The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get Happy?, and Wadd Kvatch. Both these fanzines had given away flexidiscs - indeed, AYSTGH had been part of the Sha-la-la organisation, a record label set up solely to produce flexidiscs. Several Sarah releases were fanzines and flexi-discs, as it was felt this summed up the aesthetic of the label better than 12" singles and albums.
Sarah Records was usually seen as being grounded in the C86 jangly indie-pop sensibility, though the late Seventies DIY scene and independent yet stylish and imaginative labels such as Postcard Records, Factory and Creation, plus the mid-Eighties fanzine culture, were bigger influences. It ceased operation with the release of There and Back Again Lane, the hundredth release in the main catalogue sequence - a booklet telling the story of the label, along with a CD of representative tracks. Half-page adverts entitled "A Day For Destroying Things" in both NME and Melody Maker marked the release. "We don't do encores", the advert announced, and the label has stuck by this sentiment, with no further releases. Bands on the label included Heavenly, East River Pipe, The Orchids, The Hit Parade, Even As We Speak, Boyracer, Brighter, Blueboy, The Field Mice, Another Sunny Day, Shelley and St. Christopher.
Haynes subsequently established Shinkansen Recordings, where many Sarah artists went on to record; he now edits a zine, Smoke, dedicated to writing and art inspired by London.
Emma's House
The Field Mice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the clouds above form one sheet that's grey
Early morning by the harbour
Where you are
Where you now are
You have nothing to live up to
You have nothing to live down
Emma's house is empty
so why do I call it Emma's house?
Five to six that's what the time is
the cold cuts through my shirt of cotton made
Five to six that's what the time is
Where you are
Where you now are
You have nothing to live up to
You have nothing to live down
Emma's house is empty
so why do I call it Emma's house?
Where you are
Where you now are
You have nothing to live up to
You have nothing to live down
Emma's house is empty
so why do I call it Emma's house?
The lyrics to The Field Mice's song Emma's House may seem simple at first glance but are actually quite complex in their interpretation. The song talks about a place by the harbor that the singer refers to as "Emma's House" even though the house is empty. The first two stanzas talk about the early morning, with a grey sky and the cold cutting through the singer's cotton shirt. The repetition of "Where you are, where you now are" creates a dreamlike atmosphere that implies a feeling of displacement and longing.
The chorus repeats the same lines, "You have nothing to live up to, you have nothing to live down" along with the question, "Emma's house is empty, so why do I call it Emma's house?" This creates a sense of confusion and uncertainty, with the singer questioning their own feelings and memories. The repetition of the chorus along with the dreamlike verses creates a subtle and introspective mood that invites the listener to reflect on their own feelings and memories.
Overall, Emma's House is a song that captures the bittersweet feeling of longing and nostalgia. The repetition of the chorus and the enigmatic reference to Emma's house create a sense of mystery and complexity that invites the listener to form their own interpretation of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Early morning by the harbour
It's early in the morning and the singer is by the harbor.
the clouds above form one sheet that's grey
The sky is covered with grey clouds that look like a single sheet.
Where you are
The singer is wondering about the whereabouts of another person.
Where you now are
The artist is still thinking about where the other person is at present time.
You have nothing to live up to
The person being addressed should not feel pressured to achieve anything.
You have nothing to live down
The person being addressed shouldn't feel ashamed of anything in their past.
Emma's house is empty
Emma's house is currently unoccupied.
so why do I call it Emma's house?
The artist questions why they still refer to the house as Emma's when she's no longer there.
Five to six that's what the time is
It's almost 5:55 a.m.
the cold cuts through my shirt of cotton made
The coldness of the weather is making the artist shiver even through their cotton shirt.
Where you are
The singer is still thinking about the whereabouts of the other person.
Where you now are
The artist is reiterating that they're still thinking about where the other person is at present time.
You have nothing to live up to
The person being addressed is still being told not to feel pressured to achieve anything.
You have nothing to live down
The person being addressed is still being told not to feel ashamed of anything in their past.
Emma's house is empty
The emptiness of Emma's house is reiterated.
so why do I call it Emma's house?
The artist is still questioning why they continue to call the house Emma's when she's no longer there.
Where you are
The artist is still thinking about the whereabouts of the other person.
Where you now are
The singer is still wondering about where the other person is at present time.
You have nothing to live up to
The person being addressed is still being told that they shouldn't feel pressured to achieve anything.
You have nothing to live down
The person being addressed is still being told not to feel ashamed of anything in their past.
Emma's house is empty
The emptiness of Emma's house is reiterated for the final time.
so why do I call it Emma's house?
The artist questions one more time why they continue to refer to Emma's house as such when she's no longer there.
Contributed by Lincoln S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Adyman182
Early morning by the harbour
the clouds above form one sheet that's grey
Early morning by the harbour
Where you are
Where you now are
You have nothing to live up to
You have nothing to live down
Emma's house is empty
so why do I call it Emma's house?
Five to six that's what the time is
the cold cuts through my shirt of cotton made
Five to six that's what the time is
Where you are
Where you now are
You have nothing to live up to
You have nothing to live down
Emma's house is empty
so why do I call it Emma's house?
Where you are
Where you now are
You have nothing to live up to
You have nothing to live down
Emma's house is empty
so why do I call it Emma's house?
@dukemusic3345
Hey guys, I'm the bassist's son, please show him love he doesn't know how much their song are great
@johndefeo5660
I’m 33 and have heard a ton of music. Great music. I can honestly say that this is one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard.
@tinypeas
your dads a legend. greatest pop track ever written/produced
@jontansley1481
I'm 57 and just discovered 'The Field Mice'. This is easily one of the best songs I gave ever heard.
@juliohernandez9372
You're Michael Hiscocks son?! Please tell your dad that his music will live forever. Cheers from a huge Field Mice fan in South Central LA 👍🏾 👏🏾
@goodwillhumping7331
i'm your daddy
@120tiger
This song describes a moment in time, and a feeling, in a way that has rarely been matched in pop music. I honestly believe that, in this way, it is perfect.
@smilingontime
Well put
@goodwillhumping7331
are you still alive?
@mujergato877
If you struggle with depression and some kind of mood disorder, this genre really touches the spot.