The song was likely inspired by the song A House Is Not a Home written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, given that Arthur Lee was a fan of their work. It features a descending/ascending psychedelic melody and a folk-rock rhythm. Lee's vocal performance has been described as snarling. According to a friend, Lee got the line about blood mixing with mud turning grey from a Vietnam War veteran.
The song begins with a 12-string guitar playing a riff in E minor. An electric guitar comes in after the second verse, playing a phrase on the top two strings. After the third verse, there is a drum break and twin guitar solo with strange vocal noises. It is one of the sparsest arranged songs on the album.
A House Is Not a Motel
Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can come and look if you want to
In the halls you'll see the mantles
Where the light shines dim all around you
And the streets are paved with gold and if
Someone asks you, you can call my name
You are just a thought that someone
And it's so for real to touch
To smell, to feel, to know where you are here
And the streets are paved with gold and if
Someone asks you, you can call my name
You can call my name
I hear you calling my name, yeah, all right now, hey
By the time that I'm through singing
The bells from the schools of walls will be ringing
More confusions, blood transfusions
The news today will be the movies for tomorrow
And the water's turned to blood, and if
You don't think so
Go turn on your tub
And if it's mixed with mud
You see it turn to gray
And you can call my name
I hear you call my name
"A House Is Not A Motel" by Love is an existential rock song that explores everything between the physical and the metaphysical - life, love, and the distorted reality of civilization. The song begins with the singer's house as a metaphor for freedom, a place without shackles, where anyone is welcome to come and visit. The house carries symbolic meanings throughout the song, reflecting personal freedom or perhaps the Taoist idea of a secret, open, limitless place. The singer invites the listener inside, where they will see the dimly lit halls, the mantles with dim lighting, and the streets that are paved with gold. The energy that surrounds them feels so real that one can feel, touch, and smell it.
However, the song quickly moves beyond the peaceful ambiance of the house and into the harsh realities of the world. The singer explains that we are all mere thoughts that are somehow existing, letting us know that life is as much about being dangerous as it is about being safe. The line "And it's so for real to touch, to smell, to feel, to know where you are here" is brilliant as it exposes the relativity of perception and the components that inform an individual's experiences.
As the song progresses, the singer introduces the dark side of humanity, and the lyrics become increasingly foreboding. The bells of schools are mentioned, possibly signifying the institutionalization of society. Blood transfusions and news that today is tomorrow's movie, the confusion with no direction, and the mud that taints the water are all references that reflect the toxic nature of modernity.
To conclude, "A House Is Not a Motel" is a highly philosophical song that highlights the dichotomy of existence, the contrast between life, love, and the distorted reality of civilization.
Line by Line Meaning
At my house I've got no shackles
I am free and unchained at my home
You can come and look if you want to
You are welcome to visit me and see for yourself
In the halls you'll see the mantles
The decorations in my house are impressive and noticeable
Where the light shines dim all around you
The lighting in my home is poor and creates a gloomy atmosphere
And the streets are paved with gold and if
Everything seems perfect in the outside world
Someone asks you, you can call my name
If you need help, don't hesitate to reach out to me
You are just a thought that someone
You may feel insignificant or unimportant
Somewhere somehow feels you should be here
But in reality, someone believes you belong and are valuable
And it's so for real to touch
Being valued and appreciated is tangible and real
To smell, to feel, to know where you are here
All your senses confirm that you are where you belong
I hear you calling my name, yeah, all right now, hey
I am listening and ready to help when you need me
By the time that I'm through singing
By the end of this song
The bells from the schools of walls will be ringing
The realities of life will come crashing back in
More confusions, blood transfusions
There will be more chaos and violence in the world
The news today will be the movies for tomorrow
The horrible things we see in the news now will become accepted as entertainment later
And the water's turned to blood, and if
Things will get so bad that water itself will become contaminated
You don't think so
You may not believe it, but it's true
Go turn on your tub
Check your own water supply to see the effects of the chaos
And if it's mixed with mud
The water will be dirty and unclean
You see it turn to gray
The water will lose its purity and become murky
And you can call my name
Even in the midst of this chaos, you can count on me to help
I hear you call my name
I am here and ready to answer your call for help
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ARTHUR TAYLOR LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind