For My Sunday Song #188, we are going to pontificate on the greatness of Motley Crue’s song “Home Sweet Home”. How great is it you ask? So great that it got overplayed to death and now I am sick of it. However, that doesn’t make it any less great. The song is off the horrible album ‘Theatre of Pain’ which was released in 1985. The song was released as a single and did nothing on the radio. On MTV, that is a different story.
The song is a ballad and is about the band’s life on the road. After being out on the road for 18 months touring on the album ‘Shout at the Devil’, the band couldn’t wait to get home. When they got home, they were so bored they started getting in to a lot of trouble, but they did write this song. It was a song the record company didn’t want to release, but the band stuck to their guns and financed the video themselves. The video showed the band on and off stage from several concerts and the less happy life of road life. That video blew up on MTV, but the record company didn’t promote it on the radio so it flopped there and was never officially a hit. This song helped prove that all metal bands at the time, better have a freaking ballad on their album if they want to succeed.
The song opens with Tommy Lee on piano and like every ballad has its slow moments and those power moments that picked up the volume and tempo. It even includes a brilliant guitar solo by Mick Mars where he shreds the crap out of that guitar. The song then ends as it began with Tommy on the piano and then Vince humming the song before fading out. It was so popular for the band, that the last song they ever played when the broke up as band was “Home Sweet Home”. Now, we know that it actually won’t be the last song they played live as they are back and about to Tour…again.
I was reluctant to include this one as it isn’t my favorite Motley song, but it was so significant in the band’s history, how could I not include it. Give it a listen and let me know what you think or what you remember about this song when it came out. Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Sunday!!
“Home Sweet Home”
But my heart’s of gold
I had to run away high
So I wouldn’t come home low
Just when things went right
It doesn’t mean they were always wrong
Just take this song, and you’ll never feel
Left all alone
Take me to your heart
Feel me in your bones
Just one more night
And I’m comin’ off this
Long & winding road
I’m on my way
I’m on my way
Home sweet home…
Tonight, tonight
I’m on my way
I’m on my way
Home sweet home…
You know that I’ve seen
Too many romantic dreams
Up in lights, fallin’ off
The silver screen
My heart’s like an open book
For the whole world to read
Sometimes nothing
Keeps me together
At the seams
I’m on my way
I’m on my way
Home sweet home…
Tonight, tonight
I’m on my way
Just set me free
Home sweet home…
Home sweet home…
Home sweet home…
Home sweet home…
I’m on my way
I’m on my way
Home sweet home…
Yeah!
I’m on my way
Just set me free
Home sweet home…
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
I agree that Mick Mars does a pretty wicked solo in this. The build up works, it has enough blues licks and metal like kicks to connect with all audiences .
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And man, did it connect. It was so overplayed.
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You know for a choice of tune while we’re all shut up in our houses unable to go out this is a pretty great choice. Nothing like seeing the positive in any given situation.
https://steveforthedeaf.wordpress.com/2018/12/09/home-sweet-home-motley-crue/
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Yep, I remember that post. I was so sick of this song for the longest time, but I really appreciate it now.
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Interesting point about the importance of including 1 ballad – but i suppose it would be risky to include too many as well!
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That is true Geoff. Basically, this song saved the album from sinking as the record was stalling on the charts and outcomes the power ballad and no looking back. The same thing with KISS back in 76 Destroyer was stalled on the charts and sinking then Beth comes out and Bam back up the charts.
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The record buyers heard Beth calling!
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Before 8am and you are on your game! I’m just trying to wake up! haha
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Ha!!
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Everyone loves a good ballad. You can’t deny that. Especially a track with piano. It is the magic element.
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Indeed it’s the magic element John.
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It is a double edge sword. I did a review yesterday of an album that had 4 on there and that was too many.
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I guess the best advice may be to do 1 ballad / album – but do it really well!
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Great pick this week Mr Snow. The original video was a great selling point for that tour. I like this album now whereas I ignored for decades but once I got it back on vinyl I thought I can handle this now. lol
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I still struggle with this album. I don’t know if I will ever come around. A few good songs though.
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I will tell you I can’t handle the cover tune anymore from it that’s for sure. I’m too lazy to type it even!
lol
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I’ve thought about doing an Original vs the Cover of that song, but I can’t bring myself to do it yet.
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Yeah thats a tough call John! lol
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Lovely song, I get your reluctance though. I have to be honest and admit that I have a preference to the 91 remix. It has certain inflections that move me a little more. But that’s just a personal preference!
Always loved the original music video too, so goofy. Mick Mars was awesome.
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No, that version is pretty good, I will admit. I had to go with the original as that is still the one that I tend to listen to the most. The video is not quite as goofy as the Dirt!!
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This song and its video is ingrained in my memory from MTV. Annoying it was played to death, but still a good song when all is said and done.
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So overplayed. I went years without listening to it.
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