♫ There’s A Ghost In My House ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

As a rule, I typically play only songs that I like at least a little bit here on Filosofa’s Word.  However, once or twice in the past I’ve stepped outside that box, and today is yet another such time.  A few days ago, our friend Clive mentioned R. Dean Taylor.  Now, the only song I could recall by Taylor was Indiana Wants Me, which I played here last year, but Clive mentioned There’s A Ghost In My House, which I was pretty sure I had never heard.  Veni, Vidi, Odi.  I came, I saw, I didn’t like.  However, since Clive is a good friend, I decided to give it a second shot yesterday.  It was slightly less annoying than the first time I listened.  Clive is convinced I won’t play it here, so … being a somewhat stubborn person, and liking to have a bit of fun, I decided to surprise Clive!  Note, friends, that if you listen a second time, it’s not quite so bad the second time around. 😊  The lyrics, in fact, are actually quite touching.

I was surprised to learn that this was co-written with Brian Holland, Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier, for I typically love all of their work.  According to SongFacts …

This uptempo track about a love that is no more flopped in the US but was a big hit in the UK. In R. Dean Taylor: raising a ghost, an article/interview published in the July 6, 1974 issue of Melody Maker, Taylor said it was originally recorded on Tamla Motown several years previously, but the label never did anything to promote it. They weren’t really interested in him as an artist because they had a name for being a black label. He added: “I hope it will eventually be strong for white artists too, but I can’t wait for that. I can’t hang around. I could be 68 years old.” He was “staggered but delighted” when “Ghost” started leaping up the British charts having been adopted by the Northern Soul and disco circuit.

Although recorded early on in his career, it remains one of the white Canadian’s two biggest hits.

I could find no additional trivia about the song, so here it is, in all it’s {cough} splendor …

There’s a Ghost in My House

R. Dean Taylor

There’s a ghost in my house
The ghost of your memories
The ghost of the love you took from me

Where our love used to be
Only shadows from the past I see
Time can’t seem to erase
The vision of your smiling face
Though you found someone new

I can’t get over you
There’s a ghost in my house
I can’t hide
(Ghost in my house)
From the ghost of your love that’s inside
(Ghost in my house)

It keeps on haunting me
(Ghost in my house)
Just keeps on reminding me
(Ghost in my house)

In my mind I know you’re gone
But my heart keeps holding on
To the memories of those happy times
To the love that once was mine
Though we’re far apart

You’re always in my heart
There’s a ghost in my house
I can’t hide
(Ghost in my house)
From the ghost of your love that’s inside

You’re still such a part of me
(Ghost in my house)
Still so deep in the heart of me
(Ghost in my house)

I just keep hearing your footsteps on the stairs
When I know there’s no-one there
Every day I love you more
So much more than the day before

Sittin’ in my easy chair
I feel your fingers running through my hair
Lookin’ down in my coffee cup
I think I see your face lookin’ up
All alone in my gloom

You voice echoes through the room
There’s a ghost in my house
And I can’t hide
(Ghost in my house)
From the ghost of your love that’s inside
(Ghost in my house)

It keeps on haunting me
(Ghost in my house)
Just keeps on reminding me
(Ghost in my house)

I just keep hearing your footsteps on the stairs
When I know there’s no-one there
You’re still such a part of me
(Ghost in my house)

Still so deep in the heart of me
(Ghost in my house)
I can’t hide
(Ghost in my house)
From the ghost of your love that’s inside
(Ghost in my house)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Brian Holland / Edward Holland / Edward / Jr. Holland / Jr. / Lamont Dozier / Lamont Herbert Dozier / R. Dean Taylor

There’s a Ghost in My House lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

24 thoughts on “♫ There’s A Ghost In My House ♫”

  2. I am laughing! One, because you sound just like me in playing a song to shock someone. LOL! The don’t dare me, because I will do it attitude. 🙂
    And two because Oh gosh, I could not listen to the whole song! Sorry Clive! 😂

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Pingback: THERE’S A GHOST IN MY HOUSE. |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

    • Nor had I! I might have liked it better if I had heard it at a younger age, but I think my music tastes are pretty much set in stone at this point. Clive has, however, introduced me to a number of songs that I liked better than this one. Hugs ‘n cheers, dear M!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Well aren’t you the Contrary Mary! Thank you for playing this. I think it’s far better than you or your countryfolk do. It got to #3 here – we aren’t always bad judges when it comes to music! Motown should have done the decent thing and released him from his contract, so that he could have found a more supportive label.

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        • Not this time. I cannot say I was ever impressed with his onebig Canadian hit, but at least it sounded professional. As I listened to “Ghost” for the very first time yesterday, I felt it was lacking something. Know that my favourite Motown staff writers HDH worked on it did not change my mind. But so it goes. ETHO. I am glad you liked it.

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    • Yep, that’s me! 😊 I was shocked to find out it was Motown, for it is so different from the Motown Sound I grew up with! I’m not putting it down, per se … and yeah, you guys have decent judgment most of the time … but I don’t think it’ll ever be the song I find myself singing in the shower! I do agree, though, that Motown was not fair to him, and that disappoints me.

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      • I think our chart history is full of utter trash. There are the occasional bright spots though. This one was a lightweight, cheesy song that struck a chord with many, albeit briefly. What I don’t understand is why Motown signed him in the first place!

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  8. A song that deserved more from Motown. R Dean Taylor like other white artistes on that label were largely ignored by management. Kiki Dee enjoyed success with Elton John rather than with her deserving record Amereuse. Motown favoured some of it’s artistes above others when it came to record choices and promotion, the top sellers always getting first choice like the Supremes being favoured above stars like the Four Tops and the Temptations or people like Gladys Knight at first.

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    • I’m actually a bit surprised you like this one, for it didn’t seem quite your style, but I’m glad you did! I think I’m just beginning to realize that Motown ‘played favourites’ and didn’t give some of their artists a fair shake. That’s disappointing, to say the least.
      Cwtch

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