Gaining regional popularity, the band signed with Blanco y Negro who released their first album On Our Big Fat Merry-Go-Round in 1988. The success of the release and growing crowds at their live shows allowed the band to embark on their U.S. tour with The Go-Betweens.
After their first major tour, they went back to Ireland, and wrote and recorded the album I Want Too Much in 1988 on the small Irish island of Inishboffin. The response of the press was great for the band, however record sales were poor, and the band were left without a label. Eventually they were picked up by Setanta, a London-based independent label tending to focus on Irish acts.
Towards the end of 1990 Setanta released two EPs: Doodle and Bingo. The latter featured the track "Endless Art", on which A House first worked with Orange Juice singer Edwyn Collins as producer. The song, featuring a listing of famous dead artists in various fields, and the years of their births and deaths, stabilized the band as a cult favorite among indie lovers, and is an exemplar of the "list" style of song which Couse has often favoured.
The album I Am The Greatest was also recorded with Edwyn Collins, and led to the singles "Endless Art" and "Take It Easy on Me", in 1992. Next they released Wide-Eyed and Ignorant (1994) to little notice outside of their fanbase, and No More Apologies (1996). The single "Here Come the Good Times", taken from Wide-Eyed and Ignorant was A House's only UK Top 40 chart placing, reaching number 37.
The band broke up in 1997. Singer Couse continues to perform solo work and with his band Couse + the Impossible, alongside Bunbury. Martin Healy went on to perform in the band Petrol with Julie Peel. He is now with David Morrissey in Pony Club.
SMALL TALK
A House Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
assertive, seductive,
evocative,
positive, sensitive,
suggestive,
receptive,
alternative,
provocative,
persuasive,
compulsive,
impulsive,
impressive,
creative,
innovative,
imaginative,
distinctive,
excessive,
permissive,
aggressive.
Why don't you cut the small talk
Why don't you cut the small talk
And clean your mouth out
Clean your mouth
Why won't you sleep with me.
Your sensual, sexual,
iseal, surreal,
liberal, pictorial,
visual, unusual,
intellectual,
touchable,
unquenchable,
infallible,
lovable, remarkable,
adorable,
irresistible,
inexhaustible,
kissable, undeniable,
unmistakable,
impeccable,
celestial,
delectable,
unforgettable.
Why don't you cut the small talk
Why don't you cut the small talk
And clean your mouth out
Clean your mouth
Why won't you sleep with me.
Your obnoxious,
obvious, nauseous,
lecherous,
hideous, insidious,
serious, labourious,
tedious, torturous,
ambiguous,
malicious,
ridiculous,
outrageous,
dangerous,
obstreperous,
cantankerous,
self-conscious,
vicious, ambitious,
one thing baby is
your certainly
meticulous.
Why don't you cut the small talk
Why don't you cut the small talk
And clean your mouth out
Clean your mouth
Why won't you sleep with me.
The song "Small Talk" by A House is a satirical take on the communication and behavior patterns of individuals in everyday social scenarios. The lyrics list a string of words that describe a person's traits in a somewhat exaggerated manner, ranging from their physical attributes to their personality traits. The singer is addressing someone he/she is attracted to, and is questioning why they indulge in small talk when there is an obvious attraction between the two. They also keep suggesting intimacy, but not getting any response from the other person. In the chorus, the singer urges the other person to stop talking and clean their mouth out, suggesting that perhaps they are using too many words and not getting to the point.
The lyrics in "Small Talk" are not meant to be taken literally, but instead, they are a social commentary on how people communicate in various situations. The singer seems to be frustrated with the other person's small talk and possibly even anxious to connect with them on a deeper level. However, they are met with disinterest or resistance from the other person. The repetition of the chorus highlights this frustration and the desire for direct communication.
Overall, "Small Talk" is a playful, ironic critique of conversations in social settings that are marked by trivial communication rather than genuine connection. It is a call to cut the small talk and get to the point, especially when it comes to desire and attraction.
