03. House On The Hill
Liner Notes
#nostalgia #indie #guywithpiano #memories #stylophone
Last year when I was brainstorming ideas for a trilogy of albums that are, shockingly, not doused in metaphors, fictions, and concepts, one of the ideas I had was for the last album to be about loss and grief, and the thing that is emblematic of it all to me is the House On The Hill.
My grandparents owned this place since they were...at this point...my age. They grew up in it, my dad grew up in it, and for holidays and get togethers I'd go on down the road and grow up too. My grandfather passed away in 2016 and for three years my nan shuffled around in it like a ghost until she decided to sell it.
It's a place that holds a lot of special memories and irreplaceable moments, and I felt the need to write a love letter to it. Because it deserves it. My father is buried further down the road from it so whenever I go visit him I'll look up at the old house and wonder what kinds of new memories are being made.
I'd like to say I never took it for granted, but surely, I did, and so this song exists to share the love that it gave me.
In the context of the series of albums this exists in, I made a lot of deliberate connections to a previous song on the first album, Memory Ln., as that album deals more with the vague haze of nostalgia, while this project is destined to be...a little more specific with people and places, lol.
The sister song, Anemoia, can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/brandon-brooks-746737217/anemoia
Lyrics
Standing On the shoulders of giants; Those who cobbled the stone, And molded the bend of the road.
Waiting, For something to shape me, Like the paths down the ridge That we made in the fresh fallen snow.
Pre-Chorus 1: I won't ever forget The life that you gave me. I won't ever forget...
Chorus: I grew up in the House On The Hill, Tumbling head over heart into daydreams, Fingers frozen and cheeks cherry red. We all thought that those days, they never would end.
I fogged up the mirror, Drawing outlines of figures and faces, Knowing well it's the one thing I fear; Reflections of things that used to be here.
Verse 2: I was wading Through oceans of pictures and memories Of such simpler and easier times Before I got all wrapped up in The Rest Of My Life.
I'm not saying That I'd rather be there than in The Now, I'm just lamenting the loss of a house That was Home for a couple of lifetimes.
Pre-C 2: No, I won't ever forget The times that you saved me. I won't ever forget...
I grew up in the House On The Hill, Tumbling head over heart into daydreams, Fingers frozen and cheeks cherry red. We all thought that those days, they never would end.
I fogged up the mirror, Drawing outlines of figures and faces, Knowing well it's the one thing I fear; Reflections of things that used to be here.
Outro: I got in the car at a quarter past 10, And took The Quiet Drive Back, And I never thought that I'd never Go back there again.
Every day all the things in your life Get closer and closer To the day where you'll have them For the last time.
We will know When the stars Have their fill.
I will meet you In the House On The Hill...
I'll meet you in the House On The Hill. I loved you then and I always will
I will meet you in the House On The Hill I will meet you in the House On The Hill
Comments
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/1502.png){kind=avatar}
Beautiful song. Wonderful memories and scenes. I like the different vocal techniques and cinematic touches. Backstory makes it even better. 🙌🎶
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the arrangement is haunted, especially in the passages where there are no words, just the feelings associated with a house that used to be full of life but are now memories. your music is so gorgeous and your vocals steeped in true emotion.
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"I'm just lamenting the loss of a house" that's such a great line. Again just love your vocal production. I'm hearing The Fray in this one. Love it.
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Great background story. Definitely feels like that story when listening. Nostalgic, proud, reflecting. Lots of space in the production. I feel like this song exists in memories.
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Awesome voice, lyrics, and wonderfully original arrangement. Again. I'm a concept album dude too. Not many of us left - I mean the album concept is basically dead, let alone the concept album! 🙃 Looking forward to checking out your Bandcamp after Fawm.
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@howthenightcame I guess technically I started with drums as well? The problem is is that I don't have access to a real kit, and haven't for...well...forever lol. So I have to settle with faux drums, whether it's via MIDI or I record it from my keyboard. Sometimes it works, sometimes I just gotta accept it, lol. Appreciate the listen!
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brandon, this is seriously beautiful - all the vocal takes and ambient layers, this must have taken you hours and hours and hours...
i started out playing drums, so all those subtle rhythmic shifts and playful skitters from 3m50s on are really appreciated.
and now that solo from the end has me wandering through my memory banks...
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/26622.png){kind=avatar}
Wow, I'm blown away by the soundscape and the pace of this song. Everything seems so perfect.
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/70d470e8-1b96-45d2-8fd9-eb0f24f6d18c.png){kind=avatar}
Very touching. I especially enjoyed the first verses with the almost spoken word sound. This is very good.
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Ok wow again. I was immediately drawn and connected to this song, as I actually live in the house that belonged to my grandparents. I grew up here, got married here and am now raising my children here. So this gorgeous song really got me in my guts. The lyrics in the chorus are so perfect. I'm in awe of your writing and the beautiful images you create here! This song really imparts the weight of the emotions you feel. Thank you for putting this one out in to the world!
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I love the way the piano sets up your beautiful lyrics on this one. “The House on the Hill” is such a strong hook, and it hits with perfect energy. My favorite line is “I fogged up the mirror, drawing outlines of figures and faces.”
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Really enjoyed this. Eyes closed, getting lost into atmosphere. As someone who has recently lost a few people, the lyrics hit hard. Keep up the heartfelt work 🙏
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Oh, wow, again. Such a powerfully storied song and a completely engrossing production. Honestly difficult for me to say more without sounding a bit like a crazed fan ;) Utterly wonderful.
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Beautiful piano! I love the space you created here, the backing vocals make the song feel so big! This is sweet and sad at the same time. Verse 2 hit especially hard. And the outro nearly had me in tears. I love that guitar sounding synth (??) Really beautiful work!
@metalfoot spare me from the ramblings if you want, but I'll listen to your nostalgia in music form any day brother!
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Love the big emotions in this. And how the prelude is kind of a dreamy fog of sound and ancestors, and then The House on the Hill bursts into the light of the chorus. The verse that begins "I fogged up the mirror..." is just fantastic, and I LOVE that image of drawing faces in the steam. And I really loved the melodic/sound shift for the Outro. Finally, thanks a lot for your comment on my time machine song.
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/5f1241ed-1701-47da-b7bb-69a74ca02768.png){kind=avatar}
I love the way you have sonically painted what nostalgia feels like. (wanders off into nostalgia of his own-- I'll spare you from my ramblings. This time.)
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/14958.png){kind=avatar}
I really like this, it is dramatic!! I also like the way the song livens up after the 2 minute mark, your vocals get more dramatic too, it draws the listener into the song, Its a very good Job all round
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Loving the piano part carried with the endless reverb. It fits very well with the subject matter. Chorus has an infectious melody that sticks to you. That airy synth sounds at 1:41 is so lovely. Sweet harmonies towards the end too. Brilliant songwriting and production. Those footsteps at the end what a way to end it.