Aretha Franklin - The House That Jack Built Lyrics






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





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Aretha Franklin The House That Jack Built Comments
  1. C.... ....

    The House That Black Jack Built

  2. S.... S....

    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
    There was the room that was filled with love
    It was a love that I was proud of
    This was a life of a love he planned
    On a love the same ol' love
    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 is the use of crying?
    You know…
    .

  3. A.... S....

    Thanks Mom for introducing me to the Fabulous Aretha Franklin! Rest in Paradise forever to both of my Queens!!! 💋

  4. D.... F....

    I believe the term "Jack the house" or "Jack your feet" or "Jack the groove" heard at house music songs comes from this one.

  5. M.... R....

    In the background very faint....as the photographer snaps her pic alone in front of the Taj Mahal. Yup you bet. You bet. that's her story then.....she found another and then Jack got real mean yup sho nuff.

  6. S.... G....

    Aretha Franklin recording artist at age 16 pretty teenage girl she was grew up in the music industry for a long time

  7. G.... S....

    I'm So Happy this was Playing in Once upon a time in Hollywood ❤ this Song Growing up

  8. D.... M....

    All but wore this record out on the jukebox in the PX at Ft. Bragg anytime I could get there summer 1968. (Along with 'Time of the Season,' 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' and a few others...

  9. l.... g....

    Once upon a time in Hollywood

  10. W.... B....

    Aretha had soooo many "hits"...what a legacy! RIP Queen 🙏

  11. T.... L....

    DRUMMER IS BERNARD PURDIE

  12. A.... S....

    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
    There was the room that was filled with love
    It was a love that I was proud of
    This was a life of a love he planned
    On a love the same ol' love
    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 is the use of crying?
    You know 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
    You oughtta come on back (Come on back, Jack)
    To the one that you built (Come on back, Jack)
    It's the same one you built (Come on back, Jack)
    You oughtta come on back (Come on back, Jack)
    Oh come back
    Come on, come on, come on
    I didn't understand
    Until I lost my upright man
    Come on back, Jack (Come on back, Jack)

  13. F.... D....

    The Queen of Soul,the first lady of Rock'n'Roll.

  14. B.... ....

    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
    There was the room that was filled with love
    It was a love that I was proud of
    This was a life of a love he planned
    On a love the same ol' love
    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 is the use of crying?
    You know 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
    You oughtta come on back (Come on back, Jack)
    To the one that you built (Come on back, Jack)
    It's the same one you built (Come on back, Jack)
    You oughtta come on back (Come on back, Jack)
    Oh come back
    Come on, come on, come on
    I didn't understand
    Until I lost my upright man
    Come on back, Jack (Come on back, Jack)

  15. D.... M....

    Love this. 1968...Ft. Bragg, N.C. before shipping out...money in the canteen jukebox and then the magic of Aretha. Then there she was on the radio in RVN.

  16. T.... B....

    Sing sister 'RE 'RE

  17. M.... R....

    Aretha Franklin
    "The House That Jack Build"
    #6 Pop, #2 R&B, August 1968.

  18. m.... ....

    Many divas try to sing the slow songs of Aretha, try to sing that song...

  19. S.... G....

    Lady soul miss you so much rip in peace Aretha Franklin

  20. r.... d....

    One of my favorites from the queen of soul then and now!!!

  21. S.... ....

    I'm building a house for my family right now and I think of this great song. Shrimpy ain't going nowhere though! Aretha is a legend!

  22. A.... M....

    Great among the greatest! 

  23. J.... J....

    The Queen of Soul. 'Nuff said

  24. H.... H....

    I got the house, I got the car, I got the dog and I got the cat....the hell with Jack...don't come back!

    H.... H....

    I GOT HAİR :-)

  25. J.... K....

    Not only a great tune from the first Lady of Soul, but some great lyrics too !

    J.... K....

    I was thinking same about the lyrics.

  26. L.... O....

    Just a question: Apart from the obvious "lost love" meaning could this be about John F. Kennedy (Jack) dying ?

  27. J.... W....

    Pure Soul - one of the few voices that gives me goosebumps when she hits those notes the way she hits them. No one else touches Aretha Franklin in that respect, and only a very few have ever even approached it.

    J.... W....

    Jason Windsor:🎯

    J.... W....

