrew! The words are true poetry and you’ve captured the spirit of the song brilliantly and always interesting to read the history behind them. I saw Paul Simon play in Germany and he isn’t a natural showman but he doesn’t need to be – the songs are classic and a wonderful concert!
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I love his music.
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I am listening to Paul Simon for the first time. I am learning a lot from my WordPress friends. Thank you. Have you listened to Sir Tom Jones?
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Yes, I’ve listened to Tom Jones many times.
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It’s a little eye-opening to read how long ago this song was written. “Homeward Bound” would be on any top-ten S&G list. The backstory makes perfect sense (and I wasn’t aware of it). Any time a song is written about a real-life circumstance I feel like it has more potential and power than a song based on fiction. I would’ve thought “Homeward Bound” was written at the height of S&G popularity.
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The song did become one of their more known songs, but it didn’t start that way.
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Another of my favourites from Simon & Garfunkel! Thanks for reminding me. 🙂
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Always been one of my favorites.
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I can almost sing the lyrics without listening to the music.
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That’s what I love about this song.
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That song has always been special to me. Maybe it’s because for so many years, my husband and I lived far from our native homes. The lyrics are so poignant and the music is as well.
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Such a great song on so many levels.
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Good morning. I also love this song (and agree – Paul Simon is one of the best writers of our time.) I love the stories told through their songs and this one is no exception. It really does draw us in with the lyrics and we relate. It makes the song so personal. Great choice. 🙂
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It’s always been one of my favorites.
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