This Ole House
Farewell to a Familiar Dwelling: This Ole House by The Statler Brothers
Lyrics
Well I ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Expressing the speaker's decision to leave the house.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more
Reiterating the speaker's intention to leave the house permanently.
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Indicating a lack of time to repair the shingles on the house.
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Emphasizing the speaker's lack of time to fix the floor of the house.
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Highlighting the absence of time to oil the hinges of the house.
Nor to mend the window panes
Stating the speaker's inability to mend the window panes of the house.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Repeating the decision to leave the house and preparing for a spiritual journey.
I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints
Expressing the speaker's readiness to meet saints, possibly implying death and an afterlife.
Well this ole house once knew my children
Reflecting on the house's history with the speaker's children.
This ole house once knew my wife
Recalling the presence of the speaker's wife in the house.
This ole house was home and comfort
Describing the house as a source of comfort in facing life's challenges.
As we fought the storms of life
Acknowledging the struggles faced together as a family in the house.
This ole house once rang with laughter
Reminiscing about joyful times and laughter in the house.
This ole house heard many shouts
Noting that the house has experienced both joy and shouting.
But now trembles in the darkness
Describing the current state of the house, trembling in darkness.
When the lightnin' walks about
Connecting the trembling of the house to lightning in the dark.
Well I ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Repeating the decision to leave the house and emphasizing its finality.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more
Reiterating the speaker's lack of time for repairs and the imminent departure from the house.
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Reemphasizing the lack of time to fix specific parts of the house.
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Stating the urgency of the situation regarding the house repairs.
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Pointing out the lack of time to oil the hinges of the house.
Nor to mend the window panes
Reiterating the speaker's imminent departure from the house.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Confirming the readiness of the speaker to face a spiritual journey.
I'm gettin' ready to meet the saints
Expressing the speaker's preparedness to meet saints and potentially face the afterlife.
Now my old hound dog lies a-sleepin'
Introducing the presence of the speaker's old hound dog.
He don't know I'm gonna leave
Highlighting the dog's unawareness of the speaker's imminent departure.
Else he'd wake up by the fireplace
Imagining the dog's reaction if it knew about the impending departure.
And he'd howl and moan and grieve
Envisioning the dog's emotional response, including howling and grieving.
But my huntin' days are over
Declaring the end of the speaker's hunting days.
Ain't a-gonna hunt the coon no more
Expressing the speaker's decision to stop hunting raccoons.
Gabriel just brought in my chariot
Referencing the biblical figure Gabriel and the speaker's chariot.
Oh when the wind blew down the door
Describing a moment when the wind blew down the door, possibly a metaphor for a significant event.
Well I ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Reiterating the imminent departure from the house.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more
Emphasizing the finality of the decision to leave the house.
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Reiterating the lack of time for shingle repairs on the house.
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Reemphasizing the urgency of the situation regarding the house floor.
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Stating the lack of time to perform specific repairs on the house.
Nor to mend the window panes
Highlighting the urgency of the situation regarding window pane repairs.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Confirming the finality of the decision to leave the house.
I'm a-gettin' ready to meet the saints
Reiterating the speaker's preparedness to meet saints and face the afterlife.
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