Album: The Rise & Fall (1982)

Charted: 5 7

License This Song 

• Father wears his Sunday best
  Mother's tired, she needs a rest
  The kids are playing up downstairs
  Sister's sighing in her sleep (ah)
  Brother's got a date to keep, he can't hang around
  
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, in the middle of our
  
  Our house, it has a crowd
  There's always something happening
  And it's usually quite loud
  Our mum she's so house-proud
  Nothing ever slows her down and a mess is not allowed
  
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, in the middle of our
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, in the middle of our (something tells you that you've got to move away from it)
  
  Father gets up late for work
  Mother has to iron his shirt
  Then she sends the kids to school
  Sees them off with a small kiss (ah)
  She's the one they're going to miss in lots of ways
  
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, in the middle of our
  
  I remember way back then when everything was true and when
  We would have such a very good time, such a fine time
  Such a happy time
  And I remember how we'd play, simply waste the day away
  Then we'd say nothing would come between us
  Two dreamers
  
  Father wears his Sunday best
  Mother's tired, she needs a rest
  The kids are playing up downstairs
  Sister's sighing in her sleep
  Brother's got a date to keep, he can't hang around
  
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, in the middle of our
  
  Our house, was our castle and our keep
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, that was where we used to sleep
  Our house, in the middle of our street
  Our house, in the middle of our street, our house Writer/s: Carl Smyth, Chris Foreman, Daniel Woodgate, Garaham McPherson, Lee Thompson, Mark Bedford, Michael Barson
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

• Kevin Preston from Los Angeles CaliforniaWe all hear different things in songs. What struck me was the sense of nostalgia thinking back to a beloved house where everyone was together. Not so much that there was always a crowd there, but the simple peace of sleeping, getting dressed, off to school, and a mom taking care of everything. This is something so many of us have experienced in the same way. I love the line "Then we'd say nothing would come between us--Two dreamers" that feels to me that the individual is thinking that things would always be the way they were in that moment, playful, fun, and together...and realizing that as they grew up that was impossible. It is kind of moving.
  
  As a funny side note, in the USA I was a suburban kid and we always lived in various "tract home" subdivisions, which I loved. Because I was always oriented to that, when I heard the line, "Our house, it has a crowd....There's always something happening", I thought it was "Our House in Desert Crown", which I thought was referring to the name of a subdivision, like we have in the states!!!
• Zenmema from U.s.When this song came out it described my house as a teenager to a T. When I had teenagers, they and their friends used to randomly breakout joyously amd somewhat raucously singing this song followed by rounds of hugs of thanks for me providing "The House". Now that I'm raising my grandkids, they too sing this song to me, giggling with their frinds they've taught it to. Every child should have a house in the middle of the street they can go too and get ready to eventually move on from and start their life, whether it be their mum or the houses. Many thanks to Madness for writing a parenting philosophy that served many generations so far.
• Mimijo from Upper Great LakesAgree with Thegnostic. This is a song with multiple levels. It is has more depth than CSNY's song, which I do like.
• Thegnostic from ConnecticutI'm going to be an iconoclast here. This is a song about loss and profound regret. It starts by recounting the memory of childhood and daily activities. But by the second chorus, there is the realization that you have to leave. In the third verse, there is the foreshadowing of Mother's death ("She's the one they're going to miss…").
  In the bridge, the singer talks of happy times, but acknowledges intentions ("…we'd say nothing would come between us") but follows that sarcastically with ("Two dreamers") because something DID come between them.
  When the first verse is repeated, we are told ("Sister's sighing in her sleep"), but this time we do not hear her, for she, too, is gone.
  The last chorus recognizes the duality of nostalgia. Our house was ("our castle and our keep"), but it was also just ("where we used to sleep").
  This song is wonderfully joyous, but has a subtle sadness. It's one of my favorites.
• Jjmurray from IrelandThis song was wrote about a woman called Minnie O'Neil. It was her house that they ran through when they were kids. I know this as I she was also my great aunt.
• Ezequiel from Buenos AiresSomeone could tell me what question he said in the intro of our house?
• Luke from Manchester, UkEsskayess, I think they might like it and since it bears no resemblance - apart from title - to their song, they wouldn't have a problem.
• Esskayess from Dallas, TxI wonder what Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young thought of it.
• Ed from Canton, OhWhen I heard this song this morning, I thought about our own house. We adopted twins yesterday and my oldest goes to college this week. We have 7 kids and it is "usually quite loud". I wonder if my kids will look back on our house fondly like this song does.
• Eric from Indianapoils, InThis was also in a Folgers commercial a while back.
  
  Well not the original song, but it was based off of it.
• Roy from Arnhem, NetherlandsThis song also featured in the popular English comedy The Young Ones

More Songfacts:

Country Grammar (Hot S--t)Nelly

Nelly's "Country Grammar" is a celebration of his hometown of St. Louis, which some folks from the coasts consider "country" because it's in the Midwest.

AnacondaNicki Minaj

"Anaconda" was originally recorded by Missy Elliott in 2012, but she decided to shelf the track so it went to Nicki Minaj, who released it two years later.

The Great PretenderThe Platters

The Pretenders are named after the 1956 song "The Great Pretender" by The Platters.

Evening StarJudas Priest

Judas Priest's "Evening Star" is a Christmas carol that describes the journey of the Magi from a first person perspective.

Step Inside LoveCilla Black

Paul McCartney's favorite song that he wrote for someone else is Cilla Black's 1968 UK Top 10 hit "Step Inside Love."

Take Me Home Country RoadsJohn Denver

"Take Me Home Country Roads" is set in West Virginia, but John Denver had never been there when he recorded the song. The country roads represent a sense of belonging.

Editor's Picks

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.