Introduction
Released on June 18, 2007, “Proud of the House We Built” is the potent lead single from Brooks & Dunn’s tenth studio album, Cowboy Town . Crafted by Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride, and Marv Green, the song marked a heartfelt turn in the duo’s repertoire, reaching a peak of #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart .
Musically anchored in mid‑tempo country, the narrative features Ronnie Dunn’s signature vocals conveying a story of humble beginnings and enduring love. It follows a couple building both a literal family and a figurative home out of little more than shared dreams and perseverance. The lyrics reflect on their struggles—long nights, bills, the learning curves of raising a family—but ultimately celebrate how far they’ve come and how proud they feel of what they’ve built together .
Critics offered a mixed reception. Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe praised the sincerity of the lyrics but felt the melody and production didn’t fully match Dunn’s vocal strengths—his verdict was a solid “B–” . He called it “a decently good lyric that celebrates a love that started with nothing,” though he noted the track felt somewhat restrained, not allowing Dunn to fully showcase the power of his voice .
As the first single off Cowboy Town, the song set the tone for a more reflective, family‑oriented direction. The album itself featured other co‑writes by Terry McBride and included hits like “God Must Be Busy” and “Put a Girl in It” . “Proud of the House We Built” stands as a moment of introspection in Brooks & Dunn’s catalog—an anthem to everyday resilience and domestic pride.
Video
Lyric
[Verse 1]
I dropped to my knees in that field on your daddy’s farm
Asked you to marry me, all I had to give was my heart
While other kids went diving into swimming holes
You and me dove off into the great unknown
We were barely getting by, taking care of each other
Then I became a daddy; you became a mother
Was an uphill battle nearly every day
Looking back I wouldn’t have it any other way
[Chorus]
I’m proud of the house we built
It’s stronger than sticks, stones, and steel
It’s not a big place sitting up high on some hill
A lot of things will come and go but love never will
Oh, I’m proud
I’m proud of the house we built
[Verse 2]
Still working our way through the land of milk and honey
At the end of the day there’s always more bills than money
I close my eyes at night and I still feel
The same fire in my heart I felt out in that field
[Chorus]
I’m proud of the house we built
It’s stronger than sticks, stones, and steel
It’s not a big place sitting up high on some hill
A lot of things will come and go but love never will
Oh, I’m proud
I’m proud of the house we built
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[Bridge]
Oh, look at us today
Oh, we’ve come such a long long way
[Chorus]
I’m proud of the house we built
It’s stronger than sticks, stones, and steel
It’s not a big place sitting up high on some hill
A lot of things will come and go but love never will
Oh, I’m proud
I’m proud of the house we built
I’m proud of the house we built
It’s stronger than sticks, stones, and steel
It’s not a big place sitting up high on some hill
A lot of things will come and go but love never will
Oh, I’m proud
I’m proud of the house we built