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If I Were A Carpenter Lyrics
If I were a carpenter, and you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
If a tinker were my trade, would you still find me
Carrying the pots I made, following behind me?
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love through sorrow
I give you my only-ness
Give me your tomorrow
If I worked my hands in wood, would you still love me?
Answer me, babe: "yes I would, I'd put you above me"
If a miller were my trade, at a mill wheel grinding
Would you miss your colored blouse, your soft shoes shining
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love through sorrow
I give you my only-ness
Give me your tomorrow
If I were a carpenter, and you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
If a tinker were my trade, would you still find me
Carrying the pots I made, following behind me?
Save my love through sorrow
I give you my only-ness
Give me your tomorrow
Answer me, babe: "yes I would, I'd put you above me"
If a miller were my trade, at a mill wheel grinding
Would you miss your colored blouse, your soft shoes shining
Save my love through sorrow
I give you my only-ness
Give me your tomorrow
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
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I hate to sound like a teacher, but here goes. Tim Hardin was a folk singer and we must consider that this is a Folk Ballad that is steeped in the history and traditions of British folk music dating back to at least the Middle Ages. It's related to similar folk ballads like "Barbara Allen," "Greensleeves," "Three Marys" and others. During the Middle