A House Is Not a Home
Brook Benton Lyrics


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A chair is still a chair
Even when there's no one sitting there
But a chair is not a house
And a house is not a home
When there's no one there to hold you tight
And no one there you can kiss good night

A room is still a room
Even when there's nothing there but gloom
But a room is not a house
And a house is not a home
When the two of us are far apart
And one of us has a broken heart

Now and then I call your name
And suddenly your face appears
But it's just a crazy game
When it ends, it ends in tears

Darling, have a heart
Don't let one mistake keep us apart
I'm not meant to live alone
Turn this house into a home
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Oh, please be there still in love with me

I'm not meant to live alone
Turn this house into a home





When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Oh, please be there still in love with me

Overall Meaning

In Brook Benton's song A House Is Not a Home, the singer talks about the difference between a house and a home. A chair, for instance, is still a chair even when no one is sitting on it, but a chair does not make a house a home. Rather, it is the presence of people that makes a house a home. In particular, the song focuses on the absence of someone special, someone to hold tight and kiss goodnight. It compares a room with nothing but gloom to a house with a broken heart.


The song expresses a sense of longing, a desire to be with someone who is currently far away, to turn the house into a home. The singer calls out the name of this special person, hoping that they will appear, but it is just a crazy game. The singer pleads with their loved one not to let one mistake keep them apart. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer urging their loved one to be there in the home, still in love with them.


In summary, A House Is Not a Home is a song that speaks to the importance of people in making a house a home. It expresses a sense of longing and the desire to be with someone special, and ends on a hopeful note.


Line by Line Meaning

A chair is still a chair
An object remains what it is, even when not being used.


Even when there's no one sitting there
An object's purpose is not dependent on usage or presence of an individual.


But a chair is not a house
A single object cannot provide everything that a home consisting of multiple objects can.


And a house is not a home
A house is simply a structure, but it takes more than just a structure to make a true home.


When there's no one there to hold you tight
A home is not complete without someone to provide love and affection.


And no one there you can kiss good night
A home is not complete without someone to share goodnight kisses with.


A room is still a room
An empty space remains what it is, even when unoccupied.


Even when there's nothing there but gloom
A space can lack warmth or joy, but it still remains a space with potential purpose.


When the two of us are far apart
The distance between two individuals can make a house feel incomplete.


And one of us has a broken heart
Emotional pain can make a house feel unsettling or unwelcoming.


Now and then I call your name
The presence of a loved one, even when not physically present, can make a house feel more like a home.


And suddenly your face appears
Memories of someone dear can provide comfort in times of loneliness.


But it's just a crazy game
These memories can only provide temporary relief from feelings of isolation.


When it ends, it ends in tears
Eventually, the lack of true companionship can lead to sadness and heartbreak.


Darling, have a heart
A plea for compassion and understanding.


Don't let one mistake keep us apart
Don't allow a single mistake to damage or ruin a relationship entirely.


I'm not meant to live alone
Human beings thrive on social interaction and companionship.


Turn this house into a home
Convert this structure into a welcoming and warm environment where we can live together.


When I climb the stairs and turn the key
The anticipation of being reunited with a loved one fills the heart with joy.


Oh, please be there still in love with me
A wish for love and affection to remain present in the relationship, even after difficult times.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Lewie71

The first recording and still the best. Brook Benton was a wonderful singer.

ralston baker

Not so sir. The first recording was done by Ms Dionne Warwick. Days later Brook recorded his version which was used as the Theme song for the movie of the same name. Both versions were released almost at the same time and received simultaneous airplay!

Gtizzle

although both versions, Brook and Dionne are very very solid, Luther's version brought the drama to the song. He upped the ante on the song as opposed to singing it straight. It is like the difference between eating a plain hamburger as opposed to eating a hamburger with spices added.

Gary Edwards

My favourite version of this beautiful song and the one I chose to listen to having heard of the passing of the hugely talented Burt Bacharach. RIP.🙏

Patrick Runne

This man should have gotten so much more credit for his vocals. Wish he had a record of more standards. Thanks to whoever put this up.

Julie P

My favourite version of this wonderful song courtesy of Brook Benton..
Yet another gem from the extraordinary Mr Bacharach… ❤R.I.P. Burt and thank you 🙏

Linda Jiron

This version is from the movie House is Not a Home. About the Madam Polly Adler.

Julie P

@Linda Jiron I never saw the film but thanks for letting me know about it.

Randall Sundeen

I love any and all versions of this song growing up I had a physical disability that left me with a limp my parents thought I was an embarrassment and thus I was left alone in the house most of my childhood this song got me through all that thanks for the download

Bob Taylor

I hope you're doing well. I've been disabled the same way since childhood, too. There is nothing ever to be embarrassed about, my friend, though my own problems with walking haunted me for much of my life, too. It's a fallen world, the most terrible tragedies can happen in it, but Christ Jesus, God's only Son, died as a ransom for our sins, and for the curse which is upon the creation. His resurrection proves He has the power over all death, all affliction, all loss, all heartbreak. Trust in Him as your savior, my friend. He will raise you from the dead in a body which is like His, glorious, incapable of being afflicted, alive, truly alive, with God, in unimaginable splendor, forever after.

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