Speaking to VHI, James Blunt revealed that “Carry You Home” centers on “an old relationship and someone in real difficulty”. He further revealed that the song was very personal.

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Song’s Story

According to the lyrics, the subject of the song would be a female. And the way the story plays out in the first verse is as if she has been able to stay out of “trouble” for a while but once again finds herself reengaged in a less than ideal lifestyle. Indeed the situation is so harrowing that it is visibly eating away at her soul, but it is never specified exactly what it is she’s going through. 

Moreover as implied in the second verse, she actually desires a way out but apparently does not have any. And the story concludes, as detailed in the third verse, apparently with her passing away. And this transpires “under the Stars and Stripes”, as in America and more specifically “in New York City”.

That brings us to the chorus where the singer is apparently watching the subject pass away. Or another way of looking at is, as is generally implied, is that he witnessed her go through this ordeal. And he appears to be stating that this song was written in memory of this individual and that he will ‘carry her home’, as the title suggests.

“Carry You Home” is based on a True Story?

Now as relayed by the music video, this song is actually about Blunt, a former solider himself, ‘carrying home’ the belonging of one of his comrades who died on the field to the deceased’s wife. And whereas it would be easy to explain the lyrics away as being based on such a narrative, there are discrepancies. For instance, there hasn’t been any wars fought in New York City. Also as mentioned earlier, the insinuation throughout is that whatever it is that took the life of the subject was some kind of a recurring, perhaps even personal issue, not as the result of an injury suffered on the battlefield as the clip suggests.

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So conclusively the lyrics of this song, when it comes to detailing the life of its subject, are quite vague. But ultimately it seems that what has proven to be the downfall of this person is not important. Rather it is the singer’s reaction, as this was someone whom he clearly cared about. And all things considered, the phrase “carry you home” seems as if it is synonymous with James memorializing this individual.

This track was released on 24 March 2008 by WEA International and RCA Records. It was the third single from Blunt’s second album, “All the Lost Souls” after the singles “Same Mistake” and “1973“.

“Carry You Home” peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart and also charted in 8 other countries, including Poland and Brazil.

The song was written by James Blunt alongside Max Martin, and it was produced by Tom Rothrock.