Well I'll never be a stranger
And I'll never be alone Whenever we're together, that's my home Billy again delves into country-tinged pop with the ballad "You're My Home." Musically, it's a pleasant enough tune, and thematically it's a nice sentiment, that your lover is your "home." But there are some awkward lyrics here like "use my body for your bed," "when I feel my withered roots begin to grow" and the cringe-inducing "instant pleasure dome." Still it's a lovely song, sounding a bit like John Denver, Jim Croce (see "I Got A Name" or "Time In A Bottle") and Gordon Lightfoot (see "The Last Time I Saw Her Face").
I'm surprised no country-pop artist ever covered this song like Dolly Parton covered "Travelin' Prayer" and Garth Brooks covered "Shameless" from 1989's Storm Front. However, 1970s pop icon Helen Reddy did record and perform the song on The Midnight Special in which Billy Joel himself appeared and performed "Travelin' Prayer" and "The Ballad of Billy the Kid." Billy or his people later asked Ms. Reddy to stop performing the song as they did not like her version. At that time, Reddy was a big star, so it took some chutzpah to tell her to not record or perform it. Billy tells the story in the video below (right, bottom) in 2015 in his usual humorous and sarcastic fashion. He also talks about being inspired by Gordon Lightfoot. Billy not only recorded a live version (below) for 1981's Songs In The Attic but also a live version on the 12 Gardens bonus CD in 2006. In the liner notes for Songs In The Attic, Billy explains that he wrote the song as a Valentine's Day gift for his then wife Elizabeth (see right). Billy discusses the song on SiriusXM (2016).
The homemade video below (left) features photos from the 1973 movie Breezy (YouTube) starring Kay Lenz and William Holden. The movie always reminded me of the song and vice-versa. Lenz plays the quintessential 1970's California hippie lady in the movie, the kind of person that inspired Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" (YouTube) ("blue jean baby, LA lady"). Clint Eastwood directed the movie and has a brief cameo appearance.
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Words and Music by Billy Joel
When you look into my eyes And you see the crazy gypsy in my soul It always comes as a surprise When I feel my withered roots begin to grow Well I never had a place That I could call my very own But that's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home When you touch my weary head And you tell me everything will be all right You say, "Use my body for your bed And my love will keep you warm throughout the night" Well I'll never be a stranger And I'll never be alone Whenever we're together, that's my home Home can be the Pennsylvania Turnpike Indiana's early morning dew High up in the hills of California Home is just another word for you Well I never had a place that I could call my very own But that's alright my love 'cause you're my home If I travel all my life And I never get to stop and settle down Long as I have you by my side There's a roof above and good walls all around You're my castle, you're my cabin, and my instant pleasure dome I need you in my house 'cause you're my home You're my home You're my home You're My Home
(Recorded July 1980, Bijou, Washington, D.C., Piano Man) Corny but true. I was broke at the time ('73) so I wrote this for my wife as a Valentine's Day gift. (From Songs In Attic liner notes)
"High up in the hills of California"
(Photo posted by Errol Kofsky in BillyJoelCompletelyRetold Facebook group) |
Videos
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Music video for "You're My Home" recorded in Sparks in Long Island. This is not the same version as on the album Songs In The Attic. © 1981 Columbia Records, SME.
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Live version (audio only) from Songs In The Attic recorded at the Bijou in Washington, D.C. in 1981.
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Studio version of "You're My Home" featuring photos of actress Kay Lenz from the movie "Breezy." Song is © 1973 Sony Music Entertainment.
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"You're My Home" from the video Billy Joel Tonight (1976)
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