Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
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)
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)
Lyrics submitted by Shoot_Me, edited by goodnews, Deepdiving
The House That Jack Built Lyrics as written by Fran Robins Bobby Lance
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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Brilliant, brilliant song, possibly Aretha's best. Aretha laments a love she's neglected/betrayed and lost leaving her alone with her regrets in the house that was to be their home.
I submitted a lyric correction. The entire meaning of the song as Aretha sings it is that she "toyed with love" and now she's sorry. I hear the lyrics this way:
This is a 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 a room that was filled with love It was a love that I was proud of This is a life and a love that he planned Of a love, the same old love Of the house that Jack built. Remember this house! There was a fence that held our love, There was a gate that he walked out of This is the heart it is turned to stone This is a house, but it ain't no home This is the love that I destroyed On the day that I toyed with love, In the house that Jack built, I'm gonn' remember this house! Oh oh what's the use of crying? You know I brought it on myself There's no denying But it seems awful funny That I didn't understand Until I lost my upright man Up on the hill Everything stands still In the house that Jack built I’m gonn' remember this house Listen! I got the house I got the car I got the rug And I got the rack But I ain't got 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 Oh, Jack You oughta come on back Oh Jack You oughtha come on back To the one that you built It’s the same one that that you built You oughtha come on back I didn't understand until I lost an upright man Come on back Jack
It's such a great song, a real perfect track!
@Deepdiving You're correct, you've given the right lyrics.
The song was first recorded by Thelma Jones. There are some minor differences between her version and Aretha's. youtube.com/watch