Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. First track of the album Catch as Catch Can. It was released as the third single off the album in 1983 by RAK Records, but did not succeed in achieving chart success anywhere.
Formats
For a long time it was, together with Water on Glass, the only single to not have been released on 12″ single anywhere. The 7″ single was released in Europe only.
See this page in the discography for more information.
Versions
There are three versions of ‘House of Salome’: the album version, the instrumental version and the rough mix.
Live performances
‘House of Salome’ was performed live during the Catch Tour in 1983 only.
Chart positions
Belgium: 36 (2 weeks)
Credits
Lead guitar, backing vocals: Steve Byrd
Bass guitar, backing vocals: Mark Hayward Chaplin
Drums: Trevor Murrell
Keyboards, bass, guitar, Linn programmes, synclavier, backing vocals: Ricky Wilde
Produced by Ricky Wilde
Engineer: Pete Schwier, Will Gosling, Simon Schofield, Keith Fernley
Lyrics
Shadows run in the heat of the desert
Hands beat at the door
Someone stands and calls
For the name of Salome
As the veils were pushed away
He gazed upon a face
He’d never seen
Was she a dream ?
He heard the sound from a distance voice
You’d better watch out!
You’d better watch out!
He heard the sound from a thousand years
Calling out
Calling out
In the house of Salome
You have to surrender
“Run with her” said the young handmaiden
“She will be your queen
All your life you’ll live
In the dream of Salome
Take her mouth and with your hands
Just kiss her painted lips
Don’t you make a move
’till Salome calls you”
As the music danced around the desert night
He smelt her perfumed skin
As they made love
He heard the sound of a distant voice
You’d better watch out!
You’d better watch out!
He heard the sound of a thousand years
Calling out
Calling out
And as the music danced around the desert night
He smelt her perfumed skin
Was she a dream?
In the house of Salome
In the house of Salome
In the house of Salome
This house calls you!