#264 Our House- CSNY

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.

Our House Meaning
CSNY

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

#263 Coffee and Cigarettes- Michelle Featherstone

But I finally know what to do/
I must quit, I must quit You.

In “Coffee & Cigarettes”, Michelle Featherstone has the blues. But what is causing it? Could it be her overuse of coffee and cigarettes? Knowing she has many bad habits, she starts trying to eliminate them one by one, hoping that she will find the one that is causing her pain.

So, she quits coffee, cigarettes, booze, playing sad music, but still her depression persists. The only variable she hasn’t eliminated at this time is her significant other. So, she realizes it is time to quite that relationship too. This is harder. If only it was one of her vices.

Coffee and Cigarettes Meaning
Michelle Featherstone

You can hear the helplessness in Featherstone’s voice. She is at her wit’s end. She is trying to fix her life but it is wearing her out. The song builds to a crescendo as she realizes what she must do: she must break up with her partner.

As she sings the line “I must quit you”, it almost sound like a release—as if she is discovering the truth for the first time. The song is simple but powerful. This song was not a hit but it is very deserving to be on this list.

Coffee and Cigarettes Lyrics

I gave up coffee and cigarettes,
I hate to say it hasn’t helped me yet.
I thought my problems would just dissipate,
And all my pain would be in yesterday.

I poured my booze all down the kitchen drain,
And watched my bad habits get flushed away.
I thought that that would keep my head on straight,
And all my pain would be in yesterday.

But it’s true,
I’m still blue.
But I finally know what to do,
I must quit,
I must quit,
You.

I thought that if I didn’t go and play,
The sadness would get bored and go away.
I thought that if I didn’t go astray,
Then all my pain would be in yesterday.

But it’s true,
I’m still blue.
But I finally know what to do.
I must quit,
I must quit,
You.

I sold my guitar and my piano,
I thought that it was these that kept me low.
I thought if only I could try and change,
That all my pain would be in yesterday.

But it’s true,
I’m still blue.
But I finally know what to do.
I must quit,
I must quit,
You.

I must quit,
I must quit,
You.

Songwriters: Michelle Featherstone

#262 I Want to Know What Love Is- Foreigner

Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far, to change this lonely life/
I want to know what love is, I want you to show me.

“I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner is the song that comes to my mind when I think 80s music. There are hits from the 80s that are higher on the list, but this seems to capture the 80s sound, and be uniquely 80s in a way. There is a lot of bad 80s music…this is a great 80s song. There are a couple defining features: synthesizers. This is the primary feature. Producers just went crazy with it back then. It created a very homogenous sound.

“I Want to Know What Love Is” only has a bit of synthesizer, so we aren’t too overwhelmed. The other distinguishing feature is the concept of a “power-ballad”. It is like a love song that has both tender parts and a chorus that is more rock-ish.

I want to know what love is Meaning
Foreigner

Foreigner’s  lyrics  are simple but good. They are powerful because everyone can relate to them. It talks about a lonely, lifelong journey to find love. The song is about hope. The couple is not in love yet. The singer is hoping to find love with his new lover. He is surrendering himself to her (him/whatever) and hoping that that trust will lead him to love. These are not typically songs you’d hear from a man in a love song. Traditionally, women surrender in love songs.

I should also point out the excellent background singers. Both the choir and the lead female background vocalist sound great, especially in the outro.

I Want to Know What Love is Lyrics

I gotta take a little time, a little time to think things over
I better read between the lines, in case I need it when I’m older

Now this mountain I must climb, feels like the world upon my shoulders
Through the clouds I see love shine, it keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far, to change this lonely life

I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is, I know you can show me

I’m gonna take a little time, a little time to look around me
I’ve got nowhere left to hide, it looks like love has finally found me

In my life there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far, to change this lonely life

I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
I want to feel what love is, I know you can show me
I want to know what love is, I want you to show me
(And I want to feel) I want to feel what love is
(And I know) I know you can show me
Let’s talk about love, I want to know what love is
The love that you feel inside, I want you to show me

And I’m feeling so much love, I want to feel what love is
No, you just can’t hide, I know you can show me
I want to know what love is (let’s talk about love), I know you can show me
I want to feel it too, I want to feel what love is
I want to feel it too, and I know and I know, I know you can show me
Show me love is real, yeah, I want to know what love is

Songwriters: Michael Leslie Jones