Lyrics Depot is your source of lyrics to This Ole House by Rosemary Clooney. Please check back for more Rosemary Clooney lyrics.
This Ole House Lyrics
Artist: Rosemary Clooney
This ole house once knew his children
This ole house once knew his wife
This ole house was home and comfort
As they fought the storms of life
This old house once rang with laughter
This old house heard many shouts
Now he trembles in the darkness
When the lightnin' walks about
CHORUS:
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 windowpane
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
He's 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
On his knees I'm gettin' chilly
But he feel no fear nor pain
'Cause he see an angel peekin'
Through a broken windowpane
CHORUS
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 him it's tuckered out
But he's a-gettin' ready to meet the saints
CHORUS
This ole house 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
CHORUS
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Comments/Interpretations
the correct lyrics
Thank you for providing lyrics that are complete and without wrong words or spelling mistakes. Keep up the good work, we should strive for excellence in all the things we do.
"This ole house"
was sung by Stewart Hamlin in 1955 and his lyric was "This old hound dog lies a sleeping"
I had and uncle who would sing this
song as he worked. I all ways wanted the lyrics was.
Does anyone know who sang base on Rosemary Clooney's recording? He was FABULOUS!
Thanks so much for your time for the lyrics. Hearing that recently just about out of earshot brought back memories of that clever song. Didn't remember all the lines and bothers you till you find out.
Buddy Cole sang the base in Roemary Clooney's recording.
GREAT
Can anyone tell me the name of the low voice guy who sang this on the Lawrence Welk show ?
Was Rosemary Clooney the first person to sing and record this tune?
And I would also like to know who sang this on the Lawrence Welk show.
Thanks. :-)
I think you're talking about Larry Hooper. These lyrics were just read at my 97-year-old grandma's funeral. She was a superfan of Lawrence Welk!
Larry Zarella did a great acoustic version of this song on his 'No Place Special' CD
CHECK IT OUT www.reverbnation.com/larryzarella
Isn't it true that the image of a human body as an old house comes from the letters of Thomas Jefferson? Who wrote the original lyrics?
The LAST verse should read "my ol HOUND (not house) dog lies a-sleeping. I had this music as a teenager and played it on the piano. I could not remember middle verse, but knew first and last very well.
I remember this song on TV in the 50s: "Hit Parade" and the "Rosemary Clooney Show." I loved it. I've been singing it for around 50 years myself!
Heard this on one of those old 45 rpm records as a kid
I heard Dale Evans sing this song some time ago and I laughed because I knew that it was about our body. Now that I am old and breaking down in parts I am still laughing about it ---so true if you know the Lord and His love--just get ready to meet the saints...and Him ...Jesus
Stuart Hamblen wrote it, but Rosemary Clooney made it popular. Stuart Hamblen was a "cowboy singer" and had bit parts in cowboy movies w/Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and John Wayne. He also had his own radio show. I met him and his wife Suzy when I was about 10 and lived in So. Calif.
The story goes...he and John Wayne went hunting together and came upon an old cabin. Inside was the body of a man who had died of natural causes and Stuart penned the initial words of this song right away, on his lunch sack.
This was a "crossover" song, making it on the "Hit Parade", but probably is best-known song is "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)".
Another tidbit: Stuart & Suzy would often ride their horses in the Rose Parade.
We had a 78 of this when I was a kid. We couldn't understand all the lyrics, but we thought it was a great song. It would invariably get us jumping and dancing.
our church sings that song
Another titbit is that this song was the theme tune for a BBC TV show about home renovation circa 1962. I believe the program was called Bucknell's house and it was all about renovating a run-down dump that nobody wanted!
The man who sang bass was Thurou Ravenscroft,also the voice of Tony the Tiger and the person who sang in the Grinch who Stole Christmas.
The Rosemary Clooney version used to really frighten me as a child if a friend of ours played her 78 of it but the Shakin Stephens version wasn't half so bad!
