Coming Home

Album: Last Train to Paris (2010)
Charted: 4 11
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a track from American rapper Diddy's fifth studio album, Last Train to Paris, which he recorded with his group Dirty Money. The trio premiered the song before Game 4 of the World Series on October 31, 2010.
  • English knobmeister Alex Da Kid ("Airplanes," "Love The Way You Lie," ) produced the song with the help of Jay-Z. The tune finds Diddy doing some soul-searching as the chorus echoes his need for salvation.
  • The track features American singer Skylar Grey, who also co-wrote the song with Jay-Z. Skylar Grey (birth name Holly Hafferman) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, who is best known for co-writing both Eminem's hit single "Love The Way You Lie" and Rihanna's sequel, "Love The Way You Lie (Part II)." Her other credits include "I Need a Doctor," which she also wrote for Dr. Dre and also appears on as a featured guest. Grey has also written songs for Rob Thomas and Avril Lavigne.
  • The song leapt 51-24 on the Hot 100 after the trio performed the track on the December 4, 2010 airing of Saturday Night Live.
  • Diddy explained how he came up with the 'Dirty Money' moniker in an interview with Spin magazine: "I've always wanted my own cool group name, like My Chemical Romance, or Silversun Pickups, or Green Day. I came up with Dirty Money back in 2005 when we were in a strip club in Jacksonville, Florida, during the Superbowl. People heard I was there, and all of a sudden so many people came in that I had to rush outside to my truck. I was sitting there with a bunch of money and I was like, 'Damn, this is some dirty money.' A light bulb went off that day."
  • A solo version by Skylar Grey called "Coming Home, Pt. 2" was released on iTunes in 2012. This version was featured in a 2014 Super Bowl commercial for Budweiser, which featured an American soldier - Lieutenant Chuck Nadd - returning home to Winter Park, Florida after serving in Afghanistan. Nadd was told that he would be part of a documentary, but was surprised to find that a parade was being held in his honor.
  • The song was originally intended for T.I., who was getting out of prison at the time. "Puff wanted 'Coming Home' when he heard it and the song I had originally written for Puff, which is called 'Castle Walls,' ended up on T.I.'s album," Skylar Grey told Genius. "So they swapped songs. The meaning of 'Coming Home' changed and that's the beauty of music: it's open to interpretation."

Comments: 1

  • Megan from Stevenson, AlWOW!!! I'm first?!?!?! lol This song is BEAUTIFUL!!! The lyrics are touching! Love the woman at the beginning singing.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.