10 Sweet And Sour Songs About Home

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There are the obvious ones that everyone knows like Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home,” Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” Ozzy’s “Mama I’m Coming Home” CSN’s Our House, and many other popular Home songs. It would be boring and lazy to go with those. This list digs deeper. We liked a few popular ones, but in the end, we came up with some that we thought were special and took a deeper look at the ups and downs of home life.

#10 – Home – Dream Theater (Sour)

Why not open this rock songs list about “Home” with a song titled Home? I might as well get straight to it. I love this intense Dream Theater song called “Home.” Listen to that opening. It just gives you chills. The song “Home” by Dream Theater was released on the album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. We picked this one to open the list to make a point. Not all songs about Home are fueled by flowers and happy memories…… This song is about betrayal and murder all at …..home.

#9 – Come On Up to the House – Tom Waits (Sweet)

So, how does one follow up a song about betrayal and murder? That’s easy, pick a Tom Waits song. While there were some other Tom Waits songs about home, like “House That Nobody Lives,” we decided to lighten the mood a little and pick one of his more cheerful songs. This jolly number was released on The Mule Variations album. The album was released in 1999.

# 8 – Home Again – Carol King (Sweet)

As we continue through this list, we thought it was time to add a little tenderness, and who better fit for that job than the beautiful Carole King? The song “Home Again” was released on Carole King’s Tapestry album. It was an album that broke so many sales and charting records. It has sold around 30 million copies globally, making it one of the all-time best-selling albums. It also won multiple Grammy Awards, including prestigious categories like Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.

#7 – One Less Bell To Answer – Fifth Dimension (Sour)

Well, on the positive side, the song implies that the woman’s grocery bill will be a little cheaper. This classic Burt Bacharach song spins the tail of a relationship gone bad, therefore leaving the house just a little less crowded. It’s a pretty sad one. I mean it’s freaking really sad. The mood, melody, lyrics, and arrangement are all so perfectly put together to make you feel really, really bad.

# 6 – You And Me – Alice Cooper (Sweet)

A song about Home doesn’t always have to have the word home in its title. Alice Cooper’s much-loved ballad, “You, And Me,” was about being home. This was one that a lot of people related to and still do. It’s about the simple things in life: love, popcorn, and TV. What else do you need? We should all listen to Alice, (Vincent) be ourselves and be happy.

#5 – What’s He Building In There? – Tom Waits (Sour)

Tom Waits makes his second appearance on our sweet and sour home songs list, and this time, it’s not as sweet as the first time. They actually could probably make it the top 10 Tom Waits songs homeless if we want it because he has written so many songs about home. This is one of the creepiest songs he ever released. It’s also one of his coolest. The song is about a man in a basement making creepy sounds that his neighbor keeps hearing. Whatever is going on in that basement could be of various things. There may be foul play; it may also be a neighbor’s imagination gone rampant. Maybe it’s not the house that the neighbors listening in on, it could be the house that the neighbor lives in. Hmmmmmm?

#4 – Our House – Madness (Sweet)

These guys have always been a lot of fun and a little bit crazy. But who doesn’t love crazy? Ultimately, the Madness song defines a realistic tale of life in a home filled with many personalities and ages. Chas Smash and Chris Foreman wrote the song. Our House was issued as a single from their fourth album, The Rise & Fall. The album was released on November 12, 1982. It became the band’s most successful single in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number seven.

#3 – Chelsea Morning – Joni Mitchell (Sweet)

As we watched the legendary Joni Mitchell perform at the Grammy Awards last night, we thought we would pay tribute to one of rock’s most outstanding artists by including her song “Chelsea Morning” on our Sweet and Sour Home Songs list. “Chelsea Morning” was featured on her 1969 album “Clouds.” The song draws inspiration from Mitchell’s experiences in her Chelsea, New York City apartment.

#2 – [Ain’t Nothin’ but A] House Party (Sweet)

Oh yeah, it’s time to strap on your dance shoes. Who not better than to strap up to than the J.Geils band? This heavy-duty party song is the perfect choice to get the party lights flickering at home. Dont forget to stock up on ice. The song “[Ain’t Nothin’ but A] House Party” was released on the album Bloodshot.

#1 – Closer To Home – Grand Funk Railroad (Sweet and Sour)

Staying true to this article’s point of home is not always the place you might want it to be or at least the place where one feels the safest. This epic tale of adventure, mutiny, betrayal, trust, and the Vietnam War says it all. Grand Funk Railroad’s masterpiece spells it all out with the swagger of one of classic rock’s most loved groups and greatest songs.

The song narrates the story of a sea captain navigating through a tumultuous voyage and dealing with a potential mutiny from his crew. The incorporation of an orchestra in the latter part of the song sets it apart from Grand Funk Railroad’s usual style. Although interpretations vary, many relate the song to the Vietnam War, resonating deeply with veterans of the conflict. The full version of the track gained more traction on progressive rock stations than its shortened single version, cementing its status as a classic rock staple.

When it comes to the song’s composition, it’s structured in a compound binary form, a popular format in late 60s and early 70s music. The piece starts with an electric guitar riff by Farner, transitioning into a more acoustic sound accompanied by Mel Schacher’s lead bass and Don Brewer’s drums. The narrative focuses on a captain’s desperate pleas to his mutinous crew, with the music intensifying the emotional weight of the story.

The second movement of the song introduces natural sounds and a haunting return of the captain’s voice, possibly hinting at a spectral presence. This section is characterized by a slow build-up leading to a full orchestral accompaniment, creating a dramatic climax. The idea to include an orchestra came from the band’s inspiration by groups like The Moody Blues, with the arrangement extending the song’s ending to allow for a more expansive orchestral piece.

Upon its release, the song achieved moderate success as a single but found a significant audience on progressive rock radio, aiding in the album’s climb up the charts. Over the years, “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” has been lauded as Farner’s finest work and remains a beloved track in classic rock circles. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the song’s enduring appeal, particularly among Vietnam veterans, underscores its impact and the deep connection many listeners have with its themes of leadership, loss, and longing for home.