The House Grew Rank

Lyrics

Verse 1
Old Eli had a little house
At the bend of a cedar lane
Each morning came the same hard choice
And he could not bear the pain
He said, “That came from my own body
I can’t watch it wash away”
So he shut the lid and turned the key
And left it there to stay

Chorus
Oh, the house grew rank by the week
And the neighbors crossed the road
He kept what should have gone downstream
And carried a heavier load
Oh, the house grew rank by the week
While he guarded what was gone
A campfire tale for anyone
Who holds too tight too long

Verse 2
His sister brought a bucket in
His brother brought a spade
But Eli stood beside the door
And begged them not to trade
“For every piece is part of me,”
He cried beneath the eaves
The dog backed out, the curtains sagged
The whole yard held its breath

Chorus
Oh, the house grew rank by the week
And the neighbors crossed the road
He kept what should have gone downstream
And carried a heavier load
Oh, the house grew rank by the week
While he guarded what was gone
A campfire tale for anyone
Who holds too tight too long

Blues Guitar Solo

Flute Solo

Bridge
At last he heard the creek at night
And watched the cedar bend
He learned a thing the hard way round:
A letting go can mend
He pulled the handle, cleared the room
And opened every pane
The house breathed out into the dawn
And smelled like earth again

Final Chorus
Now the house is clean and quiet
And the neighbors wave hello
Eli still remembers why
He feared to let things go
Oh, the house grew rank by the week
Till he faced what he had done
A campfire tale for anyone
Who holds too tight too long

Outro
When the fire sinks to embers
And the old stories are through
Let the creek take what it carries
And make room for something new