Still... You gotta love Shakin' Stevens rendition with the stunning guitar work by Albert Lee.
I listened to this on the radio in Kenilworth, NJ as a young boy. I've printed out the lyrics to sing at Boy Scout campfires. Troop #73 in Westfield, NJ. At 62 some of my friends say I haven't gone far. What can I say "I Love NJ"!
Heard this on internet radio. Nice
Lovin' Shakin' Stevens version of this. Just found it on his Epic Masters Collection a couple days ago and have since heard Rosemary Clooney's version.
Does anyone know the year that Rosemary recorded this song? For one of my birthdays (I think it was my 12th in 1953), I got a portable GE record player and a 45 rpm record of Rosemary Clooney's version of "This Ole House". Since it was the only record I had until I could earn enough money to buy more, I played it over and over. I believe the last verse should be "hound" instead of house.
I live in Georgetown, Guyana, South America. I've always wanted the lyrics for This ole House. Thank you so much for affording me the pleasure at age 65. Goes to show dreams come true, no matter what age. Abundant & continued blessings for you all, Many thanks.
I needed the words quickly and you provided the service - thanks.
Cool song. I'm only familiar with it because of the cathedrals' version. George Younce does a pretty good job. I never knew that Rosemary Clooney wrote this song.
I am getting near my "used-by" date now and remembered the song so it has become my 'theme' song. Thank you for all Rosemary's words.
I am doing my Sunday School lesson about Solomon talking about our bodies in old age. Ecc. 12 This song came to mind. How true about our bodies. Are you ready to meet the saints?
its by ernie haase and signature sound and its a small medley between this old house and when the saints go marching in... and they change some words to this old house once knew MY children.... MY wife..... etc...
Great lyrics still mean alot today
Thank you so very much for posting the lyrics here. In a conversation in our home this morning one of us made a remark based on "This Old House" and instantly the song came to mind, but I couldn't remember all the lyrics. I couldn't get the song out of my head either, so finding them here was a real delight. I love this song's upbeat take on aging. Sometimes I think I've passed my "best if used by" date, but this song reminds me of so many pleasant memories I can be thankful for and loved ones I can look forward to seeing again.
I remember Larry Hooper singing this on the Lawrence Welk Show - a very pleasant memory.
Thanks for the memories!
george yanace done and awsome job on this song
One other correction: It's not "On his knees I'm gettin' chilly;" it's, "Oh, his knees are a-gettin' chilly"...as Rosemary Clooney sang it, anyway.
I HAVE TO SKPEAK TO THE OLDER FOLKS AT THE HIGHGATE RESIDENCE IN ANCASTER, ONTARIO.
MY MESSAGE STARTED WHEN I VISITED THE 7 DIFFERENT HOUSES I LIVED IN WHILE GROWING UP IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO, BEFORE I WAS MARRIED. THERE HAVE BEEN 8 SINCE THEN. I THINK THE NEXT ONE WILL BE IN THE BETTER LAND, WHERE THE STREETS
ARE PAVED WITH GOLD.
I WANT TO READ THESE WORDS TO THE OLDSTERS TONIGHT AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN THEM.
EACH HOUSE I HAVE LIVED IN HAS HAD ITS STORIES AND IT HAS BEEN GOOD TO GO DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH THEM ONCE MORE.
I realy love the way this song was sang by the cathedrals. Check out george younce, he was just too much.
I love this song!!! YES, check out the cathedrals, George sings it toooo perfect! Does anybody know if the guy who wrote it was a christian?
Does anybody know where I can get the sheet music? I would love to be able to play it on the piano!!!
I can remeber this song on one of those old 45 rpm records i can remember the cover showing a dilapidated old house
Yes, these are the right lyrics..just wish I could print them so I could rewrite to a different scenario like the upgrading of public schools.
Love this old ditty, my mom used to sing it when she did the laundry. Thought I use it at my funeral someday, maybe put it on the handout program.
