What do you think Susan's House means?

Eels: Susan's House Meaning

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Album cover for Susan's House album cover

Susan's House Lyrics

Going over to susan's house
Walking south down baxter street
Nothing hiding behind this picket fence
There's a crazy old woman smashing bottles
On the sidewalk where her house burnt down two years ago
People say that back then she really...

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  1. anonymous
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     Oct 18th 2019 !⃝

    An incredibly evocative and emotion inducing song. Triggered by the content of each verse, brought into full intensity of meaning and feeling by the simple melodious, beautiful and melancholy chorus. I am learning to sing this as it is so beautiful. Contrasted by the bridge which brings in another vision of sadness concerning the human condition when order and prosperity fails in a country where your life really can “slide out of view” (Pulp).

    Speak singing accompanied by evocative sound track.

    Going over to Susan’s House, right down Baxter street, (sets the scene with the sadness in the singers voice setting the tone).

    Nothing hiding behind this picket fence. (Could be comment on the possibility of being mugged, or if said in a slightly deranged voice could imply the emotional state of the singer).

    An old lady smashes bottles on the sidewalk where her house burned down a few years ago. (Pretty much the ultimate depth of despair in the USA where social assistance is minimal, can imagine house was not insured).

    Back then people say, she really wasn’t that crazy. (Confirms situation as desperate despair). (In UK would never happen, but look at poor areas in Baltimore and Detroit) (Reputed to be third world).

    Chorus: Beautifully sung and melodious. True desperation:

    Going over to Susan’s House, she’s gonna make it right.

    Relief at having some means of forgetting and healing.

    Going over to Susan’s House can’t be alone tonight.

    Sums up beautifully the emotional state of the singer.

    And so on, reading the lyrics alone has the capacity by two thirds of the way through to precipitate strong almost cathartic emotion.

    A beautiful and evocative song, thanks Eels.

    PS I remember exactly where I was (turning out of a T Junction in Chiselhurst SE London UK when the song Novocaine for the Soul burst from the radio for the first time and my life was never the same again.

    Powerful stuff, Music, goes straight to the switchboard!

    Singing or hearing one particular new song can make everything right, however dreadful what has happened.

    Much underestimated as a medical therapeutic device.

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Mar 12th 2008 !⃝

    People have started to care less about other people. We are all too wrapped up our own problems to see the bigger picture.

    Throughout the song the the guy is saying he needs help with his problems but we see so many more important tragic issues as he goes to seek a shoulder to cry on.

    In the second verse we see that even the people who are supposed to help don't really care.

    People are ruining their lives and the guy walks by even when he's offered drugs by a kid, no one cares enough to stop and help.

    This song highlights the selfish attitude in society...Or well that's what I got out of it anyway!


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