Introduction
“Back Home Again” is a treasured song originally written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver. Released in September 1974 as the title track of his album Back Home Again, the single soared—peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending two weeks atop the Adult Contemporary chart. It also claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard country chart for a week and earned gold certification from the RIAA. The song’s resonance was further underscored when it won the 1975 CMA Award for Song of the Year, as Denver was honored that same night as Entertainer of the Year .
With its warm lyrics and gentle melody, “Back Home Again” evokes the comfort of returning to family, hearth, and home traditions—imagery that struck a chord amid the 1970s cultural longing for genuine connection . Its timeless quality has made it a favorite among both country and pop audiences for decades.
In the 2010s, the song found new life in a profound reinterpretation by the Americana duo Joey + Rory, featuring Rory Feek and his late wife Joey Feek. Their heartfelt rendition appears on the 2014 album Country Classics: A Tapestry of Our Musical Heritage, and again on their 2016 gospel-themed album Hymns That Are Important to Us . Recorded during Joey’s final battle with cancer, this version carries added emotional weight. Rory’s gentle acoustic delivery and the duo’s warm harmonies recast the song not just as a celebration of physical homecoming, but as an intimate testament to love, resilience, and faith amidst life’s most difficult moments .
The Joey + Rory version of “Back Home Again” stands as a moving tribute—to Denver’s enduring songwriting, to the Feeks’ personal journey, and to the simple yet profound power of returning home.
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Lyrics
There’s a storm across valley
Clouds are rolling in
The afternoon is heavy on your shoulders.
There’s a truck out on the forelane
A mile or so away.
And the whining of his wheels just makes it colder
He’s an hour away from riding
On your prayer up in the sky
Ten days on the road, 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 far feels like a long lost friend
Yes, hey it’s good to be back home again
Well there’s all the news to tell him
How’d you spend your time?
And what’s the latest thing the neighbours say?
And your mother called last Friday
Sunshine made her cry
And you felt the baby move just yesterday
Hey, it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old far feels like a long lost friend
Yes, hey it’s good to be back home again
Oh the time that I can lay this tired old body down
And feel your fingers, feather soft upon me
The kisses that I live for, the love that lights my way
The happiness that living with you brings me
It’s the sweetest thing I know of
Just spending time with you
It’s the little thing that makes a house a home
Like a fire softly burning
and supper on the stove
And the light in your eyes that makes me warm
Hey, it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old far feels like a long lost friend
Yes, hey it’s good to be back home again
Yes, hey it’s good to be back home again