Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, Van Lear, Kentucky in 1932. According to Songfacts, Loretta Lynn's superstar Country career started in 1960 when she recorded " I'm a Honky Tonk Girl " as her debut single. The song was a minor hit, climbing to #14 on Billboard's C&W Chart. By the late 1960s she had begun picking up various Female Vocalist of the Year trophies and in 1972 the singer became the first woman in history to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year trophy. Lynn dominated the Country charts throughout the rest of the decade and has continued to record hit records through the ensuing years. Her 50th anniversary year began with the award of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement on January 31, 2010.
Lynn released over 70 albums. She is the sister of country singer Crystal Gayle (born in Paintsville, Kentucky) and Peggy Sue, and is a cousin of Patty Loveless. Her father was a coal miner in Van Lear. Her biography was made into the 1980 film, Coal Miner's Daughter.
This Old House
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh if this old house could talk
What a story it would tell
It would tell about the good times
And the bad times as well
It would tell about the love that lived
And died inside these walls
Runnin' up and down the halls
Oh, if this old house could talk
It would break my heart in two
I couldn't stand to be reminded
Of all the things we used to do
There's no love in this old house no more
So I got it up for sale
Why if this old house could talk
What a story it would tell
Oh, if this old house could talk
I know what it would say
I'm as lonesome as you are
And I fell more empty every day
I even miss the baby
Who built me up to feel this way
Why if this old house could talk
Lord, I know what it would say
Yeah, if this old house could talk
What a story it would tell
We'll build this home together
And with love we drove each nail
Take me in your arms and hold me
'Cause we've been apart too long
Why if this old house could talk
All it would say is welcome home
The song "This Old House" by Loretta Lynn is a poignant reflection on the memories and emotions tied up in a cherished old home. In the first verse, the singer muses on all the experiences that this house has witnessed over the years, both good and bad. From the happy times of love to the tears and heartache that inevitably come with life, everything has left its mark on the walls and floors of the home. The second verse finds the singer grappling with the pain of letting go of this beloved residence. Despite the memories, there is no longer any love left in the house, and it is time to move on.
In the final verse of the song, there is a glimmer of hope. The house speaks out, expressing its own loneliness and longing for love and companionship. The singer acknowledges this loneliness and reaches out, recognizing that this old house is a part of her own history and identity. The lyrics end with a plea to be welcomed back into the home, to embrace the memories and start anew.
Overall, "This Old House" is a tender exploration of the deep emotions and connections we form with the places we call home. It examines both the pain of letting go and the possibility of rekindling love and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh if this old house could talk
If the walls of this house could speak
What a story it would tell
It would have tales to share
It would tell about the good times
The pleasant memories would resound in the house's voice
And the bad times as well
It would not shy away from telling the tough times too
It would tell about the love that lived
The love that blossomed inside this house would be revealed
And died inside these walls
Alongside the love, the house also witnessed its demise
And the sound of the little footsteps
The house echoes with the pitter-patter of tiny feet that once roamed the hallways
Runnin' up and down the halls
Children's playful voices fill the house that bustled with life
Oh, if this old house could talk
The walls carry deep emotions
It would break my heart in two
The stories of the house would be so overwhelming that it could make one weep
I couldn't stand to be reminded
It might be too painful for the singer to recall the memories attached to the house
Of all the things we used to do
The happy moments shared in this house are now distant memories
There's no love in this old house no more
The love that once existed in the house is now gone
So I got it up for sale
As the love left, so does the house
I know what it would say
As an extension of the people who lived in it, the house's feelings are known to the singer
I'm as lonesome as you are
The house is as lonely as the artist
And I fell more empty every day
As days go by, the house feels more lifeless
I even miss the baby
The house misses the presence of a child
Who built me up to feel this way
The child who played their part in making the house a home is missed
We'll build this home together
In the past, the people worked hard to build this house into a home
And with love we drove each nail
The affection of the people who lived here is evident in every corner of the house
Take me in your arms and hold me
The artist longs for a comforting embrace from someone special
'Cause we've been apart too long
The people who lived in this house are now distanced from each other
All it would say is welcome home
If the house could speak, its only desire would be that the people who built it return to it and make it come alive again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LORETTA LYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shanephillips1730
Love to here folks on here saying they've listened to this their whole life. I am old enough to call this new music. See, Loretta was the First Lady of Country Music by 1968. Your mama owes this woman a cultural depth for the walls she broke down. Rest in Progress and Long Live the Queen!!
@CCoburn3
Loretta is the best female country singer ever. And when you reflect on the singers they had in those days, that’s saying a whole lot.
@decemberwilson9540
I have listened to this song since I was very little. It is my favorite song by her.
@MindyZink-do5zr
I love Loretta Lynn and I wish that she was still alive today because I would love to see here in concert again at leses one moore time
@Shmurl
This song shares the truth, love, and the genuine spirit that envelopes the beauty of a Family...
@ahayes1917
Came for Loretta's passing, and the memories I have with this song 😔
@susanwhaley1
I was packing to move. this song came on and I began to cry. Now I truly understand the song. I am going to miss my old house.
@leapingjoseph8462
Susan, I can certainly relate. God bless.
@officialLucasDunaway
Miss her so much! 😢❤
@donneitafullmer4498
Love This Old House