deepundergroundpoetry.com
When Home Leaves You
I left home at eighteen, but I didn’t stray too far
Wasn’t quite ready to find myself, I was still just a child
Tried again at nineteen, took the path that many do –
Defending our country’s freedom, but I was still just a boy
The changes going on inside, they run deep and they run slow
What turns the boy into the man, we’ll never really know
One day you’re chasing lightning bugs on a sultry summer night
The next you’re chasing dreams as they fade slowly out of sight
..
..
I took some time at twenty-three to fall back and regroup
I’d found a world much bigger and much harder than I knew
Left home again at twenty-eight, this time it was for good
I’d come too far to turn back now, even if I could (’cause the…)
Changes going on inside, they run deep and they run slow
What turns the boy into the man, we’ll never really know
One day you’re riding skateboards, teasing girls, and being cool
The next you’re racing down a road that’s ending way too soon
..
..
You don’t grow up when you leave home (but..)
when there’s no home left to go back to, when the
house that held a father, three kids, and a wife
is just an empty shell, full of ghosts of past life
You don’t grow up when you leave home
You only start to get a clue when home … leaves you
Wasn’t quite ready to find myself, I was still just a child
Tried again at nineteen, took the path that many do –
Defending our country’s freedom, but I was still just a boy
The changes going on inside, they run deep and they run slow
What turns the boy into the man, we’ll never really know
One day you’re chasing lightning bugs on a sultry summer night
The next you’re chasing dreams as they fade slowly out of sight
..
..
I took some time at twenty-three to fall back and regroup
I’d found a world much bigger and much harder than I knew
Left home again at twenty-eight, this time it was for good
I’d come too far to turn back now, even if I could (’cause the…)
Changes going on inside, they run deep and they run slow
What turns the boy into the man, we’ll never really know
One day you’re riding skateboards, teasing girls, and being cool
The next you’re racing down a road that’s ending way too soon
..
..
You don’t grow up when you leave home (but..)
when there’s no home left to go back to, when the
house that held a father, three kids, and a wife
is just an empty shell, full of ghosts of past life
You don’t grow up when you leave home
You only start to get a clue when home … leaves you
Published 26th Jan 2021
Author's Note
After both of your parents have gone, it's a long, painful process in clearing out the family home and preparing it for sale. It’s not easy to watch what has been your “home base” for decades turn into an empty shell of its former self, and then pass into the hands of strangers – knowing you'll never be able to set foot inside again.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 1
reading list entries 0
comments 2
reads 265
Commenting Preference:
The author is looking for friendly feedback.
17th Jul 2021 7:07pm
I could have told the story behind any item in my parents' house.
So difficult to sort, keep, give, or throw away.
This read like song lyrics.
So difficult to sort, keep, give, or throw away.
This read like song lyrics.
19th Jul 2021 4:55pm
It still is hard to drive by the house, but not be able to go in. Sometimes I wish we'd taken pictures before cleaning it out to sell. But then I think maybe it's better to just have the memories with our parents there.
This actually is a country song, but I'll probably never get around to recording it.
This actually is a country song, but I'll probably never get around to recording it.
