House of Cards
Robert Plant/The Band of Joy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the wild wind roars
It'll shake your windows
And rattle your doors
Oh blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards
And they're washing the streets (blow blow down)
Ah just look over your shoulder (blow blow down)
They are right behind (blow blow down)
Oh blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards
And the birds are wheeling
Up above your head
And your days are numbered
And you're as good as dead
This is a very fine house
Of great renown
But it's cracked and it's shaking
It goes tumbling, tumbling, tumbling down
Blow blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards
Oh blow down this house of cards
The opening verses of House of Cards evoke an air of foreboding as the rain falls and winds roar, shaking the listener's windows and rattling the doors. The metaphorical language implies that the situation is not only unpredictable but dangerous as well. The chorus urges someone or something to blow down this house of cards. In other words, the singer is calling for the destruction of an unstable structure. Something that is precarious and at risk of collapsing at any moment.
The second verse expands upon the first's sense of imminent danger, with the washing of the streets with "the blood of your kind," and "they" are "right behind." The refrain of blowing down the house of cards is repeated, and in the third verse, the birds wheel above the singer's head while their days are numbered, and they are as good as dead. The fact that the house of great renown is cracking implies that appearances can be deceiving and that even the most impressive structures are not immune to decay and collapse.
Overall, the lyrics of House of Cards are a warning against hubris and the danger of putting too much trust in structures and institutions that ultimately prove to be unstable and unreliable. The song suggests that true safety and security come not from external structures but from a sense of inner purpose and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the rain is falling
It's raining heavily.
And the wild wind roars
The wind is furious.
It'll shake your windows
The wind is strong enough to shake the windows.
And rattle your doors
The wind can even rattle the doors.
Oh blow down this house of cards
Let this fragile structure collapse.
And they're washing the streets (blow blow down)
They're cleaning the streets thoroughly.
With the blood of your kind (blow blow down)
They're cleaning the streets by oppressing people.
Ah just look over your shoulder (blow blow down)
Be wary of your surroundings.
They are right behind (blow blow down)
They are watching your every move.
Oh blow down this house of cards
Let this corrupt system collapse.
And the birds are wheeling
The birds are circling overhead.
Up above your head
In the sky.
And your days are numbered
Your time is limited.
And you're as good as dead
You're as good as dead.
This is a very fine house
The structure is outwardly impressive.
Of great renown
It has a good reputation.
But it's cracked and it's shaking
But it's weak and unstable.
It goes tumbling, tumbling, tumbling down
It falls down completely.
Blow blow down this house of cards
Let the corrupt establishment collapse.
Blow down this house of cards
Destroy the fragile and unjust structure.
Blow down this house of cards
Bring down the corrupt and deceitful system.
Oh blow down this house of cards
Destroy the unjust and oppressive establishment.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RICHARD THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mohammedebaad1685
Oh, the rain is falling
And the wild wind roars
It'll shake your windows
And it will rattle your doors
Oh, blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards
They're washing the streets (blow blow down)
With the blood of your kind (blow blow down)
Ah, just look over your shoulder (blow blow down)
They are right behind (blow blow down)
Oh, blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards
And the birds are wheeling
Up above your head
And your days are numbered
And you're as good as dead
This is a very fine house
Of great renown
But it's cracked and it's shaking
Oh, it comes tumbling, tumbling, tumbling down
Oh, blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards
Oh, blow down this house of cards
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
@dohngreen4471
it's a shame, F.M. radio doesn't play this kind of music,,,all the time.
@kaykatnissg7812
I agree...wish they had a RobertPlant station. :)
@claudiapage5632
BEAUTIFUL HONOR INDEED ❤🤍
@EricDymond
Great post and an underated song. Thank you!
@miles-178
energy of youth !!!!
@Ronin_52
BLOW DOWN THIS HOUSE OF CARDS----aggghhhhh this song is sooooo goood...
@chrisdansey2600
Written by Richard Thompson
@zauzari
Fine song!
@culiacan929
Es como volver a los inicios fantasticos de Led, gracias Robert Plant!
@stefangebhardt396
Sind sie das nicht wo alles begann mit led Zeppein,?
Ich denke ja