Glasshouse
The Temptations Lyrics


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If you're livin' in a glass house
Don't throw no stones
If you're livin' in a glass house
Don't throw no stones

We're all made
With feet of clay and some dreams
We're born alone
And we die alone
Why can't we live
In between

I don't care
What goes on in your house
When you close the door
If you stop lookin' in my bedroom window
I'll stop lookin' in yours

My girl came home and she caught me with Alice
And she threw me out the door
Now, now now,
But the real reason that she was so mad
Is that she was with Alice before!
Say what?
If you're livin' in a glass house
No don'tcha throw no stones
If you're livin' in a glass house
Don'tcha throw stones

Sweet talkin'
Bar hoppin'
Pill poppin'
Wife swappin'
Swappin
Swappin
Sweet talkin'
Bar hoppin'
Pill poppin'
Wife swappin'
Swappin
Swappin

If you're livin' in a glass house
Don't throw no stones




If you're livin' in a glass house
Don't throw no stones

Overall Meaning

The Temptations' song "Glasshouse" is a cautionary tale about judgment and hypocrisy. The first chorus sets the tone for the song's theme: if you live in a glass house, don't throw stones – in other words, don't criticize others for their flaws or secrets when you have your own. The second verse tells a story of infidelity and jealousy, but the twist is that the singer's girlfriend was also cheating. The song suggests that everyone has secrets and faults, and it's better to accept that than to judge others.


The lyrics also touch on societal issues such as drug use, bar-hopping, and wife-swapping. By including these elements, the song comments on the hypocrisy of condemning behaviors in others that one may also engage in. The message seems to be that people should live their lives as they choose, as long as they're not hurting anyone else, and not judge others for doing the same.


Overall, "Glasshouse" is a reminder to everyone to be mindful of their own flaws and to be accepting of others, as everyone has their own "feet of clay and some dreams."


Line by Line Meaning

If you're livin' in a glass house
If you are flawed and vulnerable yourself


Don't throw no stones
Do not criticize or harm others


We're all made
We're all born


With feet of clay and some dreams
We all have flaws and aspirations


We're born alone
We come into this world by ourselves


And we die alone
We leave this world by ourselves


Why can't we live
Why can't we coexist


In between
Without conflict


I don't care
I am indifferent


What goes on in your house
Your personal life is none of my business


When you close the door
When you have privacy


If you stop lookin' in my bedroom window
If you stop invading my privacy


I'll stop lookin' in yours
I'll respect your privacy


My girl came home and she caught me with Alice
I was caught cheating


And she threw me out the door
My partner kicked me out


But the real reason that she was so mad
The actual reason for her anger


Is that she was with Alice before!
Is that she too had been unfaithful with Alice previously


Say what?
What did you say?


Sweet talkin'
Flirtatious conversation


Bar hoppin'
Frequenting bars


Pill poppin'
Abusing drugs


Wife swappin'
Committing adultery with other people's partners


Swappin
Sexual exchange


Swappin
Sexual exchange


If you're livin' in a glass house
If you are flawed and vulnerable yourself


Don't throw no stones
Do not criticize or harm others




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERRY GORDY JR, JAMES CARMICHAEL, KATHY WAKEFIELD, RONALD MILLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@michaelhillhouse7698

Today's rappers cannot hold a flame to the Temptations............timeless classic music....

@saj8

Times change. Either deal with the changes or the changes will deal with you. End of story.

@saj8

@I STAN Kim Jong-Un but Can't STAND Trump Folks are just chasing the ghosts of music's past at this point and have yet to come to grips with the number musical changes that occurred over the years.

@howardsmith7670

What a funky guitar playa

@howardsmith7670

Pork chops n collard greens

@TanyaPetersen-kz7yg

A Soul Train Line Classic.

@jimmierucker1258

2024 Still going strong !!!!

@JAZZMASTER7764

The perfect combination of Motown smooth and Funkadelic groove; love it!😎👍

@annkelley6813

What a great song, powerful beat! I just found it again today and it brought back many memories. The Temptations were such a great group, their songs, their footwork, it all worked! Otis Williams should be so proud, he was responsible for putting them together and keeping them for the most part on the right track. But when you have that much talent and egos, it could not have been easy. Bless you Mr. Williams.💫

@CyberGasty

what a great bass line

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