Grandpa Was a Carpenter

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 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. Well, he'd 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 Well, she called her husband "Mister" And walked real tall and proud And 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 --- Grandpa Was A Carpenter - John Prine