Somewhere deep inside
Something's got a hold on you
And it's pushing me aside
See it stretch on forever

And I know I'm right
For the first time in my life
That's why I tell you
You'd better be home soon

Stripping back the coats
Of lies and deception
Back to nothingness
Like a week in the desert

And I know I'm right
For the first time in my life
That's why I tell you
You'd better be home soon

So don't say no
Don't say nothing's wrong
'Cause when you get back home
Maybe I'll be gone

It would 'cause me pain
If we were to end it
But I could start again
You can depend on it

And I know I'm right
For the first time in my life
That's why I tell you
You'd better be home soon
That's why I tell you
You'd better be home soon


Lyrics submitted by typo

Better Be Home Soon Lyrics as written by Neil Mullane Finn

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Better Be Home Soon song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    It reminds of "Got a man on your mind " by The Little River Band... Neil is a great songwriter.

    Thia007on December 01, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song reminds me of a woman whose husband is always away or very private and always messing up.possibly a song about his wife written in the voice of his wife trying to understand her view.i could be wrong.

    kaatrienon April 18, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Its metaphorical - it is sung from the point of view of someone in a relationship whose ptr is absent - not physically absent. "Somewhere deep inside Something's got a hold on you And it's pushing me aside" Its about being honest in a relationship and sharing yourself with your ptr rather than pushing your ptr aside. He is basically saying the relationship will be over if she continues to be 'absent' from the relationship I dont believe its specifically about cheating or dishonesty; i think its generally about relationships and sharing yourself with your ptr and being "present". That is my take on it anyway.

    MidNiteOilon February 26, 2005   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I'm not trying to suggest any of this is the actual meaning of the song, but after some recent struggles with a relationship, I saw this song in a whole new context.

    "Somewhere deep inside Something's got a hold on you And it's pushing me aside See it stretch on forever"

    I was recently relationship with someone who suffered from extreme anxiety that ultimately caused the relationship to end. It was a struggle in both directions, but I feel like this fits my side of the story. It was a battle between our emotional connection and the difficulty of dealing with a third influence, the anxiety.

    Deep inside her was this voice, that pushed me aside and became more important than our relationship.

    The "Better be home soon" reminds me of waiting for her anxious spells to subside, when she was 'away' came back to her normal self. In those situations, I'd know and trust that my logic was 'right' and her anxiety was in control, and I was waiting for her to come home.

    "Stripping back the coats Of lies and deception Back to nothingness Like a week in the desert"

    Feels like how the relationship fell apart. The lies and deception being the anxiety painting me in a different way. All the ways I could be bad became amplified and it became easier to leave me in the desert.

    "It would 'cause me pain If we were to end it But I could start again You can depend on it"

    Convincing myself that things could be better, than I am in an unhealthy relationship and everything will be okay if I address the situation, since that carried a risk of ending things.

    "So don't say no Don't say nothing's wrong 'Cause when you get back home Maybe I'll be gone"

    Asking her to say 'yes' to working on this. Realize I'm here as your ally to get help and she doesn't have to deny or hide the issue. Acknowledges the toll the situation took on me, and how everything would seem 'okay' when she was 'home', but there is only so much time I can spend in the desert.

    emikon June 13, 2020   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think that this song is saying sorry. It is a story kinda, and he is saying that he knows that he hasn't been honest "striping back the coats of lies and deceiption" And the husband and wife are now seperated, but he is saying, come home, it is his way of saying "I love you"

    renzo131on April 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    their are a thousand meanings to this song.im only giving one .its all relative.

    kaatrienon June 13, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Personally, I think that the song sounds like the song's analysis in itself. If that makes any sense. The lyrics do sound analytical of something, be it what it may. And I shan't speculate.

    Bobo192on June 13, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i don't mean to be offensive kaatrien but in your first message it says the male in the relationship is the one "straying" but it could be the other way. i am female btw, i just made that observation. i don't know what this song means really but i like it.

    katoxon June 20, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sad, bittersweet, love, betrayal, loneliness, and determination. How could it not be a good song? Beyond that, Neil knows what it's about, but perhaps not many others.

    enchiridionon June 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Personally what I se in this song, is that its about someone in a relationship who does'nt trust their partner..like they think that thier partner is cheating on them and they are saying "you better be home soon" or I will know that your cheating on me...

    "So don't say no, don't say nothing's wrong Cos when you get back home maybe I'll be gone"

    but he is also saying that he's strong enough to get over it..and strong enough to leave if he's being used

    vera1234on October 01, 2004   Link

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