THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME

I know they say, you can't go home again
Well, I just had to come back one last time
And Ma'am, I know, you don't know me from Adam
But these hand prints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
And I bet you didn't know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it's like I'm someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in, I swear I'll leave
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From "Better Homes and Garden" magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
And nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama's dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it's like I'm someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in, I swear I'll leave
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

You leave home, you move on
And you do the best you can
I got lost in this whole world
And forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it's like I'm someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could walk around, I swear I'll leave
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

   I chose “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert because of the way it takes me down memory lane. It is about home and the connections we make to many things as we grow up and live life. The central theme of home is shared by the other works in my poetry anthology also. This one goes a step further by saying “I thought if I could touch this place or feel it this brokenness inside me might start healing”. This says to me that growing up is hard and something going on in her life is very difficult. But times were easier when she lived at home and somewhat simpler. “I thought that maybe I could find myself”, implying that if I came back where I started, I could regroup.  This song speaks to my heart emotionally with the reminders of “hand prints on the front steps” and “my favorite dog is buried in the yard.” A lot of things growing up shape who we are.
   The tone of the poem is sad and the quietness of the music helps to make it very powerful. It creates an emotional impact on the listener. “Daddy gave life to Mama’s dream”, creates an image of love to me. Mama’s dreams came true because of the love between them. The love was shared in the family. “I thought if I could touch this place or feel it”, says to me that it almost has magical qualities. “Out here it's like I'm someone else I thought that maybe I could find myself”, implies I knew who I was then but now I have lost sight of what is important. The personification of the title implies the house built her, but it was in the house she learned who she was.
   This is a wonderful song that reminds us of our childhood and a time when everything seemed simpler.