Walter Brennan Lyrics
"It Takes a Heap of Living (To Make a House a Home)"

I remember many years ago when I was just lad
Livin' in the country with my moma and my dad
It seems I can see 'em in that faded yellow light
Moma sowin' on some buttons and daddy puffin' on his pipe.

I can here my mother hummin' in a voice so sweet and low
Keepin' time with that old rocker as she's rockin' to and fro
With us youngin's gathered around her, drowsey little sleepy heads
Cryin' tell us another story before you put us in to bed.

And moma would stop a-rockin' and stories she would tell
Stories from the family bible were the ones she knowed so well.
Of a baby in a manger near a town called Bethlehem
About David and Goliath and the shepard with his lands.

Well, it takes a heap of living, lots of take and lots givin'
Lord, It takes a heap of livin' just to make a house a home
Lots of work and lots of play and an awful lot of prayin'
Lord, it takes a heap of livin' just to make a house a home.

--- Instrumental ---

Well, it takes a heap of living, lots of take and lots givin'
Lord, It takes a heap of livin' just to make a house a home
Lots of work and lots of play and an awful lot of prayin'
Lord, it takes a heap of livin' just to make a house a home.

--- Instrumental ---

Now I sit and turn the pages of this old family book
My mind goes back to childhood and the tears fall where I look
All the family names are listed here most of 'em have passed away
And Lord, I pray the family circle will be together some day.

Well, it takes a heap of living, lots of take and lots givin'
Lord, It takes a heap of livin' just to make a house a home
Lots of work and lots of play and an awful lot of prayin'
Lord, it takes a heap of livin' just to make a house a home.

(Takes a heap of livin' just to make a house a home...)