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.
Walking through that door
Outside we came nowhere at all
Perhaps the answers here
Not there anymore
Then in our hearts the light broke through
A path lost for years is there in view
House of four doors
You'll be lost now forever
House of four doors
Rest of life's life forever
House of four doors
You'll be lost now forever
House of four doors
Outside we came nowhere at all
Perhaps the answers here
Not there anymore
Then in our hearts the light broke through
A path lost for years is there in view
House of four doors
You'll be lost now forever
House of four doors
Rest of life's life forever
House of four doors
You'll be lost now forever
House of four doors
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery, edited by cliffhall
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@[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.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Its doesnt stand alone - its really part of a three-parter, with Legend of a Mind in the middle. They used the same structure in On The Threshold of a Dream. In this case, as a whole, the Moodies are "travelling" to a house of music experience - most likely dreamed from fables, myths and such, in search of the "Lost Chord", which requires them to look at the (oversimplified) music that has been - 4 ages, with rock being the fourth (Legend of a Mind). After experiencing all four types, the "house" fades away, and they eventually reach a spark - of what the "chord" is. Moodies albums are dense and fit songs in sequence. Then , on to side two!!
i guess the "house" they are refering to, is a place that has no meaning... probably wher you would end up on a good high...no direction..."lost" north south east west..Four doors.. "acid trip".. "seek to find within"
Ooookaaaay. It COULD mean that, I suppose. It could also be a musical exploration. Ever notice the different musical styles associated with the different doors? Less puffing and more listening!
@Digi-G That's it!
I kind of agree with Digi-G, however, I have been listening to the Moodies since the late 60's, saw them 3 times in person back in the early 70's and love their mysterious philisophical brilliant comps so much, The only problem is, to many people try to attribute a lot of their songs to either a simple shallow meaning, or an acid trip confusion. I really love these guys, but, I am afraid one of their main purposes is going against Christianity, thought they do it with good intentions.
Oh No No! You need to listen to "You and Me" for this verse...<br /> "Youre an ocean full of faces<br /> And you know that WE BELIEVE<br /> Were just a wave that drifts around you<br /> Singing all our hopes and dreams<br /> We look around in wonder<br /> At the work that has been done<br /> By the visions of our father<br /> Touched by his loving son."<br /> <br /> Sounds very christian to me.
@siggmaestro wasn't it written by john lodge , who i believe is a christian.
@siggmaestro Why do you say they're going against Christianity? Their music is light years beyond such a claim, even if they do poke a stick at the "opiate of the masses." You managed to reduce 50 years of soaring melodic, deeply introspective music to one trite remark that they're only being iconoclastic.
@siggmaestro Why do you say they're going against Christianity? Their music is light years beyond such a claim, even if they do poke a stick at the "opiate of the masses." You managed to reduce 50 years of soaring melodic, deeply introspective music to one trite remark that they're only being iconoclastic. @skylab3, do you honestly believe all those lyrics are reflecting a Christian perspective? I certainly don't.
@siggmaestro Why do you say they're going against Christianity? Their music is light years beyond such a claim, even if they do poke a stick at the "opiate of the masses." You managed to reduce 50 years of soaring melodic, deeply introspective music to one trite remark that they're only being iconoclastic. @skylab3, do you honestly believe all those lyrics are reflecting a Christian perspective? I certainly don't.
@siggmaestro What?? First you impart some lofty Christian meaning to their music, then you turn around & say they're going against Christianity, so which one is it? While vehemently disagree with Skep Tical & his vicious attack on you, I agree with him that you appear a little confused. Again, wtf?
