A House Is Not A Home
Trijntje Oosterhuis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But a chair is not a house and a house is not a home
When there's no one there to hold you tight
And no one there you can kiss goodnight
A room is a still a room, even when there's nothin' there but gloom
But a room is not a house and a house is not a home
When the two of us are far apart
Now and then I call your name
And suddenly your face appears
But it's just a crazy game
When it ends, it ends in tears
Darling, have a heart, don't let one mistake keep us apart
I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Oh, please be there, still in love with me
Trijntje Oosterhuis's song "A House Is Not A Home" talks about how a physical space can be a house, but it's not a home until it holds the people you care about. The first verse uses a chair as an analogy for a person's life. A chair is still a chair, even if no one sits on it, but the purpose of the chair, which is to support a person, is not fulfilled if no one uses it. Similarly, a house is not a home until it's filled with the warmth of human relationships. The second verse extends this analogy to describe how a room can still exist, but the absence of a loved one can turn it into a place of gloom instead of comfort.
The chorus highlights the importance of human relationships in making a house a home. The absence of a significant other to hold or kiss goodnight makes it an empty space. The lyrics introduce the idea of a "broken heart" to emphasize the emotional pain caused by the absence of a loved one. The third verse reinforces this idea of pain, with the singer calling out her lover's name and seeing their face, only to realize it's all in her head, and the absence is still felt.
The song then shifts to become a plea, with the singer begging her lover not to let one mistake ruin their relationship. She expresses how she's not meant to be alone and how she hopes that the house can be turned into a home if they are reunited. The last lines of the song express the singer's hope of finding her lover present when she reaches home, hoping that they can continue their love.
Line by Line Meaning
A chair is still a chair, even when there's no one sittin' there
A chair retains its physical existence even if no one sits on it
But a chair is not a house and a house is not a home
A chair alone does not make a home, neither does a house alone make a home
When there's no one there to hold you tight
The absence of someone to hold onto when you need comfort and support
And no one there you can kiss goodnight
The lack of someone to share the intimacy and love of a goodnight kiss
A room is a still a room, even when there's nothin' there but gloom
A room has a structural presence regardless of the emotions that it may evoke
But a room is not a house and a house is not a home
A room or a house alone cannot create the warmth and love that make a home
When the two of us are far apart
The distance between two people can create a emotional and physical gap
And one of us has a broken heart
One person's emotional pain can affect the shared emotional bond between two people
Now and then I call your name
The hope and yearning for companionship and love is expressed through calling out a loved one's name
And suddenly your face appears
The fleeting glimpses of hope and love through memories and thoughts of a loved one
But it's just a crazy game
Despite the emotional rollercoaster, the longing for love can be a game of chance
When it ends, it ends in tears
The end of a relationship leads to sadness, grief and tears
Darling, have a heart, don't let one mistake keep us apart
A plea of forgiveness and hope for a second chance in love
I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home
The feeling of incompleteness and the hope for a shared home and life with a loved one
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Returning home, hoping for the embrace of a loved one
Oh, please be there, still in love with me
The hope and desire for continued love and companionship from a loved one
Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@khairilanuarothman3869
@@gregcoste5332
As the late Karen Carpenter once shared with us:
when I was young I listened to the radio
waiting for my favourite songs
when they played I sing along
it made me smile...
The world as it is has me convinced that the true blessing is our memories of things wondrous and wonderful.
Trintje's superb rendering of these timeless tunes always evoke in me a wistful, nostalgic smile which makes remembering them ever so sweet.
@dthievin
I wince when I read comments under this video that criticize this woman for looking down. Anyone silly enough to overlook that a., she speaks English as a second language, and b., she performed an ENORMOUS amount of material at this concert and relied on a teleprompter at her feet for help with the lyrics. Forget your virtue-seeking criticism, close your eyes, and listen to one of the most brilliant female vocalists of this century. Put her with this world-class orchestra and killer arrangements, and there is nothing finer. And by the way, nobody has ever sung this Bacharach composition as beautifully as Oosterhuis. I watch this once a week and probably will for the rest of my life.
@ulyn8913
Absolutely true
@larrycarr4562
Gus Wah Was listening to Art Pepper and she appears as a next song. Lucky me, what a songstress
@josephc3394
I don't understand why anyone has to put negative comments about someone unless they can get up there and do something like this themselves. If you sing like this, then you might be able to have a comment about doing it. To quote Hal David, what the world needs now is love sweet love. I agree with you Gus!!
@ingridwatsup9671
Thank you Gus on behalf of this Dutchie!
@thom9476
Well said!
@marthalogan2770
Loving this talented and beautiful woman!
@richardhunt304
I still think she should have had a standing ovation for this !!!!!!
@brianpiersol9412
How is Trijntje not world famous with the voice she has? So beautiful.... Tell me please.........
@snlphotographerpressbusiness
Prachtig gezongen Trijntje! God Bless you in many many ways!❤