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