Later in 1968, it was recorded and performed by Aretha Franklin. The song reached No. 2 on the U.S. R&B chart and No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The House That Jack Built
Aretha Franklin Lyrics
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Remember this house!
This was the land that he worked by hand
It was the dream of an upright man
There was the room that was filled with love
It was a love that I was proud of
This was a life of a love he planned
In the house that Jack built
(The house that Jack built)
Remember this house!
There was the fence that held our love (yes it was)
There was the gate that he walked out of
This is the heart that is turned to stone (yes it is)
This was the house, but it ain't no home
This is the love that I once had
In a dream that I thought was love
In the house that Jack built (the house that Jack built)
I'm gonn' remember this house!
Oh-ohh wha-a-at is the use of crying?
You know I brought it on myself
There's no denying
But it see-e-ee-ems awful funny
That I didn't understand
Was it a house of an upright man?
Up on the hill
There's a big plan still
In the house that Jack built
(The house that Jack built)
I'm gonn' remember this house
(The house that Jack built)
Listen!
I got the house
I got the car
I got the rug
And I got the rack
But I ain't got Jack (Jack)
(I ain't got Jack, Jack)
And I want my Jack back!
I turned my back on Jack
He said he wasn't coming back
I turned my back on Jack
He said he wasn't coming back
Ohhh, Jack
Ohh! Come on back
Ohh Jack
Oh come on back
You oughtta come on back (Come on back, Jack)
To the one that you built (Come on back, Jack)
It's the same one you built (Come on back, Jack)
You oughtta come on back (Come on back, Jack)
Oh come back
Come on, come on, come on
I didn't understand
Until I lost my upright man
Come on back, Jack (Come on back, Jack)
In Aretha Franklin's song "The House That Jack Built," the lyrics tell a story of a love that once was but is no more. Jack is the one who built the house and the fence that held their love. It was a dream of his, a life of love that he planned. The room was filled with love, and it was a love that they were both proud of. However, something happened, and Jack left the gate that he once walked out of. The heart turned to stone, and what once was a love that was so strong, it could not keep the house a home anymore.
The lyrics also speak of the singer's regret of losing Jack. They realize that they brought it upon themselves and although they had everything they ever wanted in life, such as the car and the rug, it means nothing without Jack. They want Jack to come back, to the love that he already built in the past. They regret what happened and wish to make things right.
Overall, the song speaks to the importance of keeping love strong and recognizing that possessions and material wealth cannot replace the value of love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the house that Jack built, y'all
Introducing the house built by Jack
Remember this house!
Requesting to always remember this house
This was the land that he worked by hand
Describing the land that Jack worked on
It was the dream of an upright man
The land was a dream of a man who followed moral principles
There was the room that was filled with love
Pointing towards a room that was full of love
It was a love that I was proud of
Expressing pride towards the love in the room
This was a life of a love he planned
The life they lived was based on love that was planned
On a love the same ol' love
Reiterating that the love was the same as before
In the house that Jack built
Referring to the house built by Jack
(The house that Jack built)
Repeating the phrase 'The house that Jack built'
Remember this house!
Asking to always remember the house built by Jack
There was the fence that held our love (yes it was)
Talking about the fence that held the love between two people
There was the gate that he walked out of
Referring to the gate through which Jack left
This is the heart that is turned to stone (yes it is)
Describing a heart that has turned to stone due to heartbreak
This was the house, but it ain't no home
Despite being a house, it is not a home anymore due to lost love
This is the love that I once had
Talking about the love that was once present
In a dream that I thought was love
The love that was thought to be real turned out to be a dream
In the house that Jack built (the house that Jack built)
Emphasizing again that it is the house built by Jack
I'm gonn' remember this house!
Reaffirming the request to always remember this house
Oh-ohh wha-a-at is the use of crying?
Asking about the point of crying
You know I brought it on myself
Admitting that they are responsible for the situation
There's no denying
Cannot deny the truth
But it see-e-ee-ems awful funny
It seems ironic
That I didn't understand
Realizing that something was not understood before
Was it a house of an upright man?
Asking if Jack was really an upright man
Up on the hill
Referring to the hill nearby
There's a big plan still
There is still a large plan up there
In the house that Jack built
Referring to Jack's house
(The house that Jack built)
Repeating the phrase 'The house that Jack built'
I'm gonn' remember this house
Once again promising to remember the house
Listen!
Requesting attention
I got the house
Saying they have the house
I got the car
Saying they have a car
I got the rug
Saying they have a rug
And I got the rack
Saying they have a rack
But I ain't got Jack (Jack)
Despite all this, they do not have Jack
(I ain't got Jack, Jack)
Repeating that they do not have Jack
And I want my Jack back!
Expressing the desire to have Jack back
I turned my back on Jack
Admitting that they turned their back on Jack
He said he wasn't coming back
Jack said he was not coming back
Ohhh, Jack
Calling out to Jack
Ohh! Come on back
Urging Jack to come back
Ohh Jack
Calling out to Jack again
Oh come on back
Urging Jack to come back again
You oughtta come on back (Come on back, Jack)
Telling Jack he should come back
To the one that you built (Come on back, Jack)
Asking Jack to come back to the house he built
It's the same one you built (Come on back, Jack)
Reminding Jack that it is the same house he built
You oughtta come on back (Come on back, Jack)
Reiterating the request for Jack to come back
Oh come back
Requesting Jack to come back
Come on, come on, come on
Urging Jack to come back
I didn't understand
Admitting that they did not understand before
Until I lost my upright man
Realizing the importance of an upright man only after losing one
Come on back, Jack (Come on back, Jack)
Once again asking Jack to come back
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bobby Lance, Fran Robins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind