Bon Jovi: "Welcome To Wherever You Are" (2005)

"Welcome to Wherever You Are" is a song by rock band Bon Jovi from their 2005 album, Have a Nice Day. It was released as the album's third single in the US, following "Have a Nice Day" and "Who Says You Can't Go Home", while worldwide it was released as the album's second single.

"Welcome to Wherever You Are" failed to gain success in the US, but it reached the top 40 in several European countries, including the UK (#19), Italy (#33) and Germany (#40). Speaking about the song on Larry King Live, Jon Bon Jovi said "I thought for sure this was going to be a universal, timeless theme song of unity, diversity. Not a hit, not even close. Swing and a miss."

"Welcome to Wherever You Are" is a song of affirmation, about accepting who you are and being comfortable in your own skin. Jon Bon Jovi claims the song is greatly influenced by events during the 2004 Presidential Election. Jon campaigned for John Kerry during that time. The song is also notable for being one of the few Bon Jovi songs lacking a guitar solo.

The song also shares its name with an episode of The West Wing's seventh season, in which Jon Bon Jovi appears endorsing the fictional presidential nomination Matt Santos.


- Lyrics:


Maybe we're different, but we're still the same
We all got the blood of Eden, running through our veins
I know sometimes it's hard for you to see
You come between just who you are and who you wanna be

If you feel alone, and lost and need a friend
Remember every new beginning, is some beginning's end

[Chorus]
Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life, you made it this far
Welcome, you gotta believe
That right here right now, you're exactly where you're supposed to be
Welcome, to wherever you are

When everybody's in, and you're left out
And you feel your drowning, in a shadow of a doubt
Everyones a miracle in their own way
Just listen to yourself, not what other people say

When it seems you're lost, alone and feeling down
Remember everybody's different
Just take a look around

[Chorus]

Be who you want to, be who you are
Everyones a hero, everyones a star

When you wanna give up, and your hearts about to break
Remember that you're perfect, God makes no mistakes

[Chorus]