Every time I think of a new song, one that I haven’t played here before, I check the archives only to find that I had played it, sometimes as recently as last month, and had forgotten. I did not play this one last month or even last year … it was back in June of 2019!
Our House, released in September 1970, was written by Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. At the time, Nash was living with Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. According to Nash …
“The time that Joni and I were living together was really interesting, because I had left my band [The Hollies] successfully, I had left my country [England] successfully, I had been accepted here [Los Angeles, California], and I was feeling great. And Joni was feeling great, too; she had started to realize who she was and the fantastic work she was doing. She was painting and designing her second album cover, doing that self-portrait. And I remember being totally in awe of her. She’d go and make some supper and come down and we’d be eating, then she’d all of a sudden space out, go to the piano … to see her sit down and write ‘Rainy Night House’ and all those other things was just mind blowing.”
According to Graham Nash’s biography Wild Tales, a famous line in this song had a very specific inspiration. He and Joni Mitchell went to an antiques store and she picked out a vase. When they got home, Nash said, “I’ll light the fire while you place the flowers in the vase that you bought today.” He stopped dead in his tracks and went immediately to the piano.
Our House
Crosby, Stills & Nash
I’ll light the fire
You put the flowers in the vase that you bought today
Staring at the fire for hours and hours while I listen to you
Play your love songs all night long for me, only for me
Come to me now and rest your head for just five minutes, everything is good
Such a cozy room, the windows are illuminated by the
Sunshine through them, fiery gems for you, only for you
Our house is a very, very, very fine house with two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy ’cause of you
And our la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Our house is a very, very, very fine house with two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy ’cause of you
And our
I’ll light the fire while you place the flowers in the vase that you bought today
Songwriters: Graham Nash
Our House lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Filosofa's Word 
From the descriptions I do not even want to listen to the “other”song. It might spoil this one for me. Nash was my favourite Hollie, and when he left I was afraid he was gone for good. Then he showed up with Crosby and Stills I was ecstatic. Learning he had been with Joni imcreased my opinion of him, and when Winnipeger Neil Young joined CS&N it felt like the universe had come together at last. My favourite CS&N song is Wooden Ships, later covered excellently by the Ides of March. I am not playing it only because I cannot find it online. But I will play CS&N!
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P.S. later found an Ides of March version, but not the one I was looking for. They did it much better when I saw them in concert.
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Nah, it wouldn’t spoil this one for you … in fact, it might be to your liking, actually. Check it out and see. I can’t remember Wooden Ships, but the name rings a bell somewhere, so I’ll go listen in a bit. Glad you enjoyed this song, anyway!
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Whenever I see a music post with “Our house” I almost expect to see a post about the song by Madness from the early 80’s.
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Many others have said the exact same thing, Scott! I did listen to the Madness song, but … I prefer this one! You’re not surprised by that, are you?
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lol, not really, madness was a silly band but they were really fun, like the beastie boys even though the two are polar opposites.
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Jill, two very talented songwriters under one roof. From what I have read, the guys at CSN were quite taken with Joni and her abilities. Keith
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Indeed so, my friend! Who could not be taken with Joni Mitchell? I seem to be relying on those I’ve already played a lot recently … have any requests or suggestions?
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One of my favourite bands, and a nice live performance of a song from a classic album. I’ve seen a couple of mentions here of the Madness song with the same title. No accounting for taste, is there 🤣
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I’m so glad you like this one!!! I wasn’t sure if you would or not, but it kept bouncing about in my head and I had to give it a stage! Yes, last time I played it, a number of people directed me to the Madness song and … well, I’ll stick with this one! Right, no accounting for taste, but remember — that’s what they are saying about us, too!
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It’s CS&N, of course I’ll like it! Madness were a fun band who didn’t take themselves too seriously, but for me not even in the same league as CS&N.
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YAY!!! I found one you like! 🎈 Glad you enjoyed it!
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A favorite CSNY tune of mine. Being an animal lover, the “two cats in the yard” always makes me smile. I just have one cat, in the house, but it’s still a very fine house! 😽
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We’ve got you beat … we have five! We did have ten, but now we’re down to five feline family members 😉 I’m so glad you enjoyed the music!!!
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I love CSN&Y but this here is a much different and besterer Our House, by Madness:
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I’ve heard that one before … last time I played this, several people mentioned it … but I think I’ll stick with CSN&Y’s version!
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Oh, I know that one but if I read the title I automatically think of Madness’s 1980s song with the same title. I’m having that ear worm now 😁
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