The Carpenter

John Conlee
Miscellaneous
The Carpenter (1987)
Let us now praise the carpenter and the things that he made
And the way that he lived by the tools of the trade
I can still hear his hammer singing ten-penny time
Working by the hour till the day that he died

He was tough as a crowbar, he was quick as a chisel
Fair as a plane and true as a level
He was straight as a chalk line and right as a rule
He was square with the world he took good care of his tools

He worked his hands in wood from the crib to the coffin
With a care and a love that you don't see too often
He built boats out of wood, big boats, he worked in a shipyard
Mansions on the hill and a birdhouse in the backyard

He was tough as a crowbar, he was quick as a chisel
Fair as a plane lord and true as a level
He was straight as a chalk line and right as a rule
He was square with the world he took good care of his tools

He said anything that's worth cutting down a tree for
Is worth doing right don't the lord love a two by four
If you asked him how to do something he said like Noah built the Arc
You've got to hold your mouth right son and never miss the mark

And you'll was tough as a crowbar, you'll was quick as a chisel
Fair as a plane and true as a level
You'll was straight as a chalk line and right as a rule
You'll be square with the world you be good care of his tools

And you'll was tough as a crowbar, you'll was quick as a chisel
Fair as a plane and true as a level
You'll was straight as a chalk line and right as a rule
You'll be square with the world you be good care of his tools