Introduction
Alan Jackson’s song “Home” stands as a deeply personal tribute to his roots, encapsulating the essence of family, faith, and the simplicity of small-town life. Written during his initial days in Nashville, the song reflects Jackson’s homesickness and longing for his upbringing in Georgia. He crafted this piece as a heartfelt homage to his parents, Joseph Eugene Jackson and Ruth Musick, and the humble beginnings they shared .
Originally recorded in 1989 for his debut album Here in the Real World, “Home” was later featured on Jackson’s Greatest Hits Collection in 1995. Despite its initial role as a B-side track, the song gained significant recognition, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1996 .
The lyrics narrate the story of Jackson’s parents, who married young and built their home from a simple tool shed provided by his grandfather. This modest dwelling became the foundation for a family grounded in love, resilience, and strong moral values. Jackson’s vivid storytelling paints a picture of a household where his mother’s unwavering faith and his father’s hard work as a mechanic instilled in him the principles that would guide his life .
Critics have lauded “Home” for its sincerity and emotional depth. Deborah Evans Price of Billboard described it as a “loving tribute” that avoids sentimentality through its honest portrayal of familial bonds
In “Home,” Jackson not only shares his personal history but also evokes a universal sense of nostalgia, reminding listeners of the enduring importance of family and the places we come from.
Video
Lyrics
(Alan Jackson)
In a small town down in Georgia
Over forty years ago
Her maden name was Musey
Until she met that Jackson boy.
They married young like folks did then
Not a penny to their name
They believed the one you vowed to love
Should always stay the same.
And on the land his daddy gave him
A foundation underway
For a love to last forever
Or until their dying day.
They built a bond that’s strong enough
To stand the test a time
And a place for us to turn to
When our lives were in bind.
And they made their house from a toolshed
Grandaddy rolled out on two logs
And they built walls all around it
And they made that house a home.
And they taught us ’bout good living
And taught us right from wrong
Lord, there’ll never be another place
In this world that I’ll call home.
— Instrumental —
My mama raised five children
Four girls, and there was me
She found her strength in faith of God
And a love of family.
She never had a social life
Home was all she knew
Except the time she took a job
To pay a bill or two.
And my daddy skinned his knuckles
On the cars that he repaired
He never earned much money
But he gave us all he had.
He never made the front page
But he did the best he could
Folks drove the cars from miles around
And let ’em look underneath the hood.
And they made their house from a toolshed
Grandaddy rolled out on two logs
And they built walls all around it
And they made that house a home.
And they taught us ’bout good living
And taught us right from wrong
Lord, there’ll never be another place
In this world that I’ll call home.
There’ll never be another place
In this world that I’ll call home…