Is There Anyone Home - meaning to you ?

[george duglas]

The song "Is There Anyone Home" - [in this house made of stone] - has been flooding my hard-drive in my dented brainpan for over 30 years.....

I love that song, and find it so imagery-laden and equally mysterious. Is it as simple as....Gord musing over being alone in his stone mansion in the local "on the hill" upscale part of Orillia ?

I saw an INCREDIBLE cut grey-stone home in old Denver today, and got back to thinking as it were about this song. What with the Stonewall Mansion mentioned by proprietor Goedenhoe, I am further reminded of this song; my old "ethereal" favourite as Gord says.

Your interpretation ? Anyone ever ask Gord and got a specific ? The gun reference was too old - before DSR's recording studio time-period when robbed at gunpoint at his hotel. Thoughts fellow Lightheads ? I hear the gears whirring already.... :)
geo Steve

[geodeticman]

The song "Is There Anyone Home" - [in this house made of stone] - has been flooding my hard-drive in my dented brainpan for over 30 years.....

I love that song, and find it so imagery-laden and equally mysterious. Is it as simple as....Gord musing over being alone in his stone mansion in the local "on the hill" upscale part of Orillia ?

I saw an INCREDIBLE cut grey-stone home in old Denver today, and got back to thinking as it were about this song. What with the Stonewall Mansion mentioned by proprietor Goedenhoe, I am further reminded of this song; my old "ethereal" favourite as Gord says.

Your interpretation ? Anyone ever ask Gord and got a specific ? The gun reference was too old - before DSR's recording studio time-period when robbed at gunpoint at his hotel. Thoughts fellow Lightheads ? I hear the gears whirring already.... :)
geo Steve

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Gord said so it was about unrequited love, although I still don't get "Turn around don't look down, There's a man behind you with a gun" is about. :confused:

[Peter Bro10]

This is really, really deep for soooooo early in the morning...

[geodeticman]

don't most of the deep thoughts come deep in the night though, Bro10 ? ;)
geo steve

[geodeticman]

Fading - This is a helpful start. What Gord says is of course straight from the horse's mouth. Thanks...

You know though, interesting thing, I think Gord in his fun, on again off again way has said in some cases different things of different songs at different times.

Has anyone else heard from Gord on this one, or be willing to offer their own personal interpretation ?

As Gord says - if he tells us, its no longer "ours" - I think I get that. So we are left to appreciate it, sort of as a painting, which no one can say what exactly it means.

When all are awake...LOL.... any more personal insights in to one of my favourite songs I've never really "understood" ?

I guess of course I don't need to, in fact, it makes it more interesting. Kind of like A lesson In Love's interpretation.

But, I'd sure like to hear more ! :)
geo Steve

[Minstrel Man]

I've always taken the house as a metaphor. As if the house is the woman's heart. She's shut him out. It's a heart of stone. The man with the gun is the other man who is after her heart. He's a threat (gun) to the narrator (gord?). The song also suggests that the narrator is going to warm her up and break through if he can.
These are my quick thoughts.

Have a happy day.

[RM]

Minstrel Man,

I think your interpretation is excellent. I was in geo steve's arena as far as the song being a "mystery to me". Your placement of the puzzle pieces fit nicely.

[Ginny]

This topic reminds me so much of an interview I once watched when Toronto host Jeanne Becker interviewed Don Maclean, composer of "American Pie" and asked him directly "what does that song really mean?" He responded by saying that "It means I don't have to work another day for the rest of my life if I want to." Ron J.

[Ginny]

Sorry, should be "if I DON"T want to" Just the Newfy comin' out in me. R.

[johnfowles]

Somebody named jenrivard posted her ideas on the Newsgroup,way back in 1998
see:-
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.music.lightfoot/msg/ef9911d602ecb15b?hl=en&
It's a good thread click on the subject title at the top to read all of the postings, including Gary(Curkan)'s:-
"I always thought it was a song about some one making soup!
Alas!!! Think I heard someone stir. "

[ October 20, 2006, 13:50: Message edited by: johnfowles ]

[johnfowles]

Somebody named jenrivard posted her ideas on the Newsgroup,way back in 1998
see:-
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.music.lightfoot/msg/ef9911d602ecb15b?hl=en&
It's a good thread click on the subject title at the top to read all of the postings, including Gary(Curkan)'s:-
"I always thought it was a song about some one making soup!
Alas!!! Think I heard someone stir. "

[ October 20, 2006, 13:50: Message edited by: johnfowles ]

[Peter Bro10]

It's kind of fun to hear what others interpret from music I've listened to for so long.
But unlike Don Maclean, I'm at work so I must be brief...

[Borderstone]

The man behind him with a gun is Gord himself (or we ourselves). Of course for the women it's "woman". ;)

Meaning: You may look one day and see yourself in a way that you might not recognize. It may result in your own destruction.

In other words,if you let things get to you to deeply,like he seems to be doing in the song,it could send you into a darker side of yourself.

That's my defenition.

[geodeticman]

Thank you all - fascinating,
geo Steve

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Originally posted by Minstrel Man:
I've always taken the house as a metaphor. As if the house is the woman's heart. She's shut him out. It's a heart of stone. The man with the gun is the other man who is after her heart. He's a threat (gun) to the narrator (gord?). The song also suggests that the narrator is going to warm her up and break through if he can.
These are my quick thoughts.

Have a happy day. Ahhh, it makes sense now. I'd always thought "the man behind her with a gun" was going to shoot her, and that didn't make much sense at all. :confused:

:)

[BILLW]

Originally posted by Minstrel Man:
I've always taken the house as a metaphor. As if the house is the woman's heart. She's shut him out. It's a heart of stone. The man with the gun is the other man who is after her heart. He's a threat (gun) to the narrator (gord?). The song also suggests that the narrator is going to warm her up and break through if he can.
These are my quick thoughts.

Have a happy day. Man I'd like to audit a few of your classes. I enjoy your take on things and your style is great for a teacher.

Bill :)

[Minstrel Man]

Hey Bill:

Thanks for your encouragement. It's always nice to hear a positive comment. Hope we can cross paths again sometime soon.