The song "Our House" by Eminem tells the story of a young boy growing up in a suburban home and the challenges he faces in his everyday life. The lyrics depict the strained relationship between the boy and his mother, as well as his struggles with identity, belonging, and parental neglect. The song begins with the boy arguing with his mother over the pronunciation of Tupac Shakur's name and her lack of knowledge about him. This exchange highlights their generational and cultural differences. The boy then leaves the house, forgetting his jacket in the process, and finds himself in the cold winter weather. He pleads with his mother to let him back in, expressing his coldness and hunger. In the chorus, the lyrics mention "our house in the middle of the street," which symbolizes the dysfunctional and unstable home environment the boy is growing up in. The second verse focuses on the boy's experiences at school. He describes his two-faced teacher who lowers his grades and his toothache from drinking Kool-Aid. The boy's mother kicks him out of the house, and he is left with very little in his suitcase – only a shoelace, a tube sock, and toothpaste. At times, the boy finds solace in going to a friend's house and skipping school, but he also enjoys being alone in his own room. The lyrics also mention his younger brother sucking on a bottle until he was six, which suggests immaturity and neglect from his mother. In the third verse, the boy talks about his single parent mother who seems indifferent and distant towards him. He shares an incident where she sends him to the store to buy cigarettes, indicating disregard for his well-being. The boy also mentions how he tried to fake being sick for attention, but his plan backfires, and his mother sends him to school out of anger. He expresses feelings of being the worst thing to happen to him and how he faces constant ridicule from his teachers. His mother belittles his passion for rap, claims he is stupid, and suggests he should sue people like she does to make a living. Overall, the song portrays a tumultuous upbringing and the emotional struggles faced by the young boy. It explores themes of neglect, emotional abuse, and the longing for acceptance and understanding in a turbulent household.
