This Old House Is Burning Down Tonight

The Clarks · Another Happy Ending [2002]

This old house is burning down tonight

I'm gonna watch it burn

I'm gonna stand out in the road

This old house is burning down tonight



Front porch, back door, well-worn wooden floor

All agree that since you¹re gone

The TV, sofa bed, brand new stereo

Just can't seem to get along

They'll all be ashes by the dawn



Your Beatles, my Stones, your My Aim Is True

Staying up late every night

With your cigarettes, Jim Beam, gallon of gasoline

Did someone say they need a light

You'll see my love for you burns bright



So send your sheriff to arrest me

He'll have to cross the county line

I'll get the devil to defend me

I was only burnin' what was mine



Black shirt, black shoes, favorite pair of blue jeans

I saved my coat, I saved my hat

But your white dress, gold band, silver frame and photograph

Stayed behind the welcome mat

I never really liked your cat



This old house is burning down tonight

All Halloween orange and chimney red

This old house is burning down tonight

You're gonna say My God! when you see it on the news

And by the time the ceiling hits the ground

I'll smoke my tires and leave this town

This Old House Is Burning Down Tonight

This Old House Is Burning Down Tonight stands as a defining track from The Clarks' 2002 album, Another Happy Ending. Emerging from the English folk-rock tradition, the band has long been celebrated for their intricate harmonies and melodic storytelling. This recording captures the group at a mature stage in their career, blending acoustic textures with a driving rhythm that characterizes their mid-2000s output. The song reflects the band's enduring ability to craft emotionally resonant narratives without relying on overt spectacle. As part of a discography that spans decades, this work connects the band's earlier indie sensibilities with the polished production values found on subsequent releases. It remains a significant song in their catalogue, showcasing the sophisticated songwriting that has secured their reputation among fans of British folk and rock music.