Bad Houses
Big Black (Rock) Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lately I have been frequenting bad houses
Places no respectable man would be seen
I hate myself for my weakness
My past sickens me
I tell myself I will not go
Even as I drive there
I hate myself for my weakness
My past sickens me

Overall Meaning

The song "Bad Houses" by Big Black (Rock) is a reflection of a person's struggle with their addiction to bad habits. The lyrics illustrate the singer's self-loathing and shame, as they admit to visiting places that no respectable person should go to. The singer is aware of their weakness, yet they feel powerless to resist the temptation of going back to those bad houses. The repetition of the line "I hate myself for my weakness, my past sickens me" emphasizes the singer's internal conflict and turmoil.

The lyrics also suggest that the singer might be struggling with some unresolved issues from their past. They are haunted by their past actions, which prevent them from fully moving on and becoming a better person. The line "my past sickens me" implies a sense of regret, guilt, and shame that the singer is grappling with.

Overall, "Bad Houses" is a poignant and honest portrayal of a person's battle with their demons. It sheds light on the internal struggles that can often go unnoticed, and encourages us to have empathy and understanding for those who are dealing with addiction or other personal battles.

Line by Line Meaning

Lately I have been frequenting bad houses
Recently, I have been visiting disreputable locations

Places no respectable man would be seen
Locations where no upstanding individual would be caught

I hate myself for my weakness
I hold intense dislike toward myself because of my shortcomings

My past sickens me
My history fills me with revulsion and nausea

I tell myself I will not go
I try to convince myself that I will not attend

Even as I drive there
However, I am actually en route to the location

I hate myself for my weakness
Once again, I experience severe self-loathing over my personal failings

My past sickens me
Once again, I am gripped with intense disgust over my history

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@1985cactus

12y↑65

Mr. Roland is the best drummer in the history of Rock`n`Roll

@deadbabiesinvomit

No he aint. Zane de Stain is. And A.K47 Mike. But Rolly is arite. He duz the trick for Steve and crew.

@landofthesilverpath5823

I prefer Mr. Kawai R50E.

@1vootman

3y↑3

Mr. Roland is in thousands of bands simultaneously.

@stephaniesilcott8030

3y↑1

Damn this comment is old but you’re correct. You are onto something there.

@chrisdodson8118

@@stephaniesilcott8030 Indeed! 🙂

@cbtracy4911

10y↑15

I played this song every radio show when I was a college DJ...1987 amazing playlists! ~ The Amazon Queen, WPBX Southampton College, Midnight-2am shift, April 1987

@kaosdevice

11y↑80

I tell myself I will not go, even as I drive there.

@SleepyHollowitz

11y↑4

nice profile pic

@kaosdevice

11y↑3

SleepyHollowitz
thanks!

@philharrison9893

6y↑11

One of the greatest, simplest lyrics about addiction ever written.

@sunekoo

3y↑1

What a line!

@CloverLovesTT

6y↑18

this is a bit before my time, but i’m 17 and i gotta say: this really is a perfect album.

@gerrypeacemaker9407

6y↑1

beebjank I stumbled upon them when I was 27 and I'm now 40. Although it doesn't get as much airplay as it did back then as my tastes are mellowing with middle age.

@elkinwoods

13y↑13

This is one of my favorite songs by big black, and I'm proud that it only has 7k views.

@0beahman

8y↑29

Used to be in a band. Our only cover. Great days.

@Sebcch

7y↑1

What are the guitar tabs to this? I'm starting a band & wanna cover this.

@whispertrip6

10y↑64

I used to play this on my way to a bad house.........................for real,it's nice to be alive 20 yrs later

@deadbabiesinvomit

6y↑6

What. Did they sell shit gear or something?

@Sebcch

7y↑41

Played this song while driving down a dark forested road tripping balls.

@erinnorris8612

5y↑2

best way to do it.

@Debonair19773577

11y↑58

One of the few Big Black tunes driven by an actual melody rather than dissonant, clanging riffs. Not a complaint, just an observation.

@movimientoChalco

9y↑18

you need to listen to more big black. then we can talk

@RedIndicator

6y↑3

Tiny king of the jews is a nice example

@Sakboi2012

5y↑1

@@RedIndicator Good example man

@skinkroot

3y↑1

@@RedIndicator tiny king of the jews is a beautiful song...pavement saw also but that song is half-aggressive and half-melodic

@carenball4177

10y↑25

love the drum machine!