    Oh my soul sister! Thanks for feeling my heart!

    J.... W....

    The House That Black Jack Built

  28. j.... s....

    The one and only queen of soul..God Bless you Aretha!

  29. M.... S....

    Heard this on Sirius yesterday..Havent in years..Just ass-kicking Aretha

  30. m.... ....

    Great song.!

  31. t.... ....

    Damn fucking righteous. This woman made my spirit fly high two secs after the song started. That's the power of black singing from the heart... No racism intended

  32. M.... ....

    The very first Aretha's single I ever got as a Xmas gift in 1969.
    It came along with a lovely Philips portable record player. I was 6 then !

  33. Z.... ....

    God I LOVE this song!!!

  34. C.... S....

    Recorded at Muscle Shoals Recording Studios in Alabama. My cousins Percy Sledge and Jimmy Hughes also recorded there.

  35. S.... W....

    My sister told me my mother used to play this song all the time my dad name was Jack and he built our home from ground up ......

    S.... W....

    beautiful! :)

    S.... W....

    Sonya Williams Was your dad a construction worker? Just curious.

    S.... W....

    The House That Black Jack Built

  36. M.... I....

    Horrible cover of Metallica's song ;-)
    Just kidding, both songs (and artists) are great!

    M.... I....

    Aretha Franklin this is her song

  37. P.... ....

    Terrific song sung by a terrific lady!

  38. M.... B....

    LOVE THIS WOMAN!!!

    M.... B....

    Me too!!

    M.... B....

    The House That Black Jack Built

  39. 5.... ....

    Thelma Jones version is Tough, check it; see which you like best.

  40. I.... ....

    the letter that johnny walker read

  41. S.... B....

    Run (don't walk) to see the film, "Muscle Shoals". You will hear this type of music all the way through it. It's a wonderful film, and the section on Aretha, the band and producers is magnificent.

  42. S.... B....

    I think the drummer is Roger Hawkins. This song was not included on Aretha's current album of the time, "Aretha Now" (1968), but it should have been. Roger and the Muscle Shoals band played on all of the tracks for Aretha Now, and this has his sound.

    S.... B....

    The drummer is BERNARD PURDIE

  43. L.... S....

    God bless your mom! These are some of the best lyrics I have ever heard! Seriously, in all the years I have been listening to music, I have not heard lyrics like these.

  44. s.... ....

    I had this song on a cassette tape, and it reminds me of the hours that I spent working on a house that I bought in 1993...must I heard this song 500 times. I'm white, and Aretha is right on with me!

  45. o.... ....

    not too!: Duane Allman, Joe Newman, King Curtis, Max Roach etc!

  46. o.... ....

    "The racks" is a reference to my dad's car- cause he was a sign painter w/ racks on his car- which Fran didn't like! -lol : )

  47. o.... ....

    Yes! contact me - [email protected]

  48. o.... ....

    she may be mistaken, but Mom just said the drummer is ROACH; MAX ROACH : )

    o.... ....

    Oxford THE DRUMMER NAME IS BERNARD PURDIE

  49. o.... ....

    Bobs around! He's my uncle .. contact me- [email protected]

  50. D.... ....

    Thank your mom for some of the best lyrics ever!
    I got the house
    I got the car
    I got the rug and I got the rack
    but I aint got JACK. And I want my Jack back.
    Pure gold

    D.... ....

    Now that's what I call a "hook."

  51. r.... ....

    im going to go build a house now

  52. T.... N....

    jack pattillo.

  53. p.... e....

    If the soul music needs to be named, the name must be ARETHA FRANKLIN.

  54. L.... C....

    Heard this on The Wire, Season 2 Ep. 2. Aretha is arguably the best female vocalist ever. Love her stuff!

    L.... C....

    Luke Cage wow I’m watching that episode right now and that’s what brought me here!

  55. t.... ....

    This is the music that my mom grew up on glad i was born in the 60's mom was hip!

  56. E.... M....

    The Robins family is a gift too New Bern, NC

  57. M.... U....

    Roger Hawkins - Drummer (Al's style was more intricate and funky..Hawkins got the heavy funky thud)

  58. b.... ....

    metallica's version is better.

  59. d.... ....

