“This Is Home” is a point-of-view song from the perspective of an individual dealing with anxiety and LGBTQ+ issues of identity and sexuality. Cavetown (Robbie Skinner) is transgender and views the track as a way of uniting the LGBTQ+ community by communicating support and understanding. The lyrics focus on vividly describing the inner turmoil that can come with this situation.
Cavetown wrote the song from a personal perspective and uses the song as a flag-waving anthem. Released in 2015, it is one of Cavetown’s biggest songs among fans because it relates to specific issues prevalent in their community. Skinner’s LGBTQ+ fundraising organization is named after the tune, being called the “This Is Home” project.
In this article, we’ll perform an analysis of these very personal lyrics to decipher their intended meaning. We’ll also take a look at the songwriting story (and the song’s broader purpose and effect). Without further ado, let’s get started.
“This Is Home” Lyrics Meaning
The song begins with a cutting, attention-grabbing line with multiple interpretations. The lyrics describe being unable to “fall in love,” which is a blessing and a curse. It can “upset” the feelings, but it also “avoids the stress” romance can bring. According to many interpreters who are more familiar with Cavetown, this is possibly a reference to aromanticism. Others interpret this line to be describing someone who wants to fall in love but cannot due to bad experiences.
Cavetown then sheds some light on anxiety, asking the listener, “Are you tired of me yet?” This is an example of the doubt and preoccupation with others’ thoughts that anxiety can cause. Despite this, there is still hope that “When I’m (Skinner) ready, I will fly us out of here.”
The “us” here is important. Cavetown views the song as a “silent communication” directed at “people who understand” the struggles. The hope to fly away from the pain is intended for all listeners, not just Skinner.
The lyrics then assert that Cavetown will “cut my [Skinner’s] hair,” “make you stare,” and “hide my chest.” These lines specifically describe phenomena within transgenderism, something Skinner has personal experience with. Still, there is hope to “figure out a way to get us out of here.”
Verse two focuses on the overwhelmed feeling that sufferers of anxiety can experience. It’s “enough to drive all of us insane.” Cavetown continues, saying, “Sometimes I think I’m dead.” The negativity, overload, and suffering can feel like “ghosts and ghouls wrapping” around one’s head. “But,” Skinner promises, “I don’t wanna fall asleep just yet.” Giving up is not an option.
The chorus is more “oos” than it is more information because it’s meant to focus on the emotional side of things. Generally, the theme is that “I [Skinner] don’t know where my pupils are” because of the darkness surrounding these anxieties.
The bridge, on the other hand, is very direct. Cavetown assumes the identity of a detractor. These people point and say, “get a load of this train wreck,” who “doesn’t know who he is yet.” Because the lyrics are about issues of identity, these words are meant to be particularly stinging. Nonetheless, “the stars” welcome Skinner, who still retains the hope to fly away.
The outro is intended to give the audience a bit of hope. Over time, feeling “at home” (hence the title) is possible. In summary, “This Is Home” is a slice-of-life song about identity and mental-health struggles. It is particularly potent within the LGBTQ world, which is the community it’s directed towards. These themes, when paired with the cultural current of today, are no small part of the song’s success.
The Story Behind “This Is Home”
Cavetown’s career can be characterized as personal, outspoken, and directed toward larger aims. “This Is Home” was, likewise, written from an autobiographical perspective. This cathartic process of dealing with one’s own pain in art has long arrested songwriters, who often find that issues of personal emotional importance create the most lasting music.
Robbie Skinner (Cavetown) was no exception when writing “This Is Home.” In addition to reaching the Cavetown fanbase, the track is meant to speak to the larger issues of a broader community. Plainly speaking, it has become something of an LGBTQ+ anthem. At concerts, flags are waved when it is played.
“This is Home” has done well, receiving over 74 million views on YouTube alone. In addition, Cavetown created the “This Is Home” project in the track’s name, which raises money for LGBTQ+ causes. Interestingly, the track was released two times – once in 2015 and again in 2019. In 2019, it was simply titled “Home,” which has caused some confusion within the fanbase. Nonetheless, the general message remains intact.
The next time you listen to this emotional song, let these pieces of background information shed some light!