If you listen closely, you'll find among their most beautiful and mysteriouis music and arrangements, they are allways searching for someone. It sounds like they are doing a lot of explaining, and yet questioning also. Allways leaving the world out there to wonder what they mean. (not all of their songs are religiously philosophical) but many are. I am a child of God. A born again non-charismatic , protestant (of course) Christian. and I believe we are put on this earth to worship God, love one another, help others and of course, please God by telling others about HIM. It is wonderful to just float away on the Moody Blues mysterious awesome music, but if you go around doubting the true living God, and set a self spiritual answer to who our maker and true living God is. Have faith and know after He proves to you when you give your heart to Him, through Jesus Christ.
<br /> @siggmaestro get the fuck out of here. You are so lost you dont realize its okay to be lost. so you pretend to be found, just for some creepy, selfish, self importance and fake meaning that you not only are willing to be a slave to in order to have a reason to get your miserable, weak minded, unimaginitave, lazy self out of bed in the morning... But have the audacity to force upon other people act like you are better then them as if you have the key to their salvation. You sicken me. Try thinking for your self sometime.
@siggmaestro All that's well & good for you, if you truly believe it, however, maybe you should do a bit more research about this concept of a "true living God" & whether that is the panacea for all life's troubles & trials. This modern concept of Christianity has been so bastardized that it bears little resemblance to what was originally conceived by this Jesus Christ, besides, theres much evidence that we were created by beings as reflected in the original Hebrew as "Elohim," a plural word as opposed to Eloi, the singular word for god or God.
@siggmaestro I agree with your first two lines, but where do you get the idea many of their songs are religiously philosophical? None of them, to my knowledge (& I'm a HUGE MB fan) have ever said ANYthing about any religious connotation in any of their music. If you want to ascribe that type of meaning to it, I think they would say by all means knock yourself out, but don't try & proselytize to others based on your interpretation. If you choose to believe what I consider to be a fairy tale concocted by well-meaning followers of JC but twisted over 2,000 years into a story meant to sedate & control the masses, that's certainly your business, but as a recovering Christian myself, I fail to see the attraction anymore, based on what we now know about the afterlife; read books about NDEs & you'll start to understand.
The liner art (seasonsinyourmind.com/albums2/moodyblues-lostchord(inside).jpg) contains an image of a YANTRA, whose detailed appearance is described in detail here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Yantra
Although it doesn't specifically say that this YANTRA is the meaning of House of Four Doors, it's fairly obvious.
"The entire configuration is framed by the broken lines of an earth square, representing a temple with four doors open onto the regions of the universe."
@cliffhall Links above were broken and the form doesn't allow editing.<br /> <br /> seasonsinyourmind.com/albums2/moodyblues-lostchord(inside).jpg<br /> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Yantra#Appearance
@cliffhall sheesh...<br /> <br /> "seasonsinyourmind.com/albums2/moodyblues-lostchord(inside).jpg"<br /> "en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Yantra#Appearance"
@cliffhall To make the links work, just remove the initial "http" section. For some reason, there are two.<br /> <br /> That said, I think you got it. The Yantra hadn't occurred to me, but that's what it's a reference to.
and then someone drags religion into the mix..and then its us vs them..and really, thats always been the way of the world...sometimes we click with a person and sometimes we just dont..I always liked the song and the album..drug induced as it was..that was the norm in that era.
@anthony114 What makes you say it was "drug-induced?" So what if they were exploring their minds through getting high or tripping, mankind has been doing that for thousands of years; for you to drop in your own form of judgement, viz., siggmaestro adding religion, is exactly the same thing.
@anthony114 Spot on, except for the drug-induced statement; yes we were all getting high as f back when we first heard it, but I listen to it now under the influence of nothing but my daily meds, Adderall, which I don't think gets me high. I agree with your first sentence, I've seen all kinds of folks try & impart some mystical religious connotation to their music when it is nothing of the kind.
@Skep Tical, damn dude, why all the anger, siggmaestro is merely telling it as he sees it, erroneously imho, but if it makes his life better, wtf, ya know? Who are you to swear at him with such vitriole? Read my comments, I disagree with him but don't condemn him for his beliefs, & neither should you!