Line by Line Meaning
You're attractive,
You have qualities that are pleasing or appealing to the senses, especially sexually.
assertive, seductive,
You are self-assured in expressing your opinions, and you have qualities that tempt or lure others in a sexual way.
evocative,
You have the ability to bring strong emotions or memories to mind through your actions or words.
positive, sensitive,
You have an optimistic attitude, and you are aware and considerate of the feelings and needs of others.
suggestive,
You imply or hint at something sexual or intimate without directly stating it.
receptive,
You are willing and able to accept or receive suggestions, ideas, or experiences from others.
alternative,
You present a different or unconventional option or choice.
provocative,
You deliberately stimulate or excite others, often sexually or emotionally, to elicit a reaction or response.
intensive, addictive,
You are demanding or thorough in your actions or behavior, and you have qualities or actions that lead to dependency or craving, often in a negative way.
persuasive,
You have the ability to convince or influence others to accept or believe something, often through argument or reasoning.
compulsive, impulsive, impressive,
You have qualities or actions that are irresistible or difficult to control, often due to a mental or emotional condition, and you have qualities or actions that are remarkable or awe-inspiring.
creative, innovative, imaginative, distinctive,
You have qualities or actions that are characterized by originality, and you have the ability to create or invent new ideas, methods, or forms in a unique or recognizable way.
excessive, permissive,
You have qualities or actions that are beyond ordinary or reasonable limits, and you allow or tolerate behavior that is considered unacceptable or improper by society.
aggressive.
You have qualities or actions that are forceful and assertive, intended to dominate or intimidate others.
Why don't you cut the small talk
Why don't you stop wasting time with pointless conversation or niceties.
And clean your mouth out
And stop using vulgar or inappropriate language.
Why won't you sleep with me.
Why won't you engage in sexual activity with me.
Your sensual, sexual,
You have qualities or actions that are related to or intended to produce sexual arousal or gratification.
iseal, surreal,
You have qualities or actions that are existing only in the imagination, or not based on reality, often in a dreamlike or fantastic way.
liberal, pictorial,
You have qualities or actions that are open-minded and tolerant, and you have a tendency to use imagery or visual aids to convey your message or ideas.
visual, unusual,
You have qualities or actions that are related to or intended to create mental pictures or images, and you have qualities or actions that are not common or typical.
intellectual,
You have qualities or actions that are related to or intended to stimulate or appeal to the intellect or mental capacity.
touchable,
You have qualities or actions that are physically tangible or accessible, often in a sexual or affectionate way.
unquenchable,
You have qualities or actions that cannot be satisfied or extinguished, often in a desire or craving for something.
infallible,
You have qualities or actions that are incapable of making errors or mistakes.
lovable, remarkable, adorable, irresistible,
You have qualities or actions that are worthy of love or affection, and you have qualities or actions that are noteworthy or impressive, often in an endearing or attractive way.
inexhaustible, kissable, undeniable, unmistakable, impeccable, celestial, delectable, unforgettable.
You have qualities or actions that are endless, and cannot be used up, often in a desirable or attractive way. You have qualities or actions that are appealing or enjoyable to kiss or embrace. You have qualities or actions that cannot be denied or disputed. You have qualities or actions that are perfect or flawless. You have qualities or actions that are related to the heavens or the divine. You have qualities or actions that are pleasing or appetizing to the senses, often in a culinary context. You have qualities or actions that cannot be forgotten or erased from memory.
Your obnoxious, obvious, nauseous,
You have qualities or actions that are unpleasant or offensive, often in a socially unacceptable way. You have qualities or actions that are easily recognized or understood. You have qualities or actions that cause or induce nausea or vomiting.
lecherous, hideous, insidious,
You have qualities or actions that are overly interested in sexual activity, often in an unpleasant or offensive way. You have qualities or actions that are unattractive or repulsive. You have qualities or actions that are treacherous or intended to deceive or entrap others in a harmful way.
serious, labourious, tedious,
You have qualities or actions that are sincere or grave, and you take things seriously. You have qualities or actions that require a lot of effort or work. You have qualities or actions that are long, tiresome, or boring.
torturous, ambiguous, malicious, ridiculous, outrageous, dangerous, obstreperous, cantankerous, self-conscious, vicious, ambitious,
You have qualities or actions that cause great physical or mental suffering or pain. You have qualities or actions that are uncertain or open to more than one interpretation or meaning. You have qualities or actions that are intentionally harmful or spiteful to others. You have qualities or actions that are foolish or absurd, often to the point of being laughable. You act or behave in a way that is extreme or beyond acceptable limits, often in a negative way. You tend to be noisy, unruly, or hard to control. You tend to be bad-tempered or irritable. You tend to be overly concerned or anxious about yourself, often in a negative way. You have qualities or actions that are cruel or violent. You have qualities or actions that show strong desire or determination to achieve success or power.
one thing baby is your certainly meticulous.
One thing that can be said about you is that you are extremely careful or precise, often to the point of being excessively detailed.
Contributed by Xavier T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
john byrne
Bring back the good days, college 1990 with something happens and emotional fish, especially A house.....
MrDunkiep
Yeah, classic.