@movimientoChalco

9y↑28

hey. that's roland

@trombon2006

8y↑8

+ef zee the most ferocious drummer to ever exist

@teheod960

Yes, ...a Roland!?

@Screwface1875

14y↑6

SO SO GOOD....refined anger !!

@Komnen0s

6y↑27

This feels like proto post-rock. I'm aware of the inherent contradiction in that phrase, but this really does sound like a precursor to what bands like Slint and Mogwai would get into during the 90's. All of the other songs in Big Black's discography are focused on technicality and aggression, but this song is uncharacteristically relaxed. Besides the drum beat being a little slower and less harsh, the quiet spoken-word vocals and the focus on creating a soundscape make it stand out from the rest of the album. Whereas the other songs are about violence and hatred, this song feels more introspective, like someone who's alone with their thoughts while driving down the highway at night, which is supported by the lyrics with the narrator driving away from a titular "bad house" while feeling ashamed of his sexual inclinations. It's still dark and gritty, but there's an unusual focus on texture with the guitar work. Steve explored this "proto post-rock" sound again on the song "Budd" that he did with Rapeman, which is even more overt about exploring sonic textures.

@davidtalbot9325

3y↑2

This is absolutely 100% true. I remember listening to this and Swans and knowing it was an as-yet unintended genre.

@davidtalbot9325

3y↑1

Undiscovered. Not unintended. It was very intended.

@philiparcher2868

I don't see that,at all! Now,I do like a lot of Mogwai's music but no,I don't see a connection...This to me,is more the developing-sound of the Industrial-Genre...

@Spectrescup

1y↑1

"We like Seventeen Seconds, all of us"

@cocoygranada9403

4y↑1

It's different nowadays- permits, league passes, ALL ACCESS are just a swipe away from your digital devices. But you would still miss those days of road tours when you can carry your drums and instrument sets to different places

@gerrypeacemaker9407

5y↑12

I blame myself for my weakness, my past sickens me.

@gerrypeacemaker9407

@@roblivorr7523 corrected 😂

@dillona2349

9y↑40

The guitar melodies kind of remind me of Sisters of Mercy.

@janparadowski4894

4y↑3

Seems I am not the only one to hear the similarity. Also based profile pic.

@dillona2349

@@janparadowski4894 thank you comrade

@Lilnbitchy

Totally!

@landofthesilverpath5823

They both used drum machines, I know that.

@kovvvas

They remind me of Cheap Trick's Downed.

2 More Replies...

@DanieLatzanich

12y↑4

yeah I love Tiny King of the Jews the GNR was a pleasant surprise I like the bass that came in around 1:20 and everything else. very nice, thanks.

@BJORKAHOLIC

4y↑9

reminds me of driving to my heroin dealers house

@GraveyardDave

4y↑1

The one in New Orleans where you'd only go when there was nobody slanging on the streets because it was too late and too early; the neighborhood where the only kid's faces were on dirty raggedy 'HAVE YOU SEEN ME?' flyers stapled to telephone poles three or four thick, in the ruined guts of what were once slave quarters but now are ghost factories? The place where your car bottoms out ever three feet and your intestines churn with lava as you turn the final corner, and you keep the pawn shop Bulldog .44 on your sweat-drenched lap, deciding again whether to duck out of that car and get swallowed by the weeds and filth as you tremble towards the door, or maybe just finish it all with a slug ripping out the back of your rotted brainpan for someone else to make believe they don't see? That the place? You know, it's always crouching in the gutters of your shame, and still open for business..

@buckrogez87

10y↑3

I need to sit down and figure this out on guitar...This tune is SOOOOOOOOOO FUCKIN SICK!!!!!!!!!!!

@TheSolarCompromise

11y↑2

Shadow of a Doubt is the best!! same here man

@frankliu7384

10y↑7

this stunning track blew me away. btw who can tell me how to play this song on guitar ?

@deadbabiesinvomit

6y↑5

Um. It goes. Da da der der, da da ,der der, da da, der der duh! Maybe try tuning to 432hrtz. Then you will get it.

@deadbabiesinvomit

Maybe try harmonic or melodic minor scale ?

@morphmint4882

In intro try to mess around A-A# chords . then main riff D-C-G-A# . Then stay on A#-C, then I think second time A#-C-G-A#-C. End with D ... just pick thru notes and its all good.

