Love, and the heartbreak that comes with it, might be the greatest muse when it comes to inspiring great music, but home comes a close second. There are a lot of emotions associated with your home—love included, and songs about home you might resonate with. If you’re selling your home, you might be surprised by how sentimental you’re getting about leaving a place you made so many memories in. If you’re buying a new home, you might be excited by the memories you’re about to make.
Either way, the idea of home is a powerful emotional force for many people and the source of inspiration for many talented musicians. Here are our picks for the 15 best songs about home.
15. Homeward Bound – Simon & Garfunkel
While many of us envy the life of a rock star, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel mused about missing home while on the road. This song will really hit home (no pun intended) if you travel for work or serve in the military.
Every day’s an endless stream Of cigarettes and magazines And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories And every stranger’s face I see reminds me that I long to be
Homeward bound I wish I was Homeward bound Home where my thought’s escaping Home where my music’s playing Home where my love lies waiting Silently for me Homeward bound
14. The House that Built Me – Miranda Lambert
If anyone has ever visited the house they grew up in as an adult, this country ballad is sure to get you misty-eyed. It’s a very personal look at reconnecting to a childhood home and the memories that come with it.
Mama cut out pictures of houses for years From ‘Better Homes and Garden’ magazines Plans were drawn, and concrete poured And nail by nail and board by board Daddy gave life to mama’s dream
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it This brokenness inside me might start healing Out here it’s like I’m someone else I thought that maybe I could find myself If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave Won’t take nothing but a memory From the house that built me
13. Celebrate Me Home – Kenny Loggins
Going home for the holidays triggers a lot of nostalgia, so not surprisingly, it’s a common theme in music. In this very personal rock ballad, Kenny Loggins sings about heading home for the holidays after a life spent on the road.
Home for the holidays I believe I’ve missed each and every face Come on and play my music Let’s turn on every love light in the place
It’s time I found myself Totally surrounded in your circles Whoa, my friends Please, celebrate me home
12. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Home and love go hand in hand. In this feel-good folk song, then couple Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos sing about their relationship and how sometimes “home” is a state of mind or another person rather than four walls and a roof.
Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma and Pa Not the way that I do love you Well, Holy moly, me oh my, you’re the apple of my eye Girl, I never loved one like you
Man, oh, man, you’re my best friend, I scream it to the nothingness There ain’t nothing that I need Well, hot and heavy pumpkin pie, chocolate candy, Jesus Christ Ain’t nothing please me more than you
Oh, home, let me come home Home is wherever I’m with you Oh, home, let me come home Home is wherever I’m with you
11. Our House – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
We would be remiss to leave out this classic from supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. This song features terrific harmonies and simple lyrics to create a tune that feels as cozy as home.
I’ll light the fire, you put the flowers in the vase that you bought today Staring at the fire for hours and hours while I listen to you Play your love songs all night long for me, only for me
Come to me now and rest your head for just five minutes, everything is good Such a cozy room, the windows are illuminated by the Sunshine through them, fiery gems for you, only for you
Our house is a very, very fine house with two cats in the yard Life used to be so hard Now everything is easy ‘cause of you
10. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
Even if you’ve never been to West Virginia, John Denver paints a pretty vivid picture in his anthem to the Mountaineer State. Although not officially the state slogan, West Virginia has adopted “Almost Heaven” as its unofficial tagline.
Almost heaven, West Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River Life is old there, older than the trees Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Country roads, take me home To the place I belong West Virginia, mountain mama Take me home, country roads
9. Our House – Madness
This upbeat ‘80s classic captured a more simple time and the everyday hustle and bustle of a working class family. Although considered a “one hit wonder” in the US, the group enjoyed a successful career in the UK.
Father wears his Sunday best Mother’s tired, she needs a rest The kids are playing up downstairs Sister’s sighing in her sleep Brother’s got a date to keep, he can’t hang around
Our house, in the middle of our street Our house, in the middle of our street Our house, in the middle of our street
8. Small Town – John Cougar Mellencamp
John Cougar Mellencamp makes no apologies for being from a small town in Indiana in his song of the same name. The song struck a chord with people from both big and small towns, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Charts.
