About the song
Background
- Written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin, originally intended for a male artist.
- Miranda Lambert heard the demo and immediately connected to the lyrics, leading her to record it.
- Her connection stemmed from her own experiences of losing her childhood home due to financial hardship.
Lyrics
The song explores themes of nostalgia, self-discovery, and the enduring influence of one’s upbringing. Here are some key lyrics that highlight these themes:
- “Momma cut out pictures of houses for years / From Better Homes and Garden magazine / She’d point to ’em and say ‘Someday we’ll live there’ / We never did” – This verse paints a picture of yearning for a better life and the dreams Lambert’s mother held for their family.
- “Cracked floorboards, screen door slams / Memories on the walls / In this old house” – These lyrics evoke a sense of home and the powerful memories associated with a specific place.
- “I know they say you can’t go home again / I just gotta get my boots on the ground” – This line expresses the desire to reconnect with the past and the hope that revisiting her childhood home might bring solace.
- “Thought if I could touch this place / This brokenness inside me might start healing” – This lyric highlights the hope that the house represents a source of strength and a way to mend emotional wounds.
Themes
- Nostalgia: The song is filled with a longing for the past and the simpler times associated with Lambert’s childhood home.
- Self-discovery: The house becomes a symbol of Lambert’s identity and her journey to understand who she is.
- The enduring influence of home: The lyrics emphasize the lasting impact that a childhood home can have on a person’s life.
- Loss and resilience: The song acknowledges the loss of the physical house, but also celebrates the resilience of the memories and values instilled there.
Video
Lyrics
I know they say you can’t go home againI just had to come back one last timeMa’am, I know you don’t know me from AdamBut these hand prints on the front steps are mine
Up those stairs in that little back bedroomIs where I did my homework and I learned to play guitarAnd I bet you didn’t know under that live oakMy favourite dog is buried in the yard
I thought if I could touch this place or feel itThis brokenness inside me might start healingOut here, it’s like I’m someone elseI thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in, I swear I’ll leaveWon’t take nothin’ but a memoryFrom the house that built me
Momma cut out pictures of houses for yearsFrom better homes and garden magazinePlans were drawn and concrete pouredNail by nail and board by boardDaddy gave life to momma’s dream
I thought if I could touch this place or feel itThis brokenness inside me might start healingOut here, it’s like I’m someone elseI thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in, I swear I’ll leaveWon’t take nothin’ but a memoryFrom the house that built me
You leave home, you move onAnd you do the best you canI got lost in this whole worldAnd forgot who I am
I thought if I could touch this place or feel itThis brokenness inside me might start healingOut here, it’s like I’m someone elseI thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could walk around, I swear I’ll leaveWon’t take nothin’ but a memoryFrom the house that built me