The song "I'm Not From Here" by James McMurtry tells the story of a person who moved to a new town and feels like an outsider. They come from somewhere far away and initially thought that they would only stay temporarily, but they have been there for a few years now. Throughout the song, McMurtry explores the theme of displacement and impermanence. He sings about how people come and go in the town, and how many locals have had to leave in search of a better life. The narrator feels disconnected from the town, despite living there, and is aware of the transience of life. The song also comments on the universal human experience of migration. McMurtry suggests that moving and searching for a better life is an ancient human instinct, going back to the stone age, and that we are all simply following our own paths, trying to find a place where we belong. Overall, "I'm Not From Here" is an introspective and contemplative song about the human experience of being an outsider, of searching for a home and a sense of belonging, and realizing that this may be an eternal quest.
