Lyrics The Carpenter - Guy Clark

Let us now praise a 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 'til the day he died

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

All day worked his hands in wood from the crib to the coffin
With a care and a love you don't see too often
He built boats out of wood, big boats working 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 chalkline, he was right as a rule
He was square with the world, he took good care of his tools

He said anything that's worth cuttin' down a tree for
Is worth doin' right, don't the Lord love a two by four
And if you asked him how to do some he'd say just like Noah built the ark
You got to hold your mouth right son and never miss your mark

And you be tough as a crowbar
And you be quick as a chisel
Fair as a plane, Lord and true as a level
You be straight as a chalkline, you be right as a rule
You be square with the world, you take good care of your tools

You be tough as a crowbar
Quick as a chisel
Fair as a plane, Lord and true as a level
You be straight as a chalkline, you be right as a rule
You be square with the world, you take good care of your tools