But I’ve seen it all in a small town Had myself a ball in a small town Married an L.A. doll and brought her to this small town Now she’s small town just like me
No I cannot forget where it is that I come from I cannot forget the people who love me Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town And people let me be just what I want to be
7. Home – Michael Bublé
In another song that touches on life on the road and a person being “home” as much as a place, Michael Bublé wrote this song for his then fiance while on tour in Europe. Since then, it has been covered by numerous artists and become a hit several times over.
Another summer day Has come and gone away In Paris and Rome But I wanna go home, mmm
May be surrounded by A million people I Still feel all alone Just wanna go home Oh, I miss you, you know
6. Green, Green Grass of Home – Tom Jones
While this song was originally performed by country singer Johnny Darrell and has been covered by the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Joan Baez, Tom Jones’s 1966 version is probably the most famous. It’s one of the more somber songs about home, but for one last time.
The old house is still standing tho’ the paint is cracked and dry And there’s that old oak tree that I used to play on Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary Hair of gold and lips like cherries It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home
5. California Love – 2Pac
This is the only hit on our list of songs about home that doesn’t actually use the word “home,” but there’s no doubt what inspired 2Pac when he wrote “California Love.” His ode to his home state is still as relevant and popular as ever, even over 25 years after it was released.
Worldwide, let them recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans Bumpin’ and grindin’ like a slow jam It’s Westside, so you know the Row won’t bow down to no man Say what you say, but give me that bomb beat from Dre Let me serenade the streets of L.A. From Oakland to Sac-town, the Bay Area and back down Cali is where they put their mack down—give me love
California knows how to party California knows how to party In the city of L.A. In the city of good ol’ Watts In the city, the city of Compton We keep it rockin’, we keep it rockin’
4. Mama, I’m Coming Home – Ozzy Osbourne
Mama, I’m Coming Home is one of our favorite songs about home. The Prince of Darkness isn’t usually associated with sappy songs, but even Ozzy Osbourne is powerless to the sentimental draw of home. About the lyrics Osbourne said, “‘Mama, I’m coming home,’ was always something I’d say on the phone to my wife near the end of a tour.”
I’ve seen your face a hundred times Everyday we’ve been apart I don’t care about the sunshine, yeah ‘Cause mama, mama, I’m coming home I’m coming home
3. I Am… I Said – Neil Diamond
Another familiar theme from an artist who not only misses home, but fears he may have lost it altogether. Neil Diamond wrote this song about being torn between two coasts during a dark time in his life. Ultimately, the West Coast won—Diamond continues to make Malibu his home. You really know it’s an oldie when the lyrics refer to the affordable rent in Los Angeles.
L.A.’s fine, the sun shines most the time
And the feeling is “lay back” Palm trees grow and rents are low But you know I keep thinkin’ about Making my way back
Well I’m New York City born and raised But nowadays I’m lost between two shores L.A.’s fine, but it ain’t home New York’s home But it ain’t mine no more
2. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
When Lynyrd Skynyrd heard Neil Young’s harsh review of the South in his song “Southern Man,” they responded to him with their legendary hit “Sweet Home Alabama.” While the group disbanded after a tragic plane crash killed their lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines, this song will live forever in rock history.
Well, I heard mister Young sing about her Well, I heard ol’ Neil put her down Well, I hope Neil Young will remember A Southern man don’t need him around anyhow
Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet home Alabama Lord, I’m coming home to you
1. Two of Us – The Beatles
No.1 in our list of songs about home. Short, simple, and catchy, “Two of Us” is from the Beatles’ album Let It Be. It’s an ode to Paul McCartney’s future wife Linda Eastman or about McCartney’s friendship with John Lennon, depending on who you ask. But everyone can agree that it’s a catchy tribute to how companionship can feel like home.
You and I have memories Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
Two of us wearing raincoats Standing so low In the sun You and me chasing paper Getting nowhere
On our way back home We’re on our way home We’re on our way home We’re going home
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