A House Is Not A Home

Luther Vandross

About A House Is Not A Home

"A House Is Not a Home" is a 1964 ballad recorded by American singer Dionne Warwick, and written by the team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the 1964 film of the same name, starring Shelley Winters and Robert Taylor. The song was a modest hit in the United States for Warwick, peaking at #71 on the pop singles chart as the B-side of the top 40 single, "You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)". Another version of the song, by Brook Benton, which was the version that appeared in the film, was released at nearly the same time. It debuted two weeks earlier on the Billboard Hot 100. Benton's version split airplay with Warwick's, and ultimately peaked at #75. Warwick's version of "A House Is Not a Home" fared better in Canada, where it was a top 40 hit, peaking at #37. The ballad made the R&B top 10 in Cashbox by both Warwick and Benton, with neither artist specified as best seller. Despite its modest initial success, the song went on to achieve greater renown through frequent recordings by other artists, including a hit version in 1981 by Luther Vandross. 


 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

Doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

A chair is still a chair, even when there's no one sittin' there
But a chair is not a house and a house is not a home
When there's no one there to hold you tight
And no one there you can kiss goodnight

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Girl

A room is a still a room, even when there's nothin' there but gloom
But a room is not a house and a house is not a home
When the two of us are far apart
And one of us has a broken heart

Now and then I call your name
And suddenly your face appears
But it's just a crazy game
When it ends, it ends in tears

Pretty little darling, have a heart, don't let one mistake keep us apart
I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Oh, please be there, sayin' that you're still in love with me, yeah

I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Oh, please be there, still in love
I said still in love
Still in love with me, yeah

Are you gonna be in love with me
I want you and need to be, yeah
Still in love with me
Say you're gonna be in love with me
It's drivin' me crazy to think that my baby
Couldn't be still in love with me

Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be
Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be
Are you gonna be, say you're gonna be
Well, well, well, well
Still in love, so in love, still in love with me
Are you gonna be
Say that you're gonna be

Still in love with me, yeah
With me, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Still in love with me, yeah, yeah

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Luther Vandross

Luther Ronzoni Vandross (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy Awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance with My Father", co-written with Richard Marx. more »

9 fans

Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release
"A House Is Not a Home" by Luther Vandross was released in 1981 as part of his debut album "Never Too Much."
Cover Version
The song is actually a cover of the original hit "A House is Not a Home", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick in 1964.
Billboard Rating
The Luther Vandross rendition peaked at number 22 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart of Billboard magazine in 1982.
Grammy Award
The song earned Vandross his first nomination for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.
Live Performance
Luther Vandross frequently performed the song as part of his live shows
Song Duration
The album version of the song is 7 minutes and 10 seconds long, while the radio edit is 3 minutes and 53 seconds.
Musical Style
The song is a mix of R&B and Soul, typical of the genre at the time, but it is often noted for Vandross' expressive and emotional vocal delivery.
Cultural Impact
Since its release, "A House Is Not A Home" has been a popular choice for artists to cover due to its deep emotional resonance and dramatic melody.
Music Video
There is no official music video for the song, however, many of Vandross' live performances of the song can be found online.
Other Artist Covers
Many artists including Barbra Streisand, Glee's Chris Colfer, and Ne-Yo have covered "A House is Not a Home," each bringing their unique interpretation of the song.
Significant Lyrics
The song is often remembered for its poignant lyrics such as “A chair is still a chair, even when there’s no one sitting there..."
Legacy
“A House Is Not a Home” has been praised as one of Vandross’s signature performances and has established itself as a classic in the R&B genre.

Discuss the A House Is Not A Home Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "A House Is Not A Home Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/36717769/Luther+Vandross/A+House+Is+Not+A+Home>.

    Missing lyrics by Luther Vandross?

    Know any other songs by Luther Vandross? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    "__ _____ __ ____ __ ____ __ ____ Trying to find a part of me that you didn't touch"
    A our songs, our films united
    B my body and heart
    C my hips, my heart our songs
    D my heart, my hips, my body, my love

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Luther Vandross's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Luther Vandross tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!