“Haunted House” by Florence + The Machine
In this track, Florence Welch is comparing her heart to a “haunted house” based on certain characteristics they share in common. First is that her heart is inhabited by “things” – or creatures – just like a haunted house. Likewise, these entities are active primarily during the night. But when she beholds them during the daytime, they are indeed frightening.
Florence apparently uses these metaphors to explain mistakes she has made in love. In other words, she is more active romantically at night. However, when the day breaks and she looks back at what she’s done, she is full of regret. And the term “day” used within the lyrics is symbolic itself. To put it differently, it represents being able to see things more clearly and not being plagued by the nocturnal whims of her emotions.
She uses the example of a brief romantic encounter to illustrate these points. Initially the fling was highlighted by bliss and contentment. However, it has now left her with a lifetime’s worth of regret. Indeed such experiences have inflicted her with some type of lasting emotional bondage as Welch repeatedly exclaims, “I’m not free at all.”
Facts about “Haunted House”
- Florence Welch (lead vocalist and songwriter of Florence and the Machine) wrote this song along with a songwriter named Matthew Daniel Siskin.
- The song’s co-writer Siskin produced it. It was released along with “Moderation” on January 24, 2019. Actually, it came out as the B-side to the aforementioned track.
- As usual, Welch was the only member of her band to contribute to the writing of the song.
- “Haunted House” and “Moderation” were the first new music the band put out in 2019.
Which album is “Haunted House” on?
It appears on Florence and the Machine’s 2019 album titled Moderation – Single. The song “Moderation” also appears on that album.
