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.
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.