Get Out of My House

I've been following Kate since the early 1980s, and what I've gleaned from all of the interviews that I've seen or read with her, is that clearly her songs have depth and are not always meant to be taken literally, however, she is usually not that far away, and usually has a relatively down to earth idea in mind. So, I think most of the over-the-top mythological, pseudo-psychological, or other off-the-wall interpretations that people try to give are probably not close to what she really meant to convey. She does use some folklore type references sometimes, but they are usually straight-forward. In general, I think you have to stay pretty close to everyday experience and relationships to understand her stuff. I think it's all meant to be taken on a gut level, not an academic one.

So, for this song, I don't think it's about a literal house, haunted or otherwise, and conversely, I don't think its about mythology or or psychological theory. I think the house is clearly her, a woman - both her soul and her physical body - and she's "locking out" someone she once loved but now the relationship has failed. The violence of the song may be literal (i.e., physically shutting out a lover who was abusive or has become a stalker) or it may represent a violent internal conflict (i.e., she is fighting her inner temptations to take a lover back when she knows it will not work). I think it's the former - with the man first demanding to be let in, and then later, trying to cajole her, coming across in the song in more of a disturbing, psycho way than anything else. So, I think a former lover with at least some degree of anger issues trying to get back into her, both emotionally and physically.

Now, the turning into the mule thing at the end is kind of odd, and maybe there's some kind of folklore type allusion there. However, I think it also fits to just make the obvious interpretation that she is saying she is stubborn and immovable on the issue, like a mule. Saying "I change into the mule" is just saying "I gathered my strength and you won't move me on this, no matter how much you yell or sweet talk me". I also like to think the male voice making the mule sounds at the end is kind of like portraying him as a braying ass, which is consistent with her feelings about him in the rest of the song.

Well, the beauty of a great song is that it can mean something different to each person. Whatever you think this one means, it's still a great song - a bit disturbing and violent, but also resilient in the end. A great, gut level track.

first of all its called get out of MY house. and i believe it is based on the book and film "the shining"

I love this song. A truly weird song to end Kate's arguably weirdest album. And yeah, it's based on The Shining.

You've got to hear it to appreciate these lyrics, though this is true with most of Kate's songs. The best part is hearing Kate scream "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE"....bringing to mind Shelly Duvall's frantic insanity in the film The Shining.

Hee-Hawwwww

to me, this is about rape...the house representing her body...the poetry at the end is done by her oldest brother, John, and is taken from some mythic verse they knew of...mind blowing stuff here...

Yet another one of my favourite songs. I believe her body and her life is being compared to a house. A man has overstepped the mark, and aggressively is trying to muscle in onto her life. Possibly, but not necessarily, rape. This man is basically trying to control and dominate her. Not just sexually - but in ever way - emotionally and mentally as well. He wants to bring order to her house and rearrange it the way he wants.

However this woman is not submissive and completely rejects his very blunt and unwanted advances. She aggressively fights back to protect her independence and way of life. She shuts down her heart and emotions to him to make it clear she is not interested. All communications is barred to him. The more he tries - the more stubborn she gets. He tries to tempt her with dreams and kisses but they come with a price as they are devil dreams and cold kisses. At the end she prevails and she keeps her freedom to be who she wants and choose who she wants to let into her life.

A great and completely bonkers song:)

The Dreaming is a truly amazing album… This song is about anger, violence and manipulation. The song reflects both the internal and the external worlds of the subject... Both ‘doors’ have been shattered, causing mind-splitting and objective fear (even the cat senses terror). Maybe rape. Maybe sexual manipulation. Certainly something transgressive. In shock, she focuses on cleaning; on resolutions; and on controlling her (screaming and slamming) mind. She tries to reassure herself that her mental house is strong and full of fight… She tries to keep her mind from flooding with fury… She is angry with herself (self-persecuting)… her mess, mistakes, madness… she has to deal with it… An internal struggle ensues… However, by the end of the song, she lacks the power to function. Her fury has, as in a Greek Myth, turned her into a mule… a beast of burden… (Hecuba was driven mad by sorrow and began barking like a dog…)

The Shining and Alien are known influences to this song (see http://gaffa.org/dreaming/td_goomh.html)…

…and perhaps also the existential horror classic, CARNIVAL OF SOULS… (where an emotional shock gives rise to a demonic struggle) ?

‘I must have been talking for an hour… That’s all there is… That’s the whole story…’

• from CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962)

GOoMH… It’s a fantastic song!

Mythology also says the gods turned Hecuba into a dog so that she might escape Odysseus…

Perhaps GOoMH treats insanity. The protagonist is trying to seal the doors and corridors of her mind from insane thoughts. Her fighting fear of insanity has her barking like a mule to escape mad imaginings… Clearing the head, so to speak, and feeling the better for it!

I find this song so good, extremely creative in the construction, and well thoughts provoking too as a whole..
within those disturbed and disturbing words Kate displays such incredible emotions this represents something of a inner struggle.. maybe as much as a cry against one's soul being possessed anyway...it is obviously full of tensions and pretty nightmarish... ( i'm not english sorry if isometimes make up awful words along =)

then the music and melodies too are haunting and just strong enough to make this all go 'slam' together, and the song is so powerful by results thanxs to a powerful and daring original manner of making music that really belongs exclusively to incredibles artists such as she.

about the lyrics I can't say much, I do go by the interpretations and historical facts given here which are seemingly pretty interesting!

I love how kate Bush manages to expose us to the most dark places of the human soul, as with whole songs constructed as some kind of musicaly illustrated mental tales.. very cinematic or even theatrical

I hear this song as like, someone hurt the person, so they lock themselves away in their "house", or mind. Neither love nor money (nothing) can get the person to open the "door", open up to others. They go slightly mad since they're shut in all alone, but at the same time, they have preserved themselves. It's a vague, unresolved song about being alone that I don't think has a clear cut answer.