Thank you! I needed this for a sermon I am writing and for an up coming funeral. I have loved this since I was a little girl.
I remember seeing the Bill Baird Marionettes do this song on TV. Probably the Today Show. I loved it!
Stuart Hamblin wrote this song for Rosemary Clooney. It was on a 45 with "It is no secret" on the flip side. I first heard it in 1951 by (I think) Mr. Hamblin who indeed was a Christian.
HUBBY WAS SINGING & PLAYING THIS OLD SONG TONIGHT & COULDN'T REMEMBER THE WORDS. WE ARE MID-LATE 60'S AND WE BOTH REMEMBER IT WELL BUT NOT THE WORDS. LOVE THE SONG. IT MAY TALK ABOUR OUR BODIES BUT I CAN ALSO SEE THAT OLE HOUSE IN FULL COLOR!!
I dreamed about this song last night and woke up with it on my mind. I could not remember all the words so I went on line and found them. It was very nice to be able to get them. A few of the words are not like I remember them, but it is okay. I'm sure getting myself ready to meet the saints one day. Are You?
I am reading Billy Graham's autobiography Just as I am.It gives the details of how Billy game to be interviewed by Stewart Hamblen in October 1949 on Stuart's popular radio show during the Los Angeles Crusade.Stuart came to some of those revival meetings.He showed up at Billy's hotel door at 4:30 in the morning crying with his wife. They talked and prayed and the rugged cowboy gave his life to Christ in a childlike act of faith . The first thing Stuart did was call his Dad who was an old fashion Methodist preacher from West Texas. All Billy could hear was the Fathers shout of Joy. He ended up losing his job on the radio station because of his faith.The Lord however had other plans. Stuart became a heck of a song writer and "This Ole House" is just one of his gems.
Watched Lawrence Welk growing up.
Heard Larry Hooper sin many songs.
Ms. clooneys lyrics and Mr. Hoopers voice both amazing.
I've enjoyed this song for years - never heard but a male singer; surprised that it has a larger history. I'll have to try listen to Rosemary's version.
I really appreciated the tidbits above by Sissy (9/22/2009) and Mike (12/14/2013). How cool!
This Ole House was written by Stuart Hamblen in, I imagine, 1954. It went onto the Country charts in August of '54 and stayed in the top 100 for 30 weeks, peaking for one week at #2. Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper also had a Country hit with it in 1960, 14 weeks in the top 100, peaking at #16.
It was, however, Rosemary Clooney's pop hit version that made the song famous. At the same time that her version was on the charts for many weeks, peaking at #1, there were many, many other singers covering it. I remember as a kid in Tucson, Arizona, listening to Rex Allen singing it on a jukebox in a local diner.
For a full treatment of the song, its history, and at least a partial listing of the dozens of people who covered it, look at this Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Ole_House
The metaphor of the body as a house is found in the Bible, among other places in 2 Cor. 5:1. Tabernacle is a temporary dwelling place (i.e. tent or shack). If Thomas Jefferson used it, he probably got it from the Christian/Jewish use of the imagery.
Good to have the lyrics - I wasn't sure of one of the lines. Just one thing, someone corrected the last verse (hound dog not house dog) but Rosemary Clooney didn't sing this verse at all.
Does anyone know the raunchy version of this song. The last part of it ends like this: This ole house has lost its license, this ole house has lost its lease, for they never should have tried to charge the captain of police............take the red lights from the windows, take the bells down from the door etc.
I loved hearing George Younce of the Cathedral Quartet sing the song.
I always loved this song. It is especially relevant to me now because my dad and I used to sing the chorus all the time and he passed away in March 2017 and while I was going through all his "stuff" at his house I was singing that chorus and thought about how he is having a grand time in his house in heaven. thanks
the first time I heard was in the 80's in England and it was a top hit from Shakin' Stevens....is this guy still around and his <
'blue Christmas' was memorable too !