Take Your Time (Coming Home)

Although I think that this song is about The Format breaking up, to me it is more about Nate's process of growing up through his experiences with The Format. Going home serves as a metaphor for two dichotomous concepts: giving up and accepting yourself as the failure that people expect you to be when you go out to conquer the world and return to your childhood home with your tail between your legs, as well as the process of finding who you are experiencing successes and failures and learning to forgive those who have hurt you.

It starts out with a chorus that for me speaks to the idea that it is hard coming home and as such, you should take your time and not rush it. Coming home requires forgiving and letting go as a critical part of the process.

As the song continues Nate seems to be saying that as you progress and go through life, it's not all bad like band break-ups, and being dropped from a record labels. There are also beautiful things like falling in love, being spontaneous, making love. Sometimes it's there and sometimes it's not but when it is you better enjoy it. I believe the first mention of love is a reference to Nate's old flame, Becca, who inspired most of Dog Problems. Saying she keeps coming in and out of his life and they can't seem to let each other go and keep ending up sleeping together.

He goes on to sing "I don't think "I was mislead, it was a rock and roll band," which I thinks speaks to letting go of that vitriol Nate clearly had towards the major label that dropped which he sang about in the "the compromise" off the album "Dog Problems. Almost as if to say, "what did I expect, it's part of the process of trying to make it big and "causing a scene" which is clearly a running theme of the Format's first single ("The First Single") as well as their first album . Once again referencing the break up of The Format, he sings: "See, of everyone who called, Very few said "We believe in you." The overwhelming choice said I'm just a boy inside a voice"

To me this speaks to the idea that Nate felt like and was possible treated like a failure after the band ended and that many people, instead of wishing him well in his next endeavor, people might have attributed their break-up to Nate's immaturity or at the very least acted like he was still the same old Nate that was depressed, abusing alcohol, and staying hung up on Becca. Almost like "Despite your successes, your still the same old person." Kind of like how when you leave home and go back years later, people still want you to fit in the same old box you fit in before you left. Nate goes on:

"and if that's true, if that's true, if that's true, then what the fuck have I been doing the last six years? How did I end up here? How did I find love and conquer all my fears? See, I made it out. Out from under the sun. And the truth is that I feel better because I've forgiven everyone."

Here the implication is that Nate got to a point where he was like "Screw that, I'm different person as a result of my successes and my failures. I took a risk. I grew as a person. I got out of Glendale. I conquered my fears. I made it out of the corporate rock scene with my artistic integrity intact (Out from under the sun is clearly a reference to the line in the song "on your porch:" "Now it's time to get out of the desert (Arizona) and into the sun (California).)" Ultimately, he's saying he is happy because he let go and learned to forgive.

He goes on to list all the other things he has learned and the ways he has grown and found the second kind of home (self acceptance and serenity): Now I'm not scared of a song or the states, or the stages. I'm not scared. I've got friends, took my call, came courageous. Now I feel like I am home.

The part about the dream signifies to me that he is free of his childish pursuit of being the next big thing (A direct reference to "The First Single") and has accepted his place as an artist who makes music because that is his passion and his way of dealing with life and processing through his feelings.

The real kicker is the last couple of lines where it all comes full-circle: She is here and now I think she's ready to go. For every love that's lost I heard a new one comes. So come on with me, sing along with me, Let the wind catch your feet. If you love somebody, you'd better let them know. Take your time coming home.

The implication that Nate has found better love with a person who is more ready to love and be loved because he took his time coming home and is ultimately in a better place. Finally, he implores the listener to take the journey, take a risk, let the ones you love know it, and ultimately, find their own homes to go to.

This is an amazing song, even if I have read into it way too much. The beauty of Nate's art (and all truly great music) is that it is so complex, that even if you misinterpret it, it can take on a personal meaning to you. Keep up the good work Nate, you hit this one out of the ball park.

I am really excited about this song. I agree that it seems to be about the Format breaking up. Here is my interpretation.

I think the first verse and the "chorus" is all about not holding grudges. Nate is telling people to relax, just enjoy what is around you, and forgive people.

Then Nate talks about someone he loves. I love the line "It's a beautiful thing when you love somebody." I think Nate includes this verse to show that although he lost one thing (his band), he still has his love. His eggs weren't all in one basket.

Then Nate says "I don't think I'd been misled,it was a rocknroll band,I'm still standing." This is about The Format. I feel like he is justifying the fact that he is able to take his time and to forgive everyone by saying that it was just a band.

Then comes the "see of everyone who called" verse. Most of the people who called Nate after the break-up had a "I told you so" attitude. They thought he would fail, and felt like he did. However, Nate didn't fail. He was successful with The Format, established himself in the music world and has a bright future. My favorite line is "if it's true, if it's true, if it's true, then what the fuck have I been doing these last six years." Then Nate keeps proving everybody wrong by listing all of the things he has done and overcome.

The dream part is a bit more difficult to understand. I imagine that the kids in the dream are Nate and his friends as kids. Nate has said in songs and at concerts that his family always had modest means. I also think that being through "causing a scene" is important. In the First single, the first song that The Format really got popular, Nate sings "Let's cause a scene." I feel that that line symbolizes the Format, and that Nate is saying he is through with the Format.

Nate ends by saying that for every love that goes, a new one comes. The Format left, but Fun is now here. That is what he means by that. He wants everybody to not take things for granted and to enjoy things while you can. That is why he wants everybody to tell the people they love how they feel.

This sounds like the story of The Format break up to me...or at least how Nate dealt with it. This was the last song fun. played at their concert, it really broke my heart. The words and melody are just beautiful, and they come to such an amazing resolution.

Love it, can't wait for the album!

Song starts with "oh da na na, oh da na na, oooh"

Has anyone heard the cat at 3:41? I know I'm not crazy, but are they recording at home or something?

lol yeah schrest18 i just noticed it too

is... See, I made it out. Out from under the sun. ...a reference to On Your Porch?

I think there is another reference to The Format when Nate is singing about the dream he has been having and he sings, "we're through with causing a scene", and the he says he doesn't know what it means but he too is also through with causing a scene, which is part of the lyrics from The First Single from Dog Problems, "So let's cause a scene, clap our hands or stomp our feet". I think it's another part where we see how much he has grown from the experience that was The Format.

"Let your lungs fill up with smoke." Perhaps he's referring to the line, "The smell of smoke is making my lungs explode." From The Format's song Tune Out?

this song is about nate and exacpeing the sun AKA arizona where he was stuck in a rut and overcomign his fears of moving on with his life . and leaving the people who he knew where using him and abuseing his tallents such as the record companys . and his FRIENDS . the break up of the format was not the reason for his sadness it was the pain that came from the stuff around the band .