Aretha Franklin

Songwriter: Bob Lance Fran Robbins

Producer: Jerry Wexler

[Intro]
This is the house that Jack built, y'all
Remember this house

[Verse 1]
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 that he planned
On the love, the same old love

[Chorus]
In the house that Jack built
(The house that Jack built)
Remember this house

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
In the house that Jack built
(The house that Jack built)
I'm gon' remember this house

[Bridge]
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
Was it a house of an upright man, y'all?

Up on the hill there's a big plan still
In the house that Jack built
(The house that Jack built)
I'm gon' 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
(I ain't got Jack, Jack, Jack)
And I want my Jack back!
(I ain't got Jack, Jack, Jack)

[Outro]
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
(Come on, come on, come on)
Oh, Jack
(Come on back, Jack)
You oughta come on back
(Come on back, Jack)
To the one that you built
(Come on back, Jack)
It's the same one that you built
(Come on back, Jack)
You oughta come on back, Jack
(Come on, come on, come on)
Oh, come back
I didn't understand
(Come on back, Jack)
Until I lost my upright man
(Come on back, Jack)
Come on back, Jack
(Come on back, Jack)
You oughta come on home now
(Come on back, Jack)

Aretha Franklin is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known simply by her first Aretha. She is the reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” with a legacy that spans five decades. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Aretha began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Aretha embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records with modest success.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, she released a steady string of US top ten hits through 1973 including “Spanish Harlem”, “Chain Of Fools”, “Baby I Love You”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Daydreaming”, “The House That Jack Built”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", ”Think“ and her first chart-topper “Respect” – a song that also won Aretha her first of 18 Grammys. During this time, several of her songs were also successful overseas.

By the mid-70s, Aretha’s commercial success waned and she left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980. Her 1982 song “Jump to It,” returned her to the top 40 for the first time in six years. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin' Who? got her back into the top 10 twice with its title track and “Freeway Of Love”. Four more songs reached the top 40 through 1986.

more tracks from the album

Aretha’s Gold

From the albums

Aretha’s Gold (1969)
30 Greatest Hits (1985)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

The House That Jack BuiltAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Aretha’s Gold