House Of Clocks

Album: Down in the Cellar (2000)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is another acoustic number from this concept album, and the one that has the most tentative connection with its subject matter – wine. "House Of Clocks" has a particularly beautiful melody even for an Al Stewart song, although it began life as "a total Dire Straits tune" like "Sultans Of Swing." It was very upbeat, he said, and "I kept running into the same problem with it," in particular there were so many guitar notes that he didn't have anywhere to put the words. Then someone at his record company, Miramar, suggested he record an acoustic version. After basically halving the number of notes, the finished product was something entirely different.
  • Stewart said the inspiration for the song was or may have been his Victorian grandfather clock in England which he has been trying to ship to the States for the past ten years.
  • Like the rest of the album, "House Of Clocks" was produced by his regular collaborator Laurence Juber. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

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?