Back Home Again

A good friend of mine recently moved to a farm. After decades of working and wrestling with all the pressures of life, he and his wife decided to sell their house and start over, embracing a much simpler and quieter life.

Today, I was listening to an old John Denver LP, Back Home Again. The album came out in 1974 when Denver was reaching his prime in popularity, but he seemed to maintain a certain humility about life and a sense of what really matters. The title song is about recognizing and embracing the important things of life - returning to the essentials.

In a way, I think my friend went back home again, to a simpler life he may have experienced as a kid, or to one that he may have always wanted.

"Back Home Again" is a good song in its own right, but as I listened, it hits a little closer to home now (pun intended).

Live well, my friend.

*************************

"Back Home Again" by John Denver

There's a storm across the valley, clouds are rollin' in
The afternoon is heavy on your shoulders
There's a truck out on the four lane, a mile or more away
The whinin' of his wheels just makes it colder

He's an hour away from ridin' on your prayers up in the sky
And ten days on the road are barely gone
There's a fire softly burning; supper's on the stove
But it's the light in your eyes that makes him warm.

Hey, it's good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Yes, 'n, hey it's good to be back home again

There's all the news to tell him, how did you spend your time?
And what's the latest thing the neighbors say
And your mother called last Friday, "Sunshine" made her cry
And you felt the baby move just yesterday

Yes, 'n, hey it's good to be back home again, yes it is
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Yes, 'n, hey it's good to be back home again

And oh, the time that I can lay this tired old body down
And feel your fingers feather soft on me
The kisses that I live for, the love that lights my way
The happiness that livin' with you brings me

It's the sweetest thing I know of, just spending time with you
It's the little things that make a house a home
Like a fire softly burning and supper on the stove
The light in your eyes that makes me warm

Hey, it's good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Yes, 'n, hey it's good to be back home again

Hey, it's good to be back home again, you know it is
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Hey it's good to be back home again
I said hey it's good to be back home again