51 Best Songs About Home, Leaving Home, & Returning Home

Listening to songs about home usually brings back fond memories of your childhood.

Countless artists have written about the nostalgia of being in the place where they grew up (probably due to feeling homesick while out on tour).

Whether you’re returning to your hometown or reminiscing about your old house, you’re sure to find plenty of sentimental tunes listed below to fit the mood.

 

The Best Songs About Home, Leaving Home, & Returning Home

After reviewing numerous popular songs, we’ve discovered the greatest hits about home that’ll walk you down memory lane.

Here’s our playlist of the 51 best songs about home, leaving home, & returning home:

 

51. Take Me Home – Jess Glynne

“Take Me Home” is one of the most powerful and emotional songs on this list, featuring passionate vocals from Jess Glynne.

Its lyrics were inspired by a breakup Glynne experienced and focus on the fact that we all need someone who cares and will take us home when we need to go.

This track became the official song for the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Children in Need charity in 2015.

 

50. Green Green Grass Of Home – Tom Jones

This somber country song was originally recorded by Johnny Darrell in 1965.

The lyrics describe a man’s dream of visiting his childhood home while awaiting execution in prison.

In 1966, it reached #1 in the UK and #12 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart in the U.S.

 

49. My Town – Montgomery Gentry

Chances are, you’ll relate to so many memories listed in this country song by Montgomery Gentry.

“My Town” is a shoutout to the narrator’s hometown, in which he paints a picture of what it was like when he lived there.

It charted at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 2002.

 

48. Caledonia – Dougie McLean

“Caledonia” was written by Scottish folk band Dougie McLean in 1977 and is often considered Scotland’s unofficial country anthem.

In this folk ballad, McLean talks directly to Caledonia, Scotland, telling it that he’s homesick and can’t wait to return.

Frankie Miller’s cover boosted the song to fame in 1991, peaking at #45 on the UK Singles Chart.

 

47. We’re Going Home – Vance Joy

Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy also has one of the best songs about home.

“We’re Going Home” is about stepping out of your comfort zone and seeing what you’re made of while also recognizing that you have a home to go back to no matter what happens.

It reached #16 on the ARIA chart in 2018 and was nominated for Most Played Australian Work at the APRA Music Awards in 2019.

 

46. She’s Leaving Home – The Beatles

“She’s Leaving Home” is written from the parent’s perspective and tells the story of a young girl who runs away from home.

You’ll also find The Beatles’ song, “With A Little Help From My Friends,” on our best songs about friendship playlist.

This hit received the 1967 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

 

45. Welcome Home – Coheed and Cambria

If you’re ready to revisit some teen angst, this is one of the best rock songs to listen to.

“Welcome Home” is a melodramatic breakup song featuring a guy complaining about the girl who left him.

The track hit #24 on Billboard Mainstream Rock and #36 on the Alternative Songs chart in 2005.

 

44. Come Home – OneRepublic

“Come Home” is a piano-based ballad from OneRepublic’s debut studio album, Dreaming Out Loud.

Frontman Ryan Tedder wrote the song about a friend who was away from his fiancée serving in the military.

It reached #80 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009, while Faith Hill’s version peaked at #26 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 2011.

 

43. Hometown – Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots released “Hometown” as the twelfth song on their fourth album, Blurryface.

This alternative song has numerous interpretations, but many believe it describes the earth as a dark hometown in desperate need of hope and light.

The album soared to #1 on the Billboard 200 in 2015 and won Top Rock Album at the Billboard Music Awards in 2016.

 

42. Homecoming – Kanye West

“Homecoming” is a shoutout to West’s hometown in Chicago, Illinois, in which he compares the city to a childhood sweetheart.

You’ll see more hits from Kanye on our best songs about memories playlist (“Family Business”) and best songs about money playlist (“Gold Digger”).

The hip-hop track peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart in 2008.

 

41. Coming Home – Diddy ft. Skylar Grey

This pop/hip-hop song was released as a single in 2010 off Diddy’s debut album, Last Train To Paris.

“Coming Home” is all about the joy of returning home and making a comeback after making mistakes in life.

It charted #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, #9 in Canada, and #5 in the UK in 2010.

 

40. Happy Home – Lukas Graham

This tune was originally a single by DJ Hedegaard featuring Graham; however, it became so successful that he included it on his second album, Lukas Graham (Blue Album).

