Grandpa Was A Carpenter

writer: John Prine
publisher:WB Music Corp OBO BMI

Oh, grandpa wore his suit to dinner
Nearly every day
No particular reason
He just dressed that way
Brown necktie and a matching vest
Both his wingtip shoes
He built a closet on our back porch
And put a penny in a burned-out fuse

Grandpa was a carpenter
He built houses, stores and banks
Chain-smoked Camel cigarettes
And hammered nails in planks
He was level on the level
And shaved even every door
And voted for Eisenhower 'cause Lincoln won the war
And voted for Eisenhower 'cause Lincoln won the war

Well, he used to sing me "Blood On The Saddle"
And rock me on his knee
And let me listen to the radio
Before we got T.V.
used to drive to church on Sunday
And he'd take me with him too!
Stained glass in every window
Hearing aids in every pew

Grandpa was a carpenter
He built houses, stores and banks
Chain-smoked Camel cigarettes
And hammered nails in planks
He was level on the level
And shaved even every door
He voted for Eisenhower 'cause Lincoln won the war

Now my grandma was a teacher
Went to school in Bowling Green
Traded in a milking cow
For a Singer sewing machine
used to call her husband "Mister"
used to walk real tall and proud
used to buy me comic books
After grandpa died

Grandpa was a carpenter
He built houses, stores and banks
Chain-smoked Camel cigarettes
And hammered nails in planks
He was level on the level
And shaved even every door
And voted for Eisenhower 'cause Lincoln won the war
And voted for Eisenhower 'cause Lincoln won the war