In the Middle of the House
Alma Cogan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They let us live in the front of the houseThey let us live in the backBut there ain't no living in the middle of the house'Cause that's the railroad track.
When a bill collector comes to the houseHe knocks and bangs on the doorSo we sit him right down in the middle of the houseAnd he never comes back no moreNo, he never comes back no more.
The railroad comes through the middle of the houseThe railroad comes through the middle of the houseIt comes and goes through the middle of the houseAnd the trains are all on timeAnd here comes the 5: 09.
The railroad comes through the middle of the houseIn and out of the middle of the houseRight smack dab through the middle of the houseWhere the parlor used to be.
There's a great big door in the front of the houseA little old door in the backBut we can't have doors in the middle of the house'Cause that's the railroad track.
No a relative came to visit the houseHe liked to scream and fussSo we sat him right down in the middle of the houseAnd he never more bothered usNo, he never more bothered us.
Oh, the railroad comes through the middle of the houseThe railroad comes through the middle of the houseIt comes and goes through the middle of the houseSince the company bought the land.
Alma Cogan's song "In the Middle of the House" speaks of a quirky and unusual situation: a railroad track that goes straight through the middle of a house. The lyrics indicate that the house's occupants have had to adapt to the inconvenient location of the train tracks as best they can. For example, they've built a big door in the front of the house and a little one in the back, but no doors can be put in the middle of the house. Instead, when they have visitors, they sit them in the middle of the house so they can't bother them anymore. The song's odd humor and playful melody surely entertained listeners when it was released in 1957.
There are a few ways to interpret the meaning behind the incongruous railroad tracks cutting through a home. One potential interpretation is that this song was written in a time of rapid industrialization, and reflected people's fascination with and fears about modern technology. Here, we see a train invading the domestic space of a house, suggesting a possible loss of privacy and stability when new technologies intrude into our lives. Alternatively, some listeners may see the song as playful surrealism that doesn't need too much analysis. The tune features simple, repetitive lyrics that repeat to a catchy melody that will keep listeners humming along.
Line by Line Meaning
The railroad comes through the middle of the house
The railway track passes through the center of the house due to the land being bought by the company.
The trains all come through the middle of the house
All the trains pass by through the center of the house.
They let us live in the front of the house
We are allowed to stay in the front part of the house.
They let us live in the back
We are also allowed to stay in the back of the house.
But there ain't no living in the middle of the house
However, it is impossible to live in the middle of the house due to the railway track.
When a bill collector comes to the house
When a person who wants money visits the house,
He knocks and bangs on the door
He knocks and makes noise on the door to call someone's attention.
So we sit him right down in the middle of the house
We make him sit in the middle of the house to annoy or subdue him.
And he never comes back no more
After that, he never visits the house again.
The railroad comes through the middle of the house
The railway track continues to pass through the center of the house.
It comes and goes through the middle of the house
The trains pass by through the middle of the house in a regular manner.
And the trains are all on time
The trains pass by on schedule and without delay.
And here comes the 5:09.
The train named 5:09 is approaching.
In and out of the middle of the house
The train passes in and out of the middle of the house.
Right smack dab through the middle of the house
The train track passes right through the center of the house.
Where the parlor used to be.
The place where the parlor once existed is now the spot where the train track passes through.
No a relative came to visit the house
A family member came to visit the house.
He liked to scream and fuss
The family member was fond of shouting and making trouble.
So we sat him right down in the middle of the house
To pacify the family member, we made him sit in the center of the house.
And he never more bothered us
After that, the family member never caused trouble again.
Oh, the railroad comes through the middle of the house
The railway track continues to pass through the center of the house.
It comes and goes through the middle of the house
The train passes by through the center of the house in a regular manner.
Since the company bought the land.
This happened because the company bought the land.
I'm singing this song in the middle of the house.
The singer is singing this song in the center of the house.
Writer(s): BOB HILLIARD
Contributed by Andrew Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.