Songs about domesticity
April 17, 2011 10:03 PM   Subscribe

What are some good songs about domesticity besides "Our House" by Crosby Stills Nash and Young?
posted by malhouse to Media & Arts (58 answers total) 23 users marked this as a favorite
 
"Earn Enough for Us" by XTC
posted by davebush at 10:08 PM on April 17, 2011


There's always the other Our House.
posted by scody at 10:09 PM on April 17, 2011 [5 favorites]


It's not exactly about domesticity, but Billy Bragg's Fourteenth of February has that comfortable, long term relationship feeling.
posted by apricot at 10:10 PM on April 17, 2011


Paula Cole - Where Have All The Cowboys Gone

so sorry
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:12 PM on April 17, 2011


The Reels Kitchen Man
posted by the noob at 10:14 PM on April 17, 2011


Robby Russell Saturday Morning Confusion fits the bill.
posted by kevinsp8 at 10:23 PM on April 17, 2011


Of Montreal, Neat Little Domestic Life - super adorable.
posted by kerning at 10:23 PM on April 17, 2011


Taking Heads - This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
posted by hydrophonic at 10:25 PM on April 17, 2011 [3 favorites]


I don't know if Shangri-La by the Kinks would work? What about Ray Davies' Quiet Life from Absolute Beginners?
posted by kendrak at 10:34 PM on April 17, 2011


Yo La Tengo, Moby Octopad.
Mates of State, Tan/Black.
Liars, The Overachievers
and Tea for Two, which I think I've suggested elsewhere here. This is my favorite version, by Ella Fitzgerald.

I realize that there is some obtuseness to the domesticity in these songs, but it's how I interpret them.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 10:40 PM on April 17, 2011


Danny's Song
posted by bearette at 10:42 PM on April 17, 2011


"Anyway" by Swales.
posted by mykescipark at 10:43 PM on April 17, 2011


Cat Power does a lovely version of Michael Hurley's SweeDeeDee.
posted by dobbs at 10:43 PM on April 17, 2011


Mushaboom by Feist
posted by delicate_dahlias at 11:02 PM on April 17, 2011 [3 favorites]


"Domestica" by Bjork
posted by jef at 11:04 PM on April 17, 2011




An oldie: "Inside" by Jethro Tull (... That was the best cup of coffee I've ever had...)
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 11:26 PM on April 17, 2011


In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home,
With a couple of kids running in the yard...


Desmond and Molly Jones' version of domesticity: Ob La Di Ob La Da - The Beatles
posted by amyms at 11:29 PM on April 17, 2011 [1 favorite]


Lyle Lovett's In My Own Mind.
posted by L'oeuvre Child at 11:48 PM on April 17, 2011


William Shatner - Familiar Love

...seriously!
posted by equivocator at 11:52 PM on April 17, 2011


Would "Coming Around Again" by Carly Simon fit the bill?
posted by Skybly at 11:56 PM on April 17, 2011


A bit on the melancholy side, but here's Home Again by Carole King.
posted by Rinku at 12:00 AM on April 18, 2011


Feist, Mushaboom

It's about a person dreaming of the home they want to have someday but don't have yet.

I got a man to stick it out
And make a home from a rented house
And we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done
.

posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:24 AM on April 18, 2011


Fruit Nut by XTC
posted by wsg at 12:25 AM on April 18, 2011


Talking Heads, This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
posted by allelopath at 12:26 AM on April 18, 2011




Mrs Bartolozzi by Kate Bush:

I remember it was that Wednesday
Oh when it rained and it rained
They traipsed mud all over the house
It took hours and hours to scrub it out
All over the hall carpet
I took my mop and bucket
And I cleaned and I cleaned
The kitchen floor
Until it sparkled
Then I took my laundry basket
And put the linen all in it
And everything I could fit in it
And all our dirty clothes that hadn't gone into the wash
And all your shirts and jeans and things
And put them in the new washing machine

posted by londonmark at 2:35 AM on April 18, 2011


Alice Cooper, You and Me.
posted by ROTFL at 2:50 AM on April 18, 2011


"Tonight I'll be Staying Here With You" by Bob Dylan from "Nashville Skyline", also songs on "New Morning" such as "Time Passes Slowly" and "New Morning" itself.
posted by joannemullen at 3:49 AM on April 18, 2011


>What about Ray Davies' Quiet Life from Absolute Beginners?
In fact, if I was ever forced by aliens to try to accurately convey a picture of (English) domesticity using the music of just one songwriter then Ray Davies would be my choice: Dead End Street, Have a Cuppa Tea, Village Green Preservation Society, Come Dancing, Picture Book...
posted by rongorongo at 3:51 AM on April 18, 2011


Sunday Sunday by Blur
posted by jontyjago at 5:11 AM on April 18, 2011


Jonathan Coulton, Shop Vac.
posted by chookibing at 5:18 AM on April 18, 2011


Our House by Madness (different song!)