    Aritha Franklin, and needless to
    say) is the (to me and many others) the
    best Female singer in the history of music...
    No one can has or will ever beat out-do out-shine
    Aritha Franklin....................:) We love u Girl..
    thank u...

  60. S.... S....

    Dont forget Bob Lance co wrote the song!! He was a friend of mine years ago. We lost touch, but I know he wrote this song

  61. M.... ....

    I love this Metallica cover.

  62. g.... ....

    Aretha's vocal flight at 1:02 is so good it makes my teeth hurt!

  63. f.... ....

    0:33 damn shes beautiful

  64. I.... ....

    press like if "mrs biggs" brought you here!!! song!!!!!

  65. B.... R....

    For a great new music video, based on "The House That Jack Built":

    "The House That Ruth Built ... Is Now Gone"

    On YouTube, by "YankeeUnderground"

  66. a.... ....

    the drummer is most likely al jackson. was a session drummer with atlantic and stax records for years. as you stated , he was a funky drummer.

    a.... ....

    NO IT'S BERNARD PURDIE

  67. a.... ....

    THANK YOU VERY MUCH FRAN ROBINS.

  68. a.... ....

    bad ass track! the vocalist and the musicians are on the one. this song brings back very good memories.

  69. z.... ....

    The musicians aren't to shabby either!

  70. U.... ....

    a treasured sound and feeling of soul !

  71. N.... ....

    Always amazing: Aretha is the Vox! Marianne Faithfull describes her as the "Voice of God." Hadn't heard this one for years. A personal fave of mine. We all know she is one of a kind, the Queen of female vocalists for 40+ years. Why do we not have talents like this today?

  72. W.... ....

    Then Bob Lance is your uncle? I recorded two of their songs in the 60's (Face in the Crowd and Step Right Up) singing with the Montereys.

  73. S.... F....

    Okay 'So i'm not gonna get all proper wit'it C'aint no Body sang'it Like Lady Soul , and you Know that is the one and Only Aretha Franklin... We all Love You Aretha and We Thank God for giving us You !!!!

    Scratch , Peace On It --- God Is Love

  74. k.... ....

    The Queen of Soul!!!!

  75. c.... ....

    High Fidelity brought me here...

  76. C.... I....

    Aretha is THE Queen!

  77. B.... M....

    Me too.

  78. R.... G....

    I think Home Improvement when I hear this hahaha

  79. J.... P....

    man alive does she get down...

  80. d.... ....

    ARETHA!!! (Nothing more need be said)

  81. C.... F....

    I LOVE everything about this song! First of all thats a funky ass drummer, lol. It's soulful and funky. Sweet Inspirations all up on them bkgrnd vocals....and then....theres of course the Queen doing what she do. Aretha at her best!

  82. C.... P....

    One of her very best and one of her most overlooked. I have seen her perform numerous times and regrettably she has never re-worked this for me.

  83. W.... M....

    What happened where'd it go?

  84. j.... ....

    You mom WORKED these lyrics!!!!

  85. D.... ....

    Rofl found this when searching: "Metallica - The house that jack built" :P

  86. s.... ....

    @oddofax SERIOUSLY?!!?!?!?!?!?!? WHOA!!!

  87. b.... ....

    this house is a museum now....jack never came back

  88. b.... ....

    @tljones9 :D

  89. t.... ....

    @beensaidrecords just downloaded the song from You Tube......pretty good uptempo version, and you gave me a great trivia question to add to my musical knowledge arsenal....thank you!......Who said you can't learn anything from the You Tube community?

  90. b.... ....

    @tljones9 She is a singer from the same time period. She originally recorded this song. Aretha covered it. You can google her to find out more.

  91. t.... ....

    @beensaidrecords I'm glad that you said that it wasn't a bash on Lady Soul.......just out of curiousity, WHO THE HELL IS THELMA JONES?

  92. t.... ....

    @evertanneke ok....I'll gladly give you that one!

  93. E.... L....

    @tljones9 Half? All of them!

  94. b.... ....

    Thelma Jones's version is better. More energy. This is not a bash on Aretha. Just an observation.

  95. d.... ....

    All Hail The Queen! Love this song! Love her too! Thanks for the upload! Much appreciated!
    Peace! =)

  96. t.... ....

    Half these female singers today wish they can blow like Lady Soul

  97. p.... ....

    Aretha has such a golden voice! :-D