Life used to be so hard/
Now everything is easy ’cause of you.
CSNYs “Our House” suffers a bit in the reputation department due to it being featured prominently in insurance company ads for awhile. It is not that I am against artists monetizing their work, but sometimes the ads work and they play them over and over again. Also, there is a difference between a one hit wonder monetizing their song vs a band like CSNY. CSNY is set for life.
Anyways, one of the nice things about “Our House” is the simple description of happiness that Nash describes. He just wants to be with his woman in their house—together. A yard with room for some cats would be great. Oh, and if you didn’t know—this song is about his house with Joni Mitchell. Tragically, I heard a recent interview where he called her the “love of his life”. It was weird listening to a man say that about someone who is alive who he is in no longer with. Quite shocking really.
Nash is to CSNY as Lindsay Buckingham is to Fleetwood Mac, or Brian Wilson to The Beach Boys. Not only was he a prominent songwriter and lead singer, he was the most influential part of creating the band’s sound. He is also one of the few two-time inductees to the rock n roll hall of fame: he also got in with The Hollies. Like all Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young songs, the harmonies really stand out. The four of them really sound amazing together. This is one of their few songs that feature the piano.
Our House Lyrics
I’ll light the fire.
You put the flowers in the vase
that you bought today.
Staring at the fire for hours and hours
while I listen to you
Play your love songs all night long for me-
Only for me.
Come to me now,
And rest your head for just five minutes,
Everything is good.
Such a cozy room,
The windows are illuminated,
By the evening sunshine through them,
Fiery gems for you-
Only for you.
Our house is a very, very, very fine house,
With two cats in the yard.
Life used to be so hard.
Now everything is easy ’cause of you.
And our la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
Our house is a very, very, very fine house,
With two cats in the yard.
Life used to be so hard.
Now everything is easy ’cause of you.
And our…
I’ll light the fire,
While you place the flowers in the vase
That you bought today.
Written by: Graham Nash