Fire at Midnight by Jethro Tull
posted by usonian at 5:38 AM on April 18, 2011


...and perhaps Pleasant Valley Sunday by Gerry Goffin and Carole King (performed by the Monkees?) It's arguably more about suburbia in general, but the lyrics are full of little domestic vignettes.
posted by usonian at 5:44 AM on April 18, 2011


Pulp - Dishes
posted by nothing too obvious at 6:12 AM on April 18, 2011


Paul Kelly - Clean this house
posted by nothing too obvious at 6:14 AM on April 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


The National: Slow Show
"I wanna hurry home to you
Put on a slow, dumb show for you
And crack you up..."
posted by sestaaak at 6:24 AM on April 18, 2011


Tom Wait's "In the neighborhood"
posted by rongorongo at 6:34 AM on April 18, 2011




There are these lyrics from "My Old Man" by Joni Mitchell:
But when he's gone
Me and them lonesome blues collide
The bed's too big
The frying pan's too wide

posted by HeroZero at 7:23 AM on April 18, 2011


Billy Bragg -- Brickbat.
posted by Madamina at 7:30 AM on April 18, 2011


I can't find a link for it, but I knew I was going to settle down with my partner when we listened to the song "Beautiful Grind" by Peter Case.
posted by elmer benson at 8:00 AM on April 18, 2011


Rascal Flatts, This Everyday Love
posted by eleanna at 8:11 AM on April 18, 2011


It comes at the subject from a 'gone wrong' viewpoint, but I'd suggest Tom Waits' House Where Nobody Lives.
posted by rocket88 at 9:00 AM on April 18, 2011


Fun, The Gambler (has nothing to do with the Kenny Rogers song of the same title)
posted by bewilderbeast at 9:00 AM on April 18, 2011


Another Joni Mitchell - Chelsea Morning.
posted by rtha at 9:03 AM on April 18, 2011


Jack Johnson – Do You Remember
posted by lpsguy at 9:41 AM on April 18, 2011


"The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" by Donna Fargo

Good morning morning, hello sunshine, wake up sleepyhead
Why'd we move on that bojangles clock so far away from the bed?
Just one more minute, that's why we moved it, one more hug or two
Do you love waking up next to me as much as I love waking up next to you?

You make the coffee, I'll make the bed, I'll fix your lunch and you'll fix mine
Now tell me the truth, do these old shoes look funny? Honey, it's almost nine
Now you be careful, gotta go, I love you, have a beautiful day
And kiss the happiest girl in the whole USA


Oh, this song makes me cry.
posted by milk white peacock at 9:50 AM on April 18, 2011


Liz Phair's "Gunshy":

take out the garbage on Tuesday night
send three bucks to a comic book,
get a house, car, and wife...

posted by ifjuly at 11:18 AM on April 18, 2011


And jeez, how could I forget "Goodnight Irene". I'm partial to P.J. Harvey's adaptation.

here I am, prairie land
I got it all, got gun in hand
I see dungarees
they're on my husband, they're on me

we have the stars
we have the trees
we have everything we need to feed

I'll make babes
he'll make chairs
we sell them at the county fair

we'll walk on
we'll walk tall
we dance once a week, the union hall

I'll sweep the porch
I dust his room
we swing together on a chair at noon

posted by ifjuly at 11:24 AM on April 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Let's Stay In as sung by Jenny Toomey and Joey Burns.
posted by pernoctalian at 12:00 PM on April 18, 2011


J Geils.. "Love Stinks"
posted by PaulBGoode at 1:13 PM on April 18, 2011


Radiohead - No Surprises
posted by Midnight Rambler at 3:40 PM on April 18, 2011


Summer Breeze, Seals & Crofts
posted by martianna at 4:34 PM on April 18, 2011


queen of the house - jodi miller
around the home - mayo thompson
angel from montgomery - john prine
posted by ajarbaday at 4:48 PM on April 18, 2011


Greg Brown - "Who Woulda Thunk It?"
We used to say I don't care if I never grow old
I'm gonna flame, gonna burn, take one quick turn and be gone like James Dean
Now we don't say that. It's too late to die young
So we sit at the table long after supper and a good wine
Here's what we sing, we go, hey hey, hey hey, who woulda thunk it
Hey hey, hey hey, who woulda thunk it
posted by Lexica at 6:55 PM on April 18, 2011 [1 favorite]


Let's Move to the Country by Smog
posted by clockwork at 7:45 PM on April 18, 2011


Is This My Happy Home? by Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks
posted by wsg at 10:34 PM on April 18, 2011


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