Many years ago in days of childhood
I used to play till evening shadows come
Then winding down an old familiar pathway
I heard my mother call at set of sun
Come home, come home, it's suppertime
The shadows length in fast
Come home, come home, it's suppertime
We're going home at last
Some of the fondest memories of my childhood
Were woven around suppertime
When Mom used to call
From the backsteps of the old homeplace
"Come on home, son, it's suppertime"
Ah, but how I love to hear her voice once more
But for me, time has woven the realization
Of a truth that's even more thrilling
And that's when the call comes
From the portals of glory
To come on home, for it's suppertime
When all of God's children
Shall gather around the table with the Lord himself
And the greatest suppertime of them all
In visions now, I see her stand yonder
And her familiar voice I hear once more
The banquet table's ready up in heaven
It's suppertime around that golden shore
Come home, come home, it's suppertime
The shadows lengthen fast
Come home, come home, it's suppertime
We're going home at last
Come home, come home, it's suppertime
We're going home at last
The Hoppers - It's Shouting Time in Heaven [Live]
Suppertime Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
The song "Suppertime" performed by The Hoppers unfolds as a narrative journey from cherished earthly memories to profound spiritual anticipation. It opens by painting a picture of childhood days, immersed in play until the natural signal of day's end, when shadows lengthen and a mother's familiar voice calls home. This call to suppertime represents a fundamental comfort and security associated with family, home, and the winding down of the day in a place of belonging. The lyrics evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for this specific, warm memory – the mother calling from the backsteps, the simple act of coming home for the evening meal.
As the song progresses, it transitions from this earthly scene to a deeper, spiritual reflection. The narrator acknowledges the passing of time and the realization of a truth far more significant than childhood memories, however fond. This truth is the anticipation of a different kind of call, not from a mother on backsteps, but from the "portals of glory." This heavenly summons is also for a "suppertime," but one of ultimate importance and joy. The earthly call home serves as a poignant metaphor for the soul's eventual return to its eternal home.
The concept of the heavenly suppertime is central to the song's message. It describes a future gathering where all of God's children will come together around a table with the Lord himself. This vision aligns with scriptural promises of a great feast or banquet in the kingdom of heaven, such as the marriage supper of the Lamb referenced in Revelation 19:9 or the promise in Matthew 8:11 of believers from all corners of the earth reclining at table with biblical figures in the kingdom. The song envisions a glorious scene, a "banquet table ready up in heaven" on a "golden shore," where loved ones may be seen and heard again, fulfilling the earlier longing to hear the mother's voice once more.
The repeated chorus, "Come home, come home, it's suppertime, the shadows lengthen fast, Come home, come home, it's suppertime, We're going home at last," acts as both a reminder of the earthly transition at the end of the day and a powerful declaration of the impending, final journey home. The "shadows lengthening fast" can be interpreted as the passage of earthly life, hurrying towards its close. The phrase "We're going home at last" signifies the fulfillment of the soul's longing for eternal rest and fellowship in God's presence. The song beautifully intertwines the simple, relatable human experience of being called home for supper with the profound spiritual promise of being called to eternal communion with the divine and fellow believers. While a specific video background was referenced, the provided link is for a different song, and therefore, cannot provide background information for this analysis of "Suppertime," which is based solely on the provided lyrics and common interpretations.