The singer recounts personal memories of his childhood and his late father in this song.

“Happy Home” reached #1 on the Norweigan iTunes chart and entered the Swedish Top 40 in 2014.

 

39. Home – Dan Croll

“Home” is a nostalgic indie rock song from Croll’s 2013 album, Sweet Disarray.

The song speaks of different elements of a home that causes the narrator to remember the feelings of being at his old house.

Dan Croll won the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund’s national Songwriter of the Year award in 2011. The Sweet Disarray album charted at #53 in the UK in 2013.

 

38. The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert

This is one of the best country songs about home, which is sure to take you back to your younger years.

“The House That Built Me” is an autobiographical song about Lambert’s childhood home that shares the emotional ties we all have to the house we lived in growing up.

The beautiful song won a Grammy Award in 2011 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

 

37. Back Where I Come From – Kenny Chesney

If you’re searching for other songs about home in the country genre, this one’s a perfect one to play.

Its lyrics express Chesney’s special feelings about his hometown in Mississippi, describing what it was like to live there as a kid.

“Back Where I Come From” hit #14 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1990.

 

36. Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith

Several artists have covered this folk-rock song by Blind Faith, including Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, and Alison Krauss.

“Can’t Find My Way Home” is usually interpreted as a melancholy song about being lost in life and recognizing the need to return to your roots.

The tune’s music video has over 2.3 million YouTube views and appeared on the TV series Crossing Jordan in 2003.

 

35. Nobody Home – Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd fans will enjoy “Nobody Home,” as it features deep lyrics that are open to various interpretations.

Many believe it talks about a person who has mentally isolated themself from society and feels like no one is there to talk to.

This progressive rock song came from the band’s album, The Wall, which made it onto Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest albums of all time in 2003, 2012, and 2020.

 

34. Home – Sheryl Crow

Here’s a folk ballad from 1997 that’s perfect for when you’re missing what used to be.

In this song, solo artist Sheryl Crow shares how she isn’t happy with her home, telling how she’s lost the love she used to have for her husband.

“Home” peaked at #25 on the UK Singles chart and #40 in Canada during 1998.

 

33. Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake, ft. Majid Jordan

This relaxed R&B hit focuses solely on adoration for a significant other. The singer wants to go home and live life with the woman he loves.

Check out another song from Drake, “Started From The Bottom,” on our best songs about winning playlist.

This jam peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2013.

 

32. Christmas Tree Farm – Taylor Swift

Here’s the only holiday song about missing home included on this list, which focuses on her childhood memories from Christmas time.

Find more Taylor Swift tunes like “The Outside” on our best songs about loneliness playlist and “Shake It Off” on our best songs to wake up to playlist.

The song debuted at #2 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart and #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019.

 

31. Home – Daughtry

“Home” is the second single from Daughtry’s self-titled debut album, which has become one of the best home songs in music history.

Daughtry wrote the lyrics before his appearance on American Idol and the waiting game that made him miss his home and family.

It won a People’s Choice Award in 2008 for Favorite Rock Song and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2007.

 

30. Home – Goo Goo Dolls

This is yet another one of the most famous songs about home, inspired by the Goo Goo Dolls’ lonely life touring.

“Home” is about the desire we all have for closeness and realizing that home is really the place that has everything you need.

The alternative rock song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart in 2010.

 

29. Homegrown – Zac Brown Band

If you love country music, then chances are, you’ll enjoy this country pop style tune from Zac Brown Band.

“Homegrown” is a happy song about being satisfied with life in a small town, citing his “good-lookin’ woman” and “good friends that live down the street.”

It hit #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2015 and has sold over 781,000 copies in the U.S.

 

28. Leaving Home Ain’t Easy – Queen

“Leaving Home Ain’t Easy” is all about the difficulty of leaving your home and the people you love most.

Queen also appears on our best easy songs to sing playlist with “We Will Rock You” and our best karaoke duets of all time playlist with “Under Pressure.” We Will Rock You

The song from 2014 currently has over 507,000 YouTube views just on its lyric video.

 

27. My Hometown – Bruce Springsteen

This Springsteen hit takes a look back at the pride his father had in his hometown and the racism and economic depression that held it down.

You’ll also find another Bruce Springsteen track, “Rosalita,” on our best happy songs playlist.

“My Hometown” peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1985.

