Meaning of this Song

[Guest]

I have this song, sung by Emmylou Harris. I believe it was written and also recorded by Bruce Springsteen. What do you think it means?

My Father's House

Last night I dreamed that I was a child
Out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home through the forest
Before the darkness falls

I heard the wind rustling through the trees
And ghostly voices rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin' at my heels

I broke through the trees, and there in the night
My father's house stood shining hard and bright
The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell, shaking in his arms

I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again, sir, tear us from each other's hearts
I got dressed, and to that house I did ride
From out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light

I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
A woman I didn't recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story, and who I'd come for
She said "I'm sorry, son, but no one by that name lives here anymore"

My father's house shines hard and bright
It stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling, so cold and alone
Shining 'cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned.

I think it has profound meaning. I almost had it figured out, and our son recognized (I think) the meaning immediately. What do think?

Note: Should be no problem with copywrite, its available on the internet, even to email to a friend.

[Guest]

Homer,

I'm probably missing it in my dullness, but at first glance it sounds like apostasy to me.

[Guest]

Hi Homer,

Why didn't you tell us what you had figured out so far, or what your son said? Now I'm afraid that I'll be way off in my interpretation...don't laugh, OK?

To me it seems that the religion of the writer's youth no longer provides the comfort or redemption s/he is looking for. I think the writer knows that only in the arms of the Father will we find peace, safety, forgiveness, and redemption; which may or may not happen within the institutional church, which to a great degree may have left it's first love, Christ. Or maybe that's just what I'm experiencing right now, so that's what I hear. *shrug*

[Guest]

Christopher & Michelle,

Thanks for your response. After posting, I thought I was a bit clumsy in my post and could cause hesitancy in people to respond.

When my wife and I heard it, we couldn't quite figure it out. Our oldest son has a great interest in literature. He says the dark forest in old times represented a place of evil. The person is trying to return to God but when he comes back to his Father's House, The Church, there is no Jesus there anymore; the song is an indictment of the modern church.

You both are close to the mark; that is, if what I say is the correct meaning. Maybe we can ask Bruce Springsteen .

[Guest]

Whew As long as I was close, I'm happy.

[Guest]

Hi homer--

do you have reason to believe that springsteen intended a spiritual meaning? the reason i ask is that there are many rock songs that could be read to have a spiritual meaning, if you look hard enough. i am no springsteen fan (not that there is anything wrong with him, he just isnt my cup of tea) so maybe he has other "spiritual" songs. i know he wrote "blinded by the light."

TK

[Guest]

TK,

What was "Blinded by the Light" about? Did it have a spiritual meaning? I am almost totally ignorant about Springsteen, have heard him a few times but that's it.

One reviewer thinks "My Father's House" is about Springsteen's father with whom he is said to have had a tempestuous relationship. The "experts can be wrong in their analysis of an author's intent. I recall experts saying what the meaning was of Tolkien's work (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings) and then Tolkien denied their interpretation and said he was just writing stories; nothing special in mind.

Perhaps My Father's House inadvertently fits with a spiritual meaning. Our eldest son caught the meaning of the forest and thought the meaning of the song was obvious; he has a great interest in and considerable knowledge about literature and is also a Christian so that no doubt influences his interpretation.

[Guest]

I don't think Springsteen is spiritualizing anything in this song. After all he is a democrat

Secondly he is no Nebraskan.

[Guest]

Blinded by the Light (popularized by manfred mann), at least in my opinion, is decidedly not a spiritual song. i must admit i have always kind of liked that song- i think i used to have the short version on a 45. i only referenced it because the title itself could be taken to mean something spiritual (e.g. Paul's conversion).

good one, Allyn!

TK

[Guest]

Hi Homer,

I would guess that the dream was real and that the author was being approached by the Heavenly Father.

That, He could assuage the pain.

As He has mine, over losing my father before I became a christian.


Bud