banner.gif (3613 Byte)

Corner.gif 1x1.gif Corner.gif
1x1.gif You are at: Home - Discussion Forum 1x1.gif
Corner.gif 1x1.gif Corner.gif
      
round_corner_upleft.gif (837 Byte) 1x1.gif (807 Byte) round_corner_upright.gif (837 Byte)

Go Back   Gordon Lightfoot Forums > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 10-20-2006, 03:27 AM   #1
george duglas
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 8
Default

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
george duglas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 03:27 AM   #2
geodeticman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Colorado Rockies- Rampart Range
Posts: 261
Send a message via AIM to geodeticman
Default

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 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 06:37 AM   #3
Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin'
spammer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Somewhere U.S.A.
Posts: 936
Default

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.
Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin' is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 07:11 AM   #4
Peter Bro10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Illinois USA
Posts: 541
Default

This is really, really deep for soooooo early in the morning...
__________________
Bless you all and keep you on the road to tenderness
Heaven can be yours just for now


Peter Bro10
Peter Bro10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 08:06 AM   #5
geodeticman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Colorado Rockies- Rampart Range
Posts: 261
Send a message via AIM to geodeticman
Default

don't most of the deep thoughts come deep in the night though, Bro10 ?
geo steve
geodeticman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 08:17 AM   #6
geodeticman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Colorado Rockies- Rampart Range
Posts: 261
Send a message via AIM to geodeticman
Default

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
geodeticman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 09:24 AM   #7
Minstrel Man
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 158
Default

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.
Minstrel Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 10:02 AM   #8
RM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,965
Default

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.
RM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 12:50 PM   #9
Ginny
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 83
Default

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 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 12:52 PM   #10
Ginny
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 83
Default

Sorry, should be "if I DON"T want to" Just the Newfy comin' out in me. R.
Ginny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 01:44 PM   #11
johnfowles
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: New Jersey U.S.A. ex UK and Canada
Posts: 4,847
Send a message via AIM to johnfowles
Default

Somebody named jenrivard posted her ideas on the Newsgroup,way back in 1998
see:-
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.m...2ecb15b?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 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 01:44 PM   #12
johnfowles
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: New Jersey U.S.A. ex UK and Canada
Posts: 4,847
Send a message via AIM to johnfowles
Default

Somebody named jenrivard posted her ideas on the Newsgroup,way back in 1998
see:-
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.m...2ecb15b?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 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 02:09 PM   #13
Peter Bro10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Illinois USA
Posts: 541
Default

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...
__________________
Bless you all and keep you on the road to tenderness
Heaven can be yours just for now


Peter Bro10
Peter Bro10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2006, 05:21 PM   #14
Borderstone
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Phoenix,Arizona -America
Posts: 4,428
Default

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.
__________________
"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." - Borderstone
Borderstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2006, 01:09 AM   #15
geodeticman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Colorado Rockies- Rampart Range
Posts: 261
Send a message via AIM to geodeticman
Default

Thank you all - fascinating,
geo Steve
geodeticman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2006, 11:53 AM   #16
Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin'
spammer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Somewhere U.S.A.
Posts: 936
Default

Quote:
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.

Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin' is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2006, 05:20 PM   #17
BILLW
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Salisbury, MD, USA
Posts: 2,558
Send a message via AIM to BILLW
Default

Quote:
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
BILLW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2006, 10:00 PM   #18
Minstrel Man
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 158
Default

Hey Bill:

Thanks for your encouragement. It's always nice to hear a positive comment. Hope we can cross paths again sometime soon.
Minstrel Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Meaning of the song Pony Man paulg General Discussion 6 10-13-2008 09:26 PM
song meaning teatimeforme General Discussion 14 07-18-2006 02:04 PM
Meaning of Let It Ride? MatthewBullis General Discussion 4 06-03-2004 07:04 PM
The meaning charlize_angel4 General Discussion 14 11-20-2002 10:10 PM
Meaning of song lyric????? Help!!! Restless General Discussion 15 10-31-2001 06:20 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:53 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
downleft 1x1.gif (807 Byte) downright