A chair is still a chair
Even when there’s no one sitting 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 good night.
The first verses of this Bacharach/David tune—here sung by Brook Benton—hints at the lack of a word for an object when is properly used and well kept.
As a house is made for living in it—and turning it into a home— a chair is made to be used, but even with the best care it will always be a chair.