 

26. Hometown Glory – Adele

“Hometown Glory” is a tribute to Adele’s hometown of London, England, where she sings about her appreciation for the people she’s met there.

Listen to more Adele songs on our best sweet 16 songs playlist (“Make You Feel My Love”) and best TikTok songs playlist(“Easy On Me”).

This song reached #18 on the UK Singles chart in 2008 and was also featured in the British TV series, Skins in 2007.

 

25. Take Me Home – Phil Collins

This rock song is the tenth tune on the singer’s third studio album, No Jacket Required.

“Take Me Home” talks about a person in a mental hospital who longs to be freed and is inspired by the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

In a 2011 Rolling Stone Reader’s Poll, this song was ranked #5 on their list of The 10 Best Phil Collins Songs.

 

24. Honey, I’m Home – Shania Twain

“Honey, I’m Home,” tells of the excitement of coming home and seeing your significant other after a long day at work.

Shania Twain is featured on our best summer songs playlist (“That Don’t Impress Me Much”) and our best 90s songs playlist (“Man! I Feel Like A Woman”).

The track took the #1 spot on the Canada Country Tracks chart and Billboard’s Hot Country Songs in 1998.

 

23. I Feel Home – O.A.R.

Here’s a tune that will immediately take you back to your childhood and make you appreciate the good times.

“I Feel Home” is a song that honors the founding band members’ hometown, where they spent countless nights writing songs and growing in their friendship.

The song is from the group’s album, XX, which debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums in 2016.

 

22. Home Sweet Home – Mötley Crue

This power ballad is perfect for glam metal fans who want to reminisce about where they grew up.

The lyrics were inspired by the band’s extended tour and their mixed feelings about being away from home for so long.

“Home Sweet Home” peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and on the Mainstream Rock chart in 1991.

 

21. Lights – Journey

Being out on the open road as a musician can make a rock band pretty homesick.

“Lights” by Journey focuses on the feeling of missing home, the difficulty of leaving loved ones behind, and the exhaustion of touring.

A live version of the hit reached #30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1993.

 

20. Home Again – Michael Kiwanuka

If you’re looking for a soulful folk tune about home, then we suggest adding this one to your playlist.

This melancholy song focuses on the comfort, freedom, and peace that we all have at home.

“Home Again” was Kiwanuka’s debut single off his album of the same name and charted at #29 on the UK Singles chart in 2012.

 

19. Coming Home – Leon Bridges

“Coming Home” is a single from Bridges’ debut studio album (under the same name) from 2015.

The R&B/soul song is all about the love and adoration the male narrator has for the remarkable woman in his life.

It soared to the #6 spot on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best R&B Album at the Grammy Awards in 2016.

 

18. Who Says You Can’t Go Home – Bon Jovi

This hit talks about Jon Bon Jovi’s hometown in New Jersey, describing all the good things he loves about it.

You can find more hits from Bon Jovi on our best songs about helping others playlist (“I’ll Be There For You”) and best 80s songs playlist (“Livin’ On A Prayer”).

“Who Says You Can’t Go Home” charted at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 in the UK in 2006.

 

17. Almost Home – Mariah Carey

“Almost Home” concentrates on the incredible feeling of getting back home and being surrounded by the people you love.

Be sure to listen to Carey’s song, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which is featured on our best songs of all time playlist.

This track reached #18 on the Billboard R&B Songs chart in 2013 and won World’s Best Video at the 2013 World Music Awards.

 

16. Home – Dierks Bentley

If you’re a country fan and are missing home, this is a great song to check out.

“Home” is a patriotic song inspired by all the people Bentley has met while touring the country. The lyrics share different stories to showcase that everyone has their definition of “home.”

It hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and the Canadian Country chart in 2012.

 

15. Home – Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros

Here’s an upbeat, indie-folk tune that’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

It’s a giddy love song that shares the interesting stories of two lovebirds, emphasizing the line, “home is wherever I’m with you.”

“Home” charted at #7 in France in 2010and #5 on the UK Indie charts in 2013.

 

14. Lego House – Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is back again with yet another great song about home off his debut album, +.

The singer-songwriter wrote this track using a lego house as a metaphor for a romantic relationship, describing how he’ll protect his woman (like a house does during a storm).

“Lego House” peaked at #5 in the UK in 2011, and its music video was nominated for Best Male Video at the 2013 MTV Music Video Awards.

