John Prine — Grandpa Was a Carpenter

Grandpa wore his suit to dinner Nearly every day No particular reason He just dressed that way Brown necktie and a matching vest And 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 TV Well, he'd drive to church on Sunday And he'd take me with him too Stained glass in every window Hearing aid 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 And 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, he called her husband "Mister" And she walked real tall in pride 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