i love this song! it's definitely one of my favorite idlewild songs. i love the harmony at the end when roddy's just singing "welcome home" over and over. anyway, on to the meaning... i think it's kind of like he's trying to end a relationship, but he still loves her. and they haven't been fighting or anything, but they've just grown apart... so he's breaking up really gently because he doesn't want to upset her or himself, he thinks it's better for them to move on. when he says "you don't need to welcome me home" he's saying stop trying so hard, i know it's not working, it's ok. anyway that's one interpretation, but i think it can also be listened to as a love song.
also, has anyone else noticed roddy woomble's references to acting/theater? like in this song he talks about "everyone needs their own empty stage" and in el capitan he says "in a cast that's taking places, i'm unsure of where i'm meant to be". also on his recent solo album there's a song called act IV. maybe it doesn't mean anything, but as an idlewild fan and a wannabe actress i find it a really cool metaphor.
i love this song! it's definitely one of my favorite idlewild songs. i love the harmony at the end when roddy's just singing "welcome home" over and over. anyway, on to the meaning... i think it's kind of like he's trying to end a relationship, but he still loves her. and they haven't been fighting or anything, but they've just grown apart... so he's breaking up really gently because he doesn't want to upset her or himself, he thinks it's better for them to move on. when he says "you don't need to welcome me home" he's saying stop trying so hard, i know it's not working, it's ok. anyway that's one interpretation, but i think it can also be listened to as a love song. also, has anyone else noticed roddy woomble's references to acting/theater? like in this song he talks about "everyone needs their own empty stage" and in el capitan he says "in a cast that's taking places, i'm unsure of where i'm meant to be". also on his recent solo album there's a song called act IV. maybe it doesn't mean anything, but as an idlewild fan and a wannabe actress i find it a really cool metaphor.