@johnspence9718

Steve used to come out in a white t-shirt, not use a pick, and shred so hard his fingers would bleed. The front of his t was the rag & be covered in blood. So for the real sound, you may have to slice open you fingers with a razor, so your strings are bloody. It's a true story, but I'm joking with you

@DanieLatzanich

12y↑3

Somebody recommend music to me based on the fact that I love this song for it's melody and whanot

@skulldrix

12y↑17

Wow these noise bands are very nihilistic.

@movimientoChalco

9y↑2

respect

@Slammerworm1

7y↑4

I used to LIVE in a Bad House.

@GraveyardDave

4y↑1

I used to DIE in a Bad House. Every day for 16 years.

@paulontiveros4103

The Man

@Album382

13y↑3

Big Black - Bad Houses

@brodythompson1

11y↑11

normally they're wonderfully brutal and ugly, but here, goddamn... they're beautiful

@armandouandm3512

6y↑6

In your house The Cure????

@casiotone1331

13y↑3

606, TB500, Harmonic Percolator

@deadbabiesinvomit

Is that the drum machines name?

@nickfanzo

This is a custom made Stratocaster style guitar call the black sled. Not a tb500 Travis bean

@blueblousedesigns

Here because I wanted to hear one of Page Hamilton's (of Helmet) influences

@janparadowski4894

4y↑1

If Sisters of Mercy were from some middle of nowhere midwest town

@danielmcginnis5134

10y↑1

never mind that person answered ur question a year ago

@ChillblaineFilms

12y↑1

Did you listen to the track?

@kix7711therealone

13y↑1

@CanadianChronic2121 thats my rule too!

@DanieLatzanich

11y↑2

hahaha dude the first three songs on that are pretty much my favorite thing ever not even joking, Shadow of a Doubt is in my top 5 songs ^greatrecommendation ^SonicYouthismyfavoriteband

@matthewsamboy4377

Yes! Shadow of a Doubt is Thee masterpiece of melody! As little palpable structure as a singable melody can have. Like Ludwig Van or somesuch old jahooty.

@TheSolarCompromise

11y↑2

Sonic Youth's EVOL album?

@deadbabiesinvomit

6y↑6

What? Sonic who?

@420gg666

13y↑1

@CanadianChronic2121 thats exactly what i do! and judging by your name you are canadian too!

@Tomversal

3y↑1

Very similar to New Order's Movement album

@elricgonzalez7172

6y↑3

Im pretty sure this song is about going to drug houses. He tells himself he wont go again,yet he finds himself driving back to those bad houses.

@chrisknight3734

6y↑3

It's about visiting a prostitute

@chaddenton5632

It's about brothels I think

@machomanrandysavage866

4y↑1

Good pros out there?

@michiahsievers9062

11y↑1

whats this song about?

@vladimirmalygin8747

11y↑12

About a drug addict obviously

@WallaceStevens13

11y↑22

bad houses

@gabrielbossei1609

9y↑2

+michiah sievers crack houses

@fransisconieves225

+michiah sievers idk i just know i love it so much

@dougesolomon9068

8y↑1

I don't think that crack houses existed in 1985. The song is about whore houses.

2 More Replies...

@ChillblaineFilms

12y

There's a similar song on the Songs About Fucking album called Tiny, King Of The Jews. Also you might like this /watch?v=IHxRjb-tPZ4

@danielmcginnis5134

10y↑6

this song is about becoming addicted to paying prostitutes for sexual favors at brothels (bad houses)

@johnkahler9559

Oh really?

@gimmegames108

it's about fucked up relationships.

@xabieszamudio3481

8y↑6

it's a parody of a cure song

@flaviomartignoni9524

8y↑9

No, it's a radioactive Chernobyl version of a Cure song :D

@deadbabiesinvomit

Sounds like Big Black to me.

@losttimeblues

6y↑3

"We like Seventeen Seconds, all of us" (Steve Albini, 1986)

@1985debaser

12y↑1

Guns n Roses similar to Big Black??

@vinyldiary6664

6y↑3

LOL

@deadbabiesinvomit

6y↑1

Hahaha

@machomanrandysavage866

Lol

@nathandavidhall

Just realized slint was a big black ripoff this whole time

@trenoise

4y↑5

read his review of “Spiderland” sometime. there was definitely mutual respect. and influence on both sides! there are some Slint-y things happening on Shellac lps too. pretty cool.