The House That Jack Built

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

Aretha Franklin

By Bob Lance and Fran Robbins



Originally released July 26, 1968 as the B side of

"I Say A Little Prayer For You"

It hit number 6 on the pop charts and number 2 on the R&B charts



This is the house that Jack built, y'all

Remember this house!



This was the land that he worked by hand

It was the dream of an upright man

This was the room that was filled with love

It was a love that he was proud of

This was a life of a love he planned

Of a love and a life we loved

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's the use of crying?

'Cause 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

He wanted to use me



I didn't understand

I said, I want my upright man