Coming Home

The song Coming Home by Cinderella from their 1988 album Long Cold Winter is a blues-infused power ballad that captures the weariness of life on the road. In an interview with Songfacts, frontman Tom Keifer shared that the song reflects his experiences touring, where he often didn’t know which town he was in until someone wrote it on the setlist taped to the stage. The track’s opening features Keifer’s distinctive 12-string guitar arpeggio, setting a reflective tone that shifts into a powerful, bluesy anthem. The music video, directed by Chris Painter and Marc Reshovsky, tells a story of a man riding a motorcycle home, with the band performing in a dimly lit bar, adding a gritty, narrative layer to the song’s themes of longing and return. Fans on Reddit have praised the video’s storytelling, noting its evocative imagery, like the mysterious handshake at the start and the abandoned house, which leave much to the imagination. One fan even shared that watching the video in 1989 inspired them to buy their first motorcycle, curious about the bike used in the shoot.

Coming Home peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Cinderella’s third best-selling single. The song’s bluesy shift was intentional, as Keifer aimed to move away from the glam metal sound of their debut album, Night Songs, toward a more organic, Rolling Stones-inspired sound. This evolution is evident in the use of acoustic instruments and pianos on Long Cold Winter. A post on X by @RockTheseTweets highlights the album’s success, noting its #10 peak on the Billboard 200 and triple-platinum certification. The song also found a second life in pop culture, featured in the TV series October Road, which introduced it to a new audience. Fans in a Cinderella fan group on Facebook often cite Coming Home as a standout track, with some calling it their favorite for its raw emotion and Keifer’s raspy vocals.

Cinderella was formed in Philadelphia in 1982 by vocalist and guitarist Tom Keifer and bassist Eric Brittingham. The duo met through mutual friends in the local music scene and began playing in bars and clubs around Pennsylvania. Their early lineup included drummer Tony Destra and guitarist Michael Schermick, but by 1985, both left to join Britny Fox, and were replaced by guitarist Jeff LaBar and drummer Jim Drnec. The band’s big break came when Jon Bon Jovi saw them perform at a club and recommended them to Mercury Records, leading to their signing. Their debut album, Night Songs, released in 1986, went double-platinum, fueled by hits like Nobody’s Fool and their high-energy performances opening for Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet tour. Keifer’s unique voice, blending grit and soul, and the band’s bluesy hard rock style set them apart from other glam metal acts of the era. Despite challenges, including Keifer’s vocal cord surgeries in the 1990s, Cinderella remained a beloved act, with Keifer continuing to perform solo and occasionally reunite with the band until LaBar’s passing in 2021.

You can stay updated with Cinderella through their official website at cinderella.net or follow Tom Keifer’s solo career, which carries the band’s legacy, on his Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts. Fans connect and share memories in communities like the Cinderella Fan Group on Facebook, where discussions about songs like Coming Home thrive. Another great resource is the fan site Cinderella Fan Guide, which offers detailed band history, discography, and tour archives for dedicated Zoo Freaks looking to dive deeper into the band’s legacy.