Chords + Lyrics | Our House
Intro
||: C | Gm | Dm | Fm (G Ab Bb) :||
Verse 1
| C | Gm |
Father wears his Sunday best.
| Dm | Fm |
Mother’s tired she needs a rest, the kids are playing up downstairs.
| C | Gm |
Sister’s sighing in her sleep.
| Dm | Fm |
Brother’s got a date to keep, he can’t hang around.
Chorus 1
| D Am | Em G |
Our house, in the middle of our street
| D Am | Em G |
Our house, in the middle of our
Verse 2
Our house it has a crowd.
There’s always something happening and it’s usually quite loud.
Our mum she’s so house-proud.
Nothing ever slows her down and a mess is not allowed.
Chorus 2
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our…
Chorus 3 (new key)
| B F#m | C#m E |
Our house, in the middle of our street
| B F#m | C#m E |
Our house, in the middle of our… (Something tells you that you’ve got to get away from it)
Verse 3
Father gets up late for work.
Mother has to iron his shirt, then she sends the kids to school.
Sees them off with a small kiss.
| Dm | Fm (F#) |
She’s the one they’re going to miss, in lots of ways.
Breakdown
||: G F#m | A Bm :||
Solo
||: C | Gm | Dm | Fm (G Ab Bb) :||
Chorus 4 (same as chorus 1)
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our…
Middle 8
| C |
I remember way back then when everything was true and when
| Gm | Dm | Fm |
We would have such a very good time such a fine time, such a happy time.
| C |
And I remember how we’d play simply waste the day away
| Gm | Dm | Fm |
Then we’d say nothing would come between us, two dreamers.
Verse 4
Father wears his Sunday best.
Mother’s tired she needs a rest, the kids are playing up downstairs.
Sister’s sighing in her sleep
Brother’s got a date to keep, he can’t hang around
Outro chorus
| D Am | Em G |
Our house, in the middle of our street
| D Am | Em G |
Our house, in the middle of our…
| B F#m | C#m E |
Our house, in the middle of our street
| B F#m | C#m E |
Our house, in the middle of our…
| C Gm | Dm F |
Our house, was our castle and our keep
| C Gm | Dm F |
Our house, in the middle of our street
| D Am | Em G |
Our house, that was where we used to sleep
| D Am | Em G |
Our house, in the middle of our street
| B F#m | C#m E | to fade
Our house, in the middle of our street.
Our House Chords: Understanding Key Changes and Modal Interchange
Our House features just four chords, yet the way they’re used is genuinely unique — it’s something I’ve never encountered elsewhere.
Because these chords don’t all belong to a single key, describing them becomes more about interpretation than absolute theory.
Verse + Solo
Here’s what I believe is the most useful way to understand the verse chords (which are also used for the solo).
C – Gm – Dm serves two functions simultaneously. The C chord acts as both I in C and V in F. Gm functions as II in F, while Dm is VI in F.
The final chord, Fm, is Im in F, but it also works as IVm in C — and that’s very much how it feels harmonically.
These four chords are a brilliant example of modal interchange, with C pulling double duty as I and V, and Fm replacing the expected F. If you’d like to explore progressions like this in more depth, check out my chord progression course.
Chorus
The chorus follows the same idea but transposes the progression to different keys. The crucial difference is that the final chord is now major, functioning as either IV or I. In practice, it feels far more like a I chord — I believe this is because of how strongly the progression previously resolved back to the original I when it used a minor.
- Key of C/F: ||: C Gm | Dm F :||
- Key of D/G: ||: D Am | Em G :||
- Key of B/E: ||: B F#m | C#m E :||
These progressions are used for the choruses, while the verse remains in C/F, with one bar per chord rather than sharing bars as the chorus does:
During the outro chorus, the song moves between all of these key changes — absolute genius.
To get TAB showing how to play these chords in a way that works in a real band setting, check out the TAB lesson here: Our House – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Breakdown
There’s also a breakdown before the solo using this progression:
| G F#m | A Bm | G F#m | A Bm |
Here, G and F#m function as IV–III, with A acting as V and Bm as VI, making the progression completely diatonic to the key of Bm.
As the saying goes, there’s a fine line between genius and — in this case — literal Madness.
Here’s a chord chart.
Our House Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Our House chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Our House iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Our House TAB | Course Preview
In the course, we look at all sections of Our House using TAB, often exploring several different ideas for what you can play. The original recording is packed with production, so the parts I’ve written are adapted to work effectively in a live band setting.
As a preview, here’s the solo — it’s incredibly clever and beautifully written. Pay close attention to the subtle differences and repetitions throughout; this is a masterclass in making simple ideas sound musical and engaging.
Our House: How Madness Turned Everyday Life into an Iconic Hit
Our House, released by Madness in 1982, stands as one of the band’s most recognisable and enduring hits. Emerging during the height of the British ska and two-tone movement, the song perfectly encapsulates the band’s knack for blending upbeat, infectious melodies with relatable, everyday storytelling.
Written by Mike Barson, Madness’s keyboardist, Our House was inspired by Barson’s own family life, giving the song an authenticity that resonated with listeners across generations.
Commercially, the song was a major success. It reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart and became Madness’s only top ten hit in the United States, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Its catchy, sing-along chorus and the instantly recognisable piano riff helped cement its appeal not just on radio but also on MTV, where the accompanying video — showcasing family chaos and domestic humour — struck a chord with viewers. The song’s commercial performance contributed to the success of the album The Rise & Fall, further establishing Madness as one of the UK’s leading pop acts of the early 80s.
Beyond its chart performance, Our House has left a lasting legacy culturally and musically. Its narrative of domestic life, from breakfast scenes to family arguments, provided a relatable snapshot of suburban Britain, making it more than just a pop hit; it became a cultural touchstone.
Our House has been widely covered and referenced in films, commercials, and television, reinforcing its enduring recognition. Musically, its seamless combination of ska, pop, and a dash of theatricality influenced subsequent British acts looking to merge narrative songwriting with accessible, upbeat arrangements.
The song’s popularity also inspired a stage musical, Our House, which premiered in 2002 and incorporated Madness’s extensive back catalogue. The musical’s success demonstrates how the song, decades after its release, continues to resonate with new audiences while preserving its distinctly British charm.
Our House is not just a commercial milestone for Madness; it is a defining piece of the band’s identity, capturing the joy, chaos, and universality of family life, and securing its place as one of the most iconic British pop songs of the 80s.
Our House Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Our House (Madness) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
