Detroit City
Longing for Home: Detroit Dreams in Jan & Dean's Melody
Lyrics
I want to go home, I want to go home,
The singer expresses a strong desire to return home.
Oh Lord, I want to go home.
Reiterates the longing to go back home, emphasizing a plea to the Lord for assistance.
Last night I went to sleep in Detroit city,
The singer recounts falling asleep in Detroit city the previous night.
And I dreamed about those cotton fields and home,
While asleep, the singer dreamt about the cotton fields and their home, reminiscing about familiar surroundings.
I dreamed about my mother, dear old papa, sister and brother,
The dream involved thoughts of family members—mother, father, sister, and brother.
And I dreamed about that girl, who's been waitin' for so long
The singer also dreamt about a girl who has been patiently waiting.
I want to go home, I want to go home,
Repeats the strong desire to return home, conveying a sense of urgency.
Oh Lord, I want to go home
Reiterates the plea to the Lord to go back home.
Home folks think I'm big in Detroit city,
The singer's family believes they are successful or significant in Detroit city based on the letters sent.
From the letters that I write they think I'm fine,
The family's perception is based on the positive content of the letters received.
But by day I make the cars, and by night I make the bars,
During the day, the singer works in the automobile industry, while at night, they spend time in bars.
If only they could read between the lines
Suggests that if the family could read between the lines of the letters, they would understand the struggles or challenges faced.
I want to go home, I want to go home,
Repeats the intense desire to return home, emphasizing the longing.
Oh Lord, I want to go home
Reiterates the plea to the Lord to facilitate the return home.
You know, I rode a freight train north to Detroit city,
Recalls the journey to Detroit city via a freight train.
And after all these years I find I've just been wasting my time,
Reflects on the realization after spending years in Detroit that it has been an unproductive or unsatisfactory period.
So I think I'll take my foolish pride, put it on a southbound freight and ride,
Expresses the intention to leave Detroit, symbolically shedding their pride and aiming to return home.
Go on back to the ones I left, who've been waitin' for so long
Plans to go back to the loved ones who have been patiently waiting.
I want to go home, I want to go home,
Repeats the strong yearning and urgency to go back home.
Oh Lord, I want to go home.
Reiterates the plea to the Lord for assistance in returning home.
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