Song Story: This Ole House

I’m familiar with the song This Ole House, but knew nothing of it’s origin.

Only when researching the story behind another song, did I discover the story behind this song.

The song was written by Carl Stuart Hamblen, who was the author of Until Then and It Is No Secret {What God Can Do}.

Hamblen and his friend and fellow hunter and actor, John Wayne, were supposedly on a hunting expedition. One day they came across a hut in the mountains, where they found a dog standing guard over his master’s body.

Hamblen was inspired to write “This Ole House” about the moral body being left behind to meet with the saints.

He is said to have written the lyrics on a sandwich bag, possibly found among the trash in the cabin.

The song was published in 1954 by Stuart Hamblen and recorded by Rosemary Clooney.

Others have covered the song including the Cathedral Quartet, Hovie Lister and the Statesmen, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Dean, The Statler Brothers, the Bill Gaither Trio, Carl Perkins, George Younce, Loretta Lynne, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, Ray Stevens and Bette Midler.

How is your ole house?