Husband House by Sneaky Feelings

I’ve undergone a career change this week – I’ve dropped from full-time to a few hours a week, while my wife has returned to work almost full-time. It’s been quite a sudden change – we realised that I was finding my job stressful, my wife’s work wanted her back, and our youngest child is nearly four and it would be nice for me to have some time with her before she starts school next year.

I couldn’t think of any songs that cover the decidedly un-rock star territory of house husbandry, so here’s a song with the words reversed – Husband House’ by New Zealand band Sneaky Feelings. Sneaky Feelings were part of a big wave of bands that emerged from Dunedin in the south of New Zealand, and whose albums were issued on the influential indie label Flying Nun. They’re at the poppy end of the Flying Nun spectrum, going for a full-bodied sound, and were sometimes at odds with the more austere approach favoured by label stalwart Chris Knox.

According to leader Matthew Banister’s biography, Positively George Street, the song is about a Christian girl’s flat. They referred to a nearby Christian boy’s flat as “Husband House”.

Its been a long time since I’ve been back home where I belong
Life ‘round here means you must try to be hard and strong
One day when I want to settle down I’ll go there up to Husband House
I’ll leave my friends behind although it’s fun to stay here now
Seasons fall leaves have turned to gold and the wind blows cold from the south
Not sure what I wanted from you girl but I think it’s time that we found out
One day when I want to settle down I’ll go there up to Husband House
I’ll leave my friends behind although it’s fun to stay here now

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