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Listening To Otis Redding At Home During Christmas Lyrics
[Verse 1-Okkervil River]
Home is where beds are made and butter is added to toast
On a cold afternoon you can float room to room like a ghost
Take the creche out and argue about who gets to set up the kings
And I know that it’s home because that’s where the stereo sings
I’ve got dreams, dreams to remember
But not even home will be with you forever
[Verse 2-Okkervil River]
It’s Christmastime and the plane flies me over white hills
To a town in a dream where the sky, it is frozen and still
And a room that’s not mine but it’s just like I left it before
With the wax from the candles all dusty and locks on the door
Where I held you so tenderly
And where in summer I opened your letter to me
Now I’m standing where we kneeled and a miracle mile now borders it
But if I turn my face to the field I don’t even notice it for a second
[Verse 3-Okkervil River]
There’s a tangle of greenery where winter scenery ends
And I hear that song sometimes and imagine us much more than friends
Like if we stayed in this town, bought the first house that went up on sale
And how each Christmastime would bring in-laws and snow days and holiday mail
Your dad says you’re living in Georgia since last September
Yeah well I‘ve got dreams, dreams to remember, I‘ve got dreams, dreams to remember
I‘ve got dreams, dreams to remember, I‘ve got dreams, dreams to remember
Oh Sara, come back to New Hampshire we’ll stay there forever
Home is where beds are made and butter is added to toast
On a cold afternoon you can float room to room like a ghost
Take the creche out and argue about who gets to set up the kings
And I know that it’s home because that’s where the stereo sings
I’ve got dreams, dreams to remember
But not even home will be with you forever
It’s Christmastime and the plane flies me over white hills
To a town in a dream where the sky, it is frozen and still
And a room that’s not mine but it’s just like I left it before
With the wax from the candles all dusty and locks on the door
Where I held you so tenderly
And where in summer I opened your letter to me
But if I turn my face to the field I don’t even notice it for a second
There’s a tangle of greenery where winter scenery ends
And I hear that song sometimes and imagine us much more than friends
Like if we stayed in this town, bought the first house that went up on sale
And how each Christmastime would bring in-laws and snow days and holiday mail
Your dad says you’re living in Georgia since last September
Yeah well I‘ve got dreams, dreams to remember, I‘ve got dreams, dreams to remember
I‘ve got dreams, dreams to remember, I‘ve got dreams, dreams to remember
Oh Sara, come back to New Hampshire we’ll stay there forever
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I love the fact that they sing part of the Otis Redding song that the melody of this one strongly resembles. They must have realized it while writing or recording the song and decided to incorporate their inspiration into it. Very cool results.
Such a wonderful song. So calming, made for drifting off to sleep.
Such a great song- The narrator goes through so much inner turmoil, like many on the holiday season, especially remembering home and those he loves. All he wants is to feel that connection with 'Sara' again.... it's one of his many dreams...
what a sweet sentiment
absolutely gorgeous
its so perfect how he phrases each line, first hes describing it as a thing of the past but the end just turns into a confession. he still hasnt moved on from the home he left because thats where he wanted to stay with the girl he loved. and he doesnt want her to have moved on either.
When I'm listening to this song and "Do what you gotta do" I always get a feeling "Do what you gotta do" is that letter that girl, Sara, wrote to him... Also, "I came here to say I'm going away" fits into that story in my opinion... What do you think? DO that songs speak about one story of him and a girl he left when he needed to go?
I actually think this is one of the most depressing songs I've ever heard. The line, "but not even home can be with you forever" is a brutal truth that is often hard to face.
I don't find it depressing at all, this is a wonderful song about what home is, and how growing up we have one view of it, while growing up means having to change that definition. In the song he's recalling his dreams of home as a kid, the final line isn't necessarily "depressing" or "brutal" but simply very real, and beautiful in it's simplicity. This is a song everyone can relate to (unless you still live with parents) which is probably the most beautiful thing about it.
The last stanza kills me:
"And I hear that song sometimes and imagine us much more than friends - like if we stayed in this town, bought the first house that went up on sale, and how each Christmastime would bring in-laws and snow days and holiday mail."
He imagines life with her but knows it will never happen; and that's what makes the subsequent reality sound so profound its simplicity: "your dad says you've been living in Georgia, since last September." I imagine him visiting her house over Christmas, finding out she's not home.