A House in Nebraska (song)

**"A House in Nebraska"** is a song written and produced by Ethel Cain. The first recording of the track was on her 2018 EP, *Sad Music for Sad People*. The final release of the track appears as track number three on her debut studio album, *Preacher's Daughter*.

## Background

The song was first released as a part of *Sad Music for Sad People* extended play on September 15, 2018 under the alias White Silas. In June 2022, Cain shared a demo version of the song made for *Preacher's Daughter*. The last change to the track file was made in December 2019.

On December 31, 2022, an instrumental and a capella of the song leaked.

## Writing and inspiration

The inspiration for the song was the Wasden House, it’s by the highway just south of Quitman, Georgia. In this house, a man killed his sister and her husband in 1937 because they threatened to commit him to an asylum.

In an interview with *Coup de Main*, Ethel said that "A House in Nebraska" is the most favorite song she has ever written:

> I really like 'A House in Nebraska' only because it was a turning point for me. I wrote it when I was 19 and it was very much a departure from my usual songs. I love my song 'Strangers'. I put out a song called 'Lead Poisoning' a couple weeks ago on SoundCloud, I really love that one. I'd probably have to say 'A House in Nebraska'. I really think it resonates with me in a way that not many of my other songs do.
>
>

## Theme

Ethel Cain thinks of her ex-lover, Willoughby Tucker, who left town before the events of the record. She reflects on the good times they shared and longs for him to come home. She visits the abandoned house they would spend time in and imagine as their own, somewhere far away from their hometown of Shady Grove, Alabama.

## Official versions

* Album version — 7:46
	+ Instrumental version — 7:46
	+ A capella — 7:46

* Demo 1 (*Sad Music for Sad People* version) — 6:13
* Demo 2 — 6:24

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Labored breaths and bed sores

Sing it to me all day long

When the aching sound of silence

Used to be our favorite song

You and me against the world

You were my man and I your girl

We had nothing except each other

You were my whole world

But then the day came

And you were up and gone

[Chorus]

And I still call home that house in Nebraska

Where we found each other on a dirty mattress on the second floor

Where the world was empty

Save you and I

Where you came and I laughed, and you left, and I cried

Where you told me even if we died tonight, that I'd die yours

[Verse 2]

These dirt roads are empty

The ones we paved ourselves

Your mama calls me sometimes

To see if I'm doing well

And I lie to her

And say that I'm doing fine

When really I'd kill myself

To hold you one more time

And it hurts to miss you

But it's worse to know

That I'm the reason

You won't come home

[Chorus]

But I still call home that house in Nebraska

Where we found each other on a dirty mattress on the second floor

(When I needed you, and I need you still)

Where the world was empty

Save you and I

Where you came and I laughed, and you left, and I cried

Where you told me even if we died tonight, that I'd die yours

(So I died there under you, every night, all night)

[Verse 3]

You know, I still wait at the edge of town

Praying straight to God that maybe you’ll come back around

I cry every day, and the bottles make it worse

'Cause you were the only one I was never scared to tell I hurt

And I found photographs of our school, on the day we met

I thought that you were so beautiful, it was love, I guess

And you might never come back home, and I may never sleep at night

But God, I just hope you're doing fine out there, I just pray that you're all right

[Outro]

And I feel so alone

And I feel so alone out here

I feel so alone

And I feel so alone out here

And I feel so alone without you

I'm so alone out here

I feel so alone, I feel so alone

I'm so alone out here without you, baby

(I'm alone)

## References

1. ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/1FYyjoAnJAtz8vydMdZuSn
2. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Ethelcain/comments/vaov29/preachers\_daughter\_original\_demos/
3. ↑ https://www.tumblr.com/mothercain/723326955589681152/i-dont-know-if-ive-ever-posted-about-this-before
4. ↑ https://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/ethel-cain/18216
5. ↑ https://www.onestowatch.com/en/blog/ethel-cain-preachers-daughter