“Coming Home” by Scorpions

(Words: Klaus Meine, Music: Rudolph Schenker, Album: Love At First Sting, Mercury Records 1984)

After twelve years, eight studio albums, and three lead guitarists, 1984’s Love At First Sting finally saw the Scorpions reach the top of the metal mountain. Powered by the classic “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and stellar power ballad “Still Loving You,” the album paved their way for a ten year reign as one of the most potent bands in rock. The Scorpions, already outsiders in the metal-verse because they weren’t part of the British Metal Invasion or the LA Sound, they succeeded doing things in a slightly skewed manner. Love At First Sting became the third album cover to cause controversy, this time because of its risqué portrayal of a woman getting tattooed, or branded, by a man (the others being 1976’s Virgin Killers and 1979’s Animal Magnetism). They also seemed to view touring differently than most bands, at least when examining the lyrics.

“Coming Home” is one in a history of songs which champions the idealism of touring in a rock band, similar to Blackout’s “Can’t Live Without You” and Love At First Sting’s “Big City Nights.” However, “Coming Home” takes a slightly different approach than the others by starting off slow before it picks up and becomes one of the album’s heaviest songs. As Klaus Meine sings about being far away and someone longing to see him, we find out that he is actually looking forward to being on stage and seeing the fans. This almost mocks the “pity the poor rock star” touring sagas like Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page” and Journey’s “Faithfully” (Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” and Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home” hadn’t been released yet) and can be one of the major reasons for their success. They not only have fun onstage and touring, but they don’t play the whiny rock star complaining for having finally had their dreams come true. Having seen the Scorpions a few times myself, I can attest to the excitement and energy of their live shows even after having played their songs for 20+ years.  While rock stardom has afforded them certain advantages and reputations, and they no doubt have had to make sacrifices in their lives, they are not a band who are looking to sting the hand that feeds them by complaining about touring.

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