Written by: Sorrells Pickard
Recorded: 27 June 1970
Producer: Pete Drake
Engineer: Scotty Moore
Released: 25 September 1970 (UK), 28 September 1970 (US)
Available on:
Beaucoups Of Blues
Personnel
Ringo Starr: vocals
Charlie Daniels, Chuck Howard, Jerry Kennedy, Dave Kirby, Sorrells Pickard, Jerry Shook: guitar
Ben Keith/Pete Drake: pedal steel guitar
Jim Buchanan/George Richey/Grover Lavender: fiddle
Roy Huskey Jr: upright bass
Buddy Harman/DJ Fontana: drums
‘Silent Homecoming’ is final the song on Beaucoups Of Blues, Ringo Starr’s second solo album.
It was written by Sorrells Pickard, who also composed ‘Without Her’, ‘Woman Of The Night’, and ‘$15 Draw’ on the album.
In the studio
Beaucoups Of Blues was recorded at Music City Recorders in Nashville, TN, with a number of local musicians, some of whom had appeared on Bob Dylan’s albums Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait. The album was produced by Pete Drake, with Elvis Presley’s guitarist Scotty Moore engineering.
The sessions took place from 6pm-9pm and 10pm-1am over three nights, from 25-27 June 1970. ‘Silent Homecoming’ was recorded during the first session on the night of 27 June.
Lyrics
Patiently she stares down the runway
Today’s the day that he is coming home
Seems like he’s been gone a lifetime
And a lifetime is a long time to be gone
But there are songs that need singing
And there are things that must be done
There are thoughts that still need thinking
And there are wars that must be won
He was just a boy when they sent for him
And overnight turned him into a man
Proudly he had served his country
In a war he didn’t seem to understand
The flag still waves, his war is over
He’ll never have to kill again
And as she waits, she thinks it over
Is winning worth the prize we pay to win?
His thoughts keep wandering to his childhood
When all his hand grenades were merely toys
And war was just a game that he was playing
With plastic guns like other little boys
And every day when play was over
He’d put his little toys away
And she’d be standing, waiting for him
The way she’s waiting here today
As the plane stops she starts thinking
Will he still look the way he did before?
Or will his eyes reflect the pain of killing
Like most young men when they come home from war?
These last few minutes seem like hours
She tries her best not to cry
But there’s that hearse filled up with flowers
Did he really have to die?
