There's a house with no door and I'm living there
At nights it gets so cold
And the days are hard to bear inside.
There's a house with no roof, so the rain creeps in,
Falling through my head as I try to think out time.
I don't know you, you say you know me,
That may be so,
There's so much that I am unsure of
You call my name, but it sounds unreal,
I forget how I feel, my body's rejecting the cure.

There's a house with no bell, but then nobody calls;
I sometimes find it hard to tell
If any are alive at all outside.
There's a house with no sound; yes, it's quiet there
There's not much point in words
If there's no-one to share in time.
I've learned my lines, I know them so well,
I am ready to tell
Whoever will finally come in
Of the line in my mind that's cold in the night,
It doesn't seem right
When there's that little dark figure running

There's a house with no door
And there's no living there
One day it became a wall
Well I didn't really care at the time.
There's a house with no light,
All the windows are sealed,
Overtaxed and strained now nothing is revealed but time
I don't know you, you say you know me,
That may be so,
There's so much that I am unsure of
You call my name, but it sounds unreal,
I forget how I feel,
My body's rejecting the cure
Won't somebody help me?


Lyrics submitted by inpraiseoffolly

House With No Door Lyrics as written by Peter Hammill

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

House With No Door song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

3 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    One of the more depressing songs of the 70s, not surprisingly since the song gives a vivid picture of the world of someone suffering from clinical depression - the despair and alienation are brought to life so poignantly by the poetic lyrics

    AlanOldieon July 23, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.