OUR HOUSE
MADNESS
SONGWRITERS: CHRIS J. FOREMAN & CARL CHAS SMASH SMYTH
COUNTRY: U. K.
ALBUM: MADNESS
LABEL: GEFFEN RECORDS
GENRE: POP MUSIC
YEAR: 1983
Madness is
a self-titled compilation album by the British ska/pop band.
It was issued primarily for the North American market in order to capitalise on
the top 10 success in the United States of their hit single "Our House"
from the 1982 album Madness
Presents the Rise & Fall, which
had not been available there.
Rolling Stone's
J. D. Considine gave the album a rave review, saying that it introduced the best
tracks from Madness's earlier albums to an American audience, while leaving out
any songs with insular British cultural references. He praised the uniquely
British "economy and wit" of the melodies and the sobering lyrics,
remarking that "Madness offers up all of the clichés of traditional
British entertainment - but with a twist, revealing the hard realities behind
the soothing illusions."
Father
wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep
He can't hang around
Our
house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Our
house it has a crowd
There's always something happening
And it's usually quite loud
Our mum she's so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down
And a mess is not allowed
Our
house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Our
house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Something tells you that you've got to get away from
it
Father
gets up late for work
Mother has to iron his shirt
Then she sends the kids to school
Sees them off with a small kiss
She's the one they're going to miss
In lots of ways
Our
house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...
I
remember way back then when everything was true and when
We would have such a very good time such a fine time
Such a happy time
And I remember how we'd play simply waste the day away
Then we'd say nothing would come between us two
dreamers
Father
wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep
He can't hang around
Our
house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our
house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Our
house, was our castle and our keep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our
house, that was where we used to sleep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our
house, in the middle of our street.