Darin was a very special and talented entertainer. He was a Grammy award winning singer ('Mack The Knife'), a respected member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ('Dream Lover', 'Splish Splash', 'If I Were A Carpenter') a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a successful record producer, an Oscar nominated actor and a strong supporter of the American Heart Association. Bobby was married to actress Sandra Dee from 1960-1967. They had one son, Dodd, born in December 1961. As a result of complications from a rheumatic heart, Bobby's life was tragically cut short in 1973.
Darin's mother, Vanina Cassotto, had given birth to him when she was 16, and as a result, her parents raised Darin as though he were their son while Vanina was presented off as his elder sister. Darin did not learn the truth about his parentage until he was 32.
For more on Bobby Darin, watch "Beyond the Sea," in which Kevin Spacey portrays the entertainer.
Things In This House
Bobby Darin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Starin' at the lonely avenue (avenue)
Watching lovers holdin' hand 'n' laughin' (laughin')
And thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
[Chorus]
(Thinkin' of things) Like a walk in the park
(Things) Like a kiss in the dark
(Yeah-yeah) What about the night we cried?
Things like a lover's vow
Things that we don't do now
Thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
Memories are all I have to cling to (cling to)
And heartaches are the friends I'm talkin' to (talkin' to)
When I'm not thinkin' of-a just how much I love you (love you)
Well, I'm-a thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
[Chorus]
I still can hear the jukebox softly playin' (playin')
And the face I see each day belongs to you (belongs to you)
Though there's not a single sound and there's nobody else around
Well, it's-a just me thinkin' of the things we used to do
[Chorus]
And the heartaches are the friends I'm talkin' to
Ya got me thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
Starin' at the lonely avenue
In Bobby Darin's song "Things In This House", the singer is sitting by his window every night, staring at the lonely avenue outside, as he thinks back to memories of the past. He watches the couples walking on the avenue, holding hands and laughing, and suddenly feels a great sense of nostalgia, thinking about the "things we used to do". The chorus of the song repeats this phrase, "thinkin' of things", and provides examples of the memories that are causing the singer to feel sentimental: a walk in the park, a kiss in the dark, a sailboat ride, and even the night they cried. The memories he is thinking of are all the romantic things they used to do when they were in love.
As the second verse begins, the singer admits that memories are all he has left now, and that heartaches are the only friends he has to cling to. He is no longer thinking about how much he loves the person he is remembering, but rather is thinking only of the things they used to do together. The third verse explains that the memories are so vivid, he can still "hear the jukebox softly playing" and the face he sees each day belongs to the person he is thinking of.
Overall, the song is a ballad of lost love and the memories that linger long after a relationship has ended. The singer is left with only his thoughts and a sense of longing for a past that he can never get back.
Line by Line Meaning
Every night I sit here by my window (window)
Each night, I find myself sitting beside my window looking out onto the world outside.
Starin' at the lonely avenue (avenue)
I stare at the deserted street, feeling lonely and miserable.
Watching lovers holdin' hand 'n' laughin' (laughin')
As I sit, I observe couples walking together with hands entwined and enjoying each other's company.
And thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
This causes me to think about what we used to do when we were together.
[Chorus]
Reflecting on how our past experiences used to make me feel, I come up with the following list.
(Thinkin' of things) Like a walk in the park
A leisurely stroll through a park filled with greenery and wonderful scenery.
(Things) Like a kiss in the dark
Sharing a romantic embrace in a darkened space.
(Things) Like a sailboat ride
Floating on a sailboat, cruising along with the wind and water.
(Yeah-yeah) What about the night we cried?
Remembering the night we cried together and how sharing our emotions brought us closer.
Things like a lover's vow
Recalling the promises we made to each other when we were in love.
Things that we don't do now
Realizing that the things we used to do together are now just distant memories.
Thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
I can't stop thinking about our past and long for the things we once did together.
Memories are all I have to cling to (cling to)
My memories are all I have left, and I hold on to them tightly.
And heartaches are the friends I'm talkin' to (talkin' to)
When I'm alone, the pain of our past is the only company I have.
When I'm not thinkin' of-a just how much I love you (love you)
But when I'm not thinking about our past, I am still consumed by the love I have for you.
Well, I'm-a thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
Those thoughts always lead me back to the things we used to do together.
I still can hear the jukebox softly playin' (playin')
I still hear the background music that we used to listen to in those moments together.
And the face I see each day belongs to you (belongs to you)
All I see when I close my eyes at night is your face.
Though there's not a single sound and there's nobody else around
Even in the silence, there's only room for thoughts of you.
Well, it's-a just me thinkin' of the things we used to do
With nothing else to occupy my mind, I can't but help return to the memories of us.
And the heartaches are the friends I'm talkin' to
My pain is the only company I have as I try to move on from our past.
Ya got me thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
Once more, I am lost in my thoughts of our past experiences.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BOBBY DARIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Derrick Phillips
Not a complete commercial failure. I remember hearing it more than once on the radio (in my area) in '64. I always loved it. Darin was Mr. Versatility. With this one, he went a bit country. One of the new country singers should do a remake. It has hit potential and in my opinion it's more genuine and far superior to what's passing for country today.
n00se
Lots of things have changed
Around here since you're gone
Lamps don't shine as bright
And the TV won't go on
The pictures on the wall
Seem to hide their face
And I can't find a smile
Around here any place
Yes, the things in this house
Miss you just as much as I
The only difference is
They don't know how to cry
Ah, the rug just don't feel the same
Beneath my feet
The song bird's not singin'
And the dog won't eat
And the lonely walls
Can only stand and stare at me
And happy can't be found
In our old dictionary
Yes, the things in this house
Miss you just as much as I
The only difference is
They don't know how to cry
Oh, just the same I hear
The things that they can't say
You can call it my imagination
That's okay
But all I know is what I feel
Way down inside
And I can run all through these rooms
But I can't hide
'Cause the things in this house
Miss you just as much as I
The only difference is
They don't know how to cry
[3x:]
I say the things in this house
Miss you just as much as I
The only difference is
They don't know how to cry
I say the things
stu63
What's with the put-on accent? He sounds like someone trying to sound like Burl Ives.
tenniscollector
Maybe he did, LOL. Didn't Bobby do the same thing with his "You're the Reason I'm Living" record ?
The Vault
I think we can only assume that this was a parody of cry-in-your-beer country songs, which makes the accent more understandable.
Gwen Graham
That’s what’s nice about Bobby being so talented, he wasn’t “stuck“ in one genre. Also, since he wrote the song he could sing it any way he wanted — IMHO