Meaning of Homecoming by James Arthur
James Arthur was born in a part of England known as Middlesbrough and grew up in its general vicinity, in a county called North Yorkshire. On 8 June 2024, he is scheduled to headline a concert, which will be his biggest (as the main act) to date, at Riverside Stadium, which is located in Middlesbrough. This is an arena that James admittedly frequented in his youth, presumably in support of one of his favorite soccer teams, Middlesbrough FC, with that being their home arena. And this track, along with its music video, are also related to Arthur’s “homecoming”, after spending the last decade establishing himself as an internationally-recognized musician.
The Lyrics
So from the onset we find the singer giving a shoutout to his indigenous ‘hood, a seaside town known as Redcar, which is also found in North Yorkshire. He depicts it as a cool place, one where the people “always back the underdogs” such as himself, with the implication being that such support contributed to his successful professional development.
So even when comparing Redcar Beach to Los Angeles, one of the most-famous cities in the world, Arthur ultimately finds the former more preferable. Or put otherwise, James has become homesick, and that sentiment is relayed in the chorus and into the second verse.
In the second verse, he proceeds to depict Redcar as also being a tough place to grow up. But he appreciates the experience, as it was through such challenges he effectively ‘honed his craft’. So now, after spending “too long” out in the world “chasing the gold”, James wants to return to the ‘hood, not only to touch base but also, it would seem, as an act of appreciation.
Writing & Production
This track was produced by Steve Solomon, who also co-wrote it with Jamie Graham and James Arthur.
Other Facts
As reported, Homecoming will be featured on James Arthur’s forthcoming fifth-studio album, Bitter Sweet Love, which Columbia Records is slated to release in full during January of 2024. But as for the song itself, it was made public as the album’s fourth single on 4 November 2023.
