In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
What kind of people live in these houses?
What kind of sad dad
Scratches in this crash-pad?
T-shirts or blouses?
Torn jeans or trousers?
What kind of people live in these houses?
T-shirts or blouses?
Torn jeans or proper trousers?
They vote the way they vote
They don't know how to change
Because their parents did the same
And where will they be
Ten years from today?
Bed-sitter, bed-wetter?
Or penthouse go-getter?
What carpet-chewer
Lights up this sewer?
And which rough trade strangers
Flail around these chambers?
And what dented gent
Bends over in this tent?
They sleep with who they sleep with
Only because they are afraid to taste change
And where will they be
Ten years from today?
Dogface in a duplex?
Boisterous in cloisters?
Grabbing in a cabin
Or squatting on your quarters, oh
Sat home and folksy
Smelling in their dwelling
They look at television thinking it's their window to the world
They look at television thinking it's their window to the world
That's got to hurt
Who cares what people live in these houses?
What kind of sad dad
Scratches in this crash-pad?
T-shirts or blouses?
Torn jeans or trousers?
What kind of people live in these houses?
T-shirts or blouses?
Torn jeans or proper trousers?
They vote the way they vote
They don't know how to change
Because their parents did the same
And where will they be
Ten years from today?
Bed-sitter, bed-wetter?
Or penthouse go-getter?
What carpet-chewer
Lights up this sewer?
And which rough trade strangers
Flail around these chambers?
And what dented gent
Bends over in this tent?
They sleep with who they sleep with
Only because they are afraid to taste change
And where will they be
Ten years from today?
Dogface in a duplex?
Boisterous in cloisters?
Grabbing in a cabin
Or squatting on your quarters, oh
Sat home and folksy
Smelling in their dwelling
They look at television thinking it's their window to the world
They look at television thinking it's their window to the world
That's got to hurt
Who cares what people live in these houses?
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
What Kind of People Live in These Houses? Lyrics as written by Steven Morrissey Jesse Tobias
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think Morrissey is just genuinely curious about "what kind of people live in these houses" and he likes to rhyme. He's a song writing machine.
@thrillracerESQ morrissey was one of the people who live in these houses.
Morrissey said in an interview that he lives "on the Globe," keeps travelling and moving on, always staying in hotels, and "it's very hard to travel and to write." (Wink, issue 8, 86-88, 2014.)
Might come as a shock, but i think this song is quite political. 'They vote the way they vote' and questions such as t-shirts or blouses? (stereotypically) would represent whether you vote for labour or conservatives, respectively. Who cares what people live in these houses? - not the government, that's for sure. i think the line 'They look at television thinking it's their window to the world' is autobiographical, having read Morrissey's autobiography. There is a strong emphasis on television in the early years of his life, To quote, 'Television is black and white, so therefore the world itself is black and white' All important meanings aside, this has some HILARIOUS lyrics: instead of saying 'ewww a rat' there is the pure poetry of 'What carpet-chewer, Lights up this sewer?' The 'rough trade strangers' line i'm sure needs no explanation, but to rhyme it with 'frail around these chambers'???? In my daily life that basically sums up my existence. All the rhymes in this are genius.