 

13. Nobody’s Home – Avril Lavigne

“Nobody’s Home” is a sad pop-punk song about a girl who doesn’t know where she belongs, and even when she goes home, there’s no one there to help her.

Check out another Avril Lavigne hit, “When You’re Gone,” on our best songs about missing someone playlist.

The track reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top 40 in over nine European countries in 2004.

 

12. Mama, I’m Coming Home – Ozzy Osbourne

“Mama, I’m Coming Home” was inspired by the exact words Osbourne would say to his wife, Sharon, on the phone before returning home from touring.

The lyrics describe how the male narrator has changed his lifestyle and wants to come home to his lover.

The song charted at #2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992.

 

11. Castle On The Hill – Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is a folk-pop singer-songwriter who knows how to paint a vivid picture with his lyrics. This particular tune is packed with memories from his hometown in England.

Sheeran’s song, “Perfect,” also earned a spot on our best prom songs playlist.

“Castle On The Hill” received over 13 million online streams within only the first week of its release in 2017.

 

10. Our House – Madness

This Madness song is the lead single from their fourth studio album from 1982, The Rise & Fall.

“Our House” is just a song about the lead singer’s childhood, which seems to be directed at one of his siblings.

The track earned an Ivor Novello Award for Best Pop Song in 1983 and reached the top ten in multiple countries.

 

9. Home – Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson has a beautiful way of storytelling through his songs, especially this one about home.

This upbeat, poetic song can be summed up in the lyrics, “home is wherever we are if there’s love here too.” The narrator talks about tending to the loved ones in his life.

“Home” charted at #28 on the Billboard Rock Digital Songs chart in 2013.

 

8. Our House – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Graham Nash penned the lyrics to “Our House” as a portrait of his life with Joni Mitchell between 1968 and 1970.

It’s a happy song that celebrates the joys of ordinary family life and being with the people you love.

“Our House” appears in the popular films Bye Bye Love (1995), and Your Mother Should Know (2018).

 

7. Home – Phillip Phillips

“Home” is an encouraging folk-rock anthem that we think will instantly become one of your favorite songs.

The narrator in this tune tells listeners that they aren’t alone and that he is there to help them settle into their new home.

The single hit #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012 and became the highest-selling song by any Idol contestant in the U.S.

 

6. Homeward Bound – Simon And Garfunkel

“Homeward Bound” is one of many nostalgic songs about home that celebrate going back to your stomping grounds.

The song is set in a train station and describes the narrator’s desire to go home instead of his other destination.

The hit reached #4 on the Dutch Singles Chart, #2 on the Canadian RPM 100, and #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

 

5. Small Town – John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp wrote this roots-rock tune about his pleasant childhood living in a small town in Indiana.

In 2013, Mellencamp told Rolling Stone, “I was never one of those guys that grew up and thought ‘I need to get out of here.'”

“Small Town” took the #6 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1985.

 

4. Home – Michael Bublé

If you like Frank Sinatra, you’ll instantly be a Michael Bublé fan, as they sound very similar.

“Home ” discusses the pain of missing home, as the male narrator is away from his wife while traveling.

It peaked at #31 in the UK and topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in the U.S. in 2005.

 

3. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver

“Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver is among the greatest home songs the music industry offers.

Its lyrics describe the beauty of West Virginia, focusing primarily on its landscape, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah River.

The tune peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971 and has sold over 1.6 million digital copies within the U.S.

 

2. My House – Flo Rida

This is one of the most popular songs from 2015, which talks about welcoming a female love interest into his home for an enjoyable evening.

If you’re searching for more Flo Rida hits, take a look at our best party songs playlist, which features his hit “Club Can’t Handle Me.”

“My House” charted within the top ten in multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, Sweden, and the U.S., between 2015 and 2016.

 

1. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Sweet Home Alabama” is one of the best southern rock songs about home ever produced, which actually was a response to two Neil Young songs, “Southern Man” and “Alabama.”

The tune praises the state of Alabama and pays tribute to the traditional southern way of living.

You can also check out “Sweet Home Alabama” on our best karaoke songs of all time playlist.

It peaked at #7 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100 and #6 on the Canadian Top Singles chart in 1974.

 

Summary

Play these songs about home the next time you’re missing yours! Hopefully, these tunes will ease that homesick ache in your heart.

Whether you’re from small-town America or a big city, you’ll never forget where you came from.

What’s the best song about home, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.