This Old House
Rosemary Clooney
 
Words & Music by Stuart Hamblen

 

Chart 

Debut 
  
Weeks

# 

Label
 
  

Aug 1954

 

1

Columbia
   


This ole house once knew my children, 
this ole house once knew my wife

This ole house was home and comfort 
as we fought the storms of life

This old house once rang with laughter, 
this old house heard many shouts

Now she trembles in the darkness when 
the lightnin' walks about

Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer

Ain't a-gonna need this house no more

Ain't got time to fix the shingles, 
ain't got time to fix the floor

Ain't got time to  oil  the hinges 
nor to mend the win-dow-pane

Ain't gonna need this house no longer-- 
I'm a-gettin' ready to meet the saints

This ole house is a-gettin' shaky, 
this ole house is a-gettin' old;

This ole house lets in the rain, 
this ole house lets in the cold.

Oh, my knees are a-gettin' shaky, 
but I feel no fear nor pain,

'Cause I see an angel peekin' 
through a broken windowpane.

        Repeat Refrain

This ole house is afraid of thunder, 
this ole house is afraid of storms

This ole house just groans and trembles 
when the night wind flings its arms

This ole house is gettin' feeble, 
this old house is needin' paint

Just like me it's tuckered out,
but I'm a-gettin' ready to meet the saints

        Repeat Refrain

My ol' hound dog lies a-sleepin'--
he don't know I'm gonna leave

Else he'd wake up by the fireplace and 
he'd sit there and howl and grieve

But my huntin' days are over; 
ain't gonna hunt the coon no more

Gabriel done brought in my chariot 
when the wind blew down the door

        Repeat Refrain