Bee Gees – Haunted House

Introduction:

The Bee Gees, the beloved musical trio of brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, released Haunted House in 1970. Featured on their ninth studio album, Trafalgar, the song marked a turning point for the group, showcasing a stylistic shift towards disco and pop rock. This experimentation proved to be a successful formula, propelling Haunted House to international acclaim.

Haunted House is a ballad, characterized by the band’s signature tight harmonies and Barry Gibb’s soaring falsetto vocals. The disco influence is evident in the prominent use of cowbell and a driving beat, blending seamlessly with the pop rock elements of electric guitars and layered keyboards. This innovative fusion captivated audiences worldwide.

Thematically, Haunted House delves into feelings of loneliness and isolation. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a narrator navigating a haunted house, a metaphor for emotional turmoil. While the song doesn’t delve into specific details of the haunting, the overall atmosphere is one of melancholic introspection.

Haunted House became a massive commercial success. It topped the charts in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The song’s critical reception was also positive, with praise for its innovative sound and poignant lyrics. Haunted House is widely considered a disco classic, and its influence can be heard in countless disco and pop tracks that followed.

Haunted House not only marked a turning point for the Bee Gees’ sound, but it also solidified their place as international pop stars. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to the band’s songwriting talents and their ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level. Even today, Haunted House continues to resonate with listeners, a haunting melody that lingers long after the last note fades.

Video:

Lyrics:

I know baby’s bad for my self-esteem.
Find another face for your sympathy.
Some of us cry, some of them lie,
but no one sees inside.

The spark of baby’s eyes and I turn to stone.
Maybe I can’t survive in the danger zone.
Sounds of the night.
Streets without light.
And baby’s not alone.

Try to hold her to myself.
Someone else is breaking all my dreams. She
needs so many games to play.
One more time I climb the stairs.
Open up the door and she was gone.

And baby here I go,
like a lamb to slaughter.

Don’t stop haunting me in this old house (like a lamb to slaughter).
I still love you when you’re not around.
I’m still waiting for your midnight ride (like a lamb to slaughter).
I’ll still love you when it’s cold outside.
Me so sorry that I let you down (like a lamb to slaughter).
But you keep haunting me in this old town.

And the smile is no longer there.
The face and the eyes and the hair.
Nothing stands the test of time.
You live forever, never mine.
I cling to dreams that turn to sand.
Our life is now a distant land.

We commit emotional suicide.
Every single room is electrified.
Your memory shadowing me.
The house where sorrow hides.

Pull it down, blow it up.
Help me send these walls of love away.

And baby here I go,
like a lamb to slaughter.

Don’t stop haunting me in this old house (like a lamb to slaughter).
I still love you when you’re not around.
I’m still waiting for your midnight ride (like a lamb to slaughter).
I’ll still love you when it’s cold outside.
Me so sorry that I let you down (like a lamb to slaughter)
But you keep haunting me in this old town.

Don’t stop haunting me in this old house (like a lamb to slaughter).
I still love you when you’re not around