i was young when i left home
and i've been all around and 'round
and i never wrote a letter to my home
to my home, lord, lord, to my home
and i never wrote a letter to my home

and just the other day i was bringing home my pay
when i met an old friend i used to know
he said, "your mother's dead and gone
and your baby sister's all gone wrong
and your daddy needs you home right away"

not a shirt on my back, not a penny on my name
but i can't go home this way
this way, lord, lord, this way
but i can't go home this way

if you miss the train i'm on, count the days and i'm gone
you will hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
a hundred miles, honey baby, lord, lord, lord
and you'll hear that whistle blow a hundred miles

and i'm playing on a track, ma would come and woop my back
on them trusses down by ol' jim mckay's
when I pay the debt i owe to the commissary store
i'll pawn my watch and chain and go home
go home, lord, lord, lord
i'll pawn my watch and chain and go home

i used to tell my ma sometimes
when i see them riding blind
gonna make me a home out in the wind
in the wind, lord, lord, in the wind
gonne make me a home out in the wind

i don't like it in the wind
i'd go back home again
but i can't go home this way
this way, lord, oh this way
no, i can't go home this way

i was young when i left home
and i've been all around and 'round
and i never wrote a letter to my home
to my home, lord, lord, lord
i never wrote a letter to my home


Lyrics submitted by hellomagda

I Was Young When I Left Home (Bob Dylan cover) song meanings
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    General Comment

    This was actually performed by Antony Hegarty (of Antony & the Johnsons) and Bryce Dessner (of The National); billing it as an "Antony & the Johnsons" song isn't really correct, as the Johnsons had nothing to do with it. Appeared on the Dark Was the Night compilation put together by Bryce and Aaron Dessner.

    Also, beautiful song. His voice is so perfectly attuned to this beautiful song of regret, loneliness, and homesickness.

    noahcoburnon January 19, 2011   Link

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