Kanye West- Homecoming

Back in..October?..I chose Kanye West's "Homecoming" for the music poetry assignment.  First, the lyrics:

[Chorus - Chris Martin]
I'm coming home again.
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
Cause I'm coming home again
I'm in home again.

[Verse 1 - Kanye West]
I met this girl when I was three years old
And what I loved most she had so much soul
She said, excuse me little homie, I know you don't know me- but,
My name is Windy and, I like to blow trees and,
From that point I never blow her off,
They can come from outta town I like to show her off,
They like to act tough, she like to tow em off,
And make em straighten up their act, cause she know they soft
And when I grew up she showed me how to go downtown
And at nighttime my face lit up so astounding
And I told her in my heart is where she always be
She never mess with entertainers cause they always leave
She said it felt like they walked and drove on me
Knew I was gang affiliated got on TV and told on me
I guess it's why last winter she got so cold on me
She said, Ye keep making that, keep making that platinum and gold for me

[Chorus - Chris Martin]
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
Cause I'm coming home again
I'm in home again
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
Oooh, now I'm coming home again

Maybe we can start again

[Verse 2 - Kanye West]
But if you really care for her, then you would n-never hit the airport,
To follow your dream, sometimes I still talk to her, but when I talk to her
It always seems like she talking about me,
She said you left your kids and they just like you
They wanna rap and make show beats just like you,
But they just not you and I just got to
Talking bout what she can try to do just not new
Now everybody got the game figured out all wrong
I guess you never know what you got till its gone
I guess this is why I'm here and I cant come back home
And guess when I heard that when I was back home
Every interview I'm representing you making you proud
Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud
Jump in the crowd, spark you lighters, wave em around,
And if you don't know by now, I'm talking about Chit town,

[Chorus - Chris Martin]
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
Cause I'm coming home again
Maybe, do you remember when fireworks at lake Michigan
Oooh, now I'm coming home again
Im in home again
Maybe, do you remember when fireworks at lake Michigan
Oooh, now I'm coming home again
Maybe we can start again

I consider "Homecoming" as a sort of ode to Chicago, Kanye's hometown (I hope a majority of everyone here knew that).  He uses personification throughout the song, staging a conversation between himself and "Windy", aka Chicago.  Kanye uses many of the characteristics of Chicago to describe "Windy", such as "My name is Windy and I like to blow trees", which is a reference to Chicago's nickname, the "Windy City".  He also says "...last winter she got so cold on me", using the cold temperatures of Chicago's winter as a description of the character he is talking to.

Kanye's song undoubtedly has greater meaning to those listeners who are familiar with Chicago's attractions and characteristics.  Chris Martin (Coldplay's lead singer) words "Do you remember when, fireworks at Lake Michigan" describe a scene that is a staple of Chicago's culture, and provides the listener with an example of a portion of Chicago's persona that incites nostalgic memories of times spent in Chicago.

I think that "Homecoming" is a superb song/poem because I relate to Kanye's love of Chicago.  The visions of downtown and of fireworks are images that I have grown up with, and will undoubtedly miss when I move away from Chicago.  I would feel confident guessing that a majority of Chicagoans reminisce and feel proud of Chicago whenever this song is played...I know I do.

Comments

[Val O]

I looove this song. I was actually going to post some of the lyrics in response to Toby's post about how a lot of hip hop is very poetic. I think this is a great example of that. I love how this song holds a ton of metaphors of Chicago, and a lot of personification. I like this sort of personfication in particular:

From that point I never blow her off,
They can come from outta town I like to show her off,
They like to act tough, she like to tow em off,
And make em straighten up their act, cause she know they soft
And when I grew up she showed me how to go downtown
And at nighttime my face lit up so astounding

The chorus also holds personfication because Kanye is basically asking Chicago if "she" thinks about him now and then. I just love this song and I think it's poetic nature and all the devices Kanye West uses makes it even greater. If it was just a totally obvious song about how he loves Chicago, it would not be as great. But the way he layers the lyrics and gives them all all a deeper meaning, really makes the listeners think, and makes it all the more beautiful.

[Tabi W.]

I love this song too! It was actually my song for the song-poem thing in class. I think Kanye West is one of those rappers (Lupe, Naz, and Tupac in ways 2) who tries to make his rhymes incorporate strong elements of poetry. Occasionally, he does go on the random tangents about women and money, but I think by using personification, metaphors, and similes in his rhymes, he does a great job of keeping his 'poems' grounded and interesting. Homecoming is definitely one of those amazing songs because he does not let you know what/who the subject is until the end of the song. Throughout the piece, he personifies Chicago as a woman named "Windy" (I love that part) which gives the piece a more romantic feel, elevating the interest and relation in the piece. Again, great poem choice Mike!

[Katie C.]

Hey Mike. I, too, can relate to this song. I can really imagine how it will feel to leave for college and remember all the cool adventures I've gone on downtown. The fireworks especially strike memories of the beach in the summer, which I'm really looking forward to again. Anyways I agree with Tabi and Val in that the personification really adds a deeper layer to the poem.

[ghjj]

wat the heck
get a life :)
weird o

[samantha]

i absolutely just loooooove this song. at first i really did think it was about a girl he met when he was young. then aftr listening to it again i figured out that it was about chicago and i was just amazed at how he didnt just come right out singing about chicago straight up. kanye also shows that not all hip hop has to talk about money and girls to be good.i love kanye and his lyrics. great choice mike

[samantha]

i absolutely just loooooove this song. at first i really did think it was about a girl he met when he was young. then aftr listening to it again i figured out that it was about chicago and i was just amazed at how he didnt just come right out singing about chicago straight up. kanye also shows that not all hip hop has to talk about money and girls to be good.i love kanye and his lyrics. great choice mike

[samantha]

i absolutely just loooooove this song. at first i really did think it was about a girl he met when he was young. then aftr listening to it again i figured out that it was about chicago and i was just amazed at how he didnt just come right out singing about chicago straight up. kanye also shows that not all hip hop has to talk about money and girls to be good.i love kanye and his lyrics. great choice mike

[samantha]

i absolutely just loooooove this song. at first i really did think it was about a girl he met when he was young. then aftr listening to it again i figured out that it was about chicago and i was just amazed at how he didnt just come right out singing about chicago straight up. kanye also shows that not all hip hop has to talk about money and girls to be good.i love kanye and his lyrics. great choice mike

[Biggie Smalls]

this song is boss.
kanye west is referring windy and the chorus to Chicago,Also when kanye says"i met this girl when i was 3 years old" he is talking about Chicago, he moved there when he was 3."then you wouldn't of hit the airport to follow your dreams", he is talking about leaving Chicago to NY or LA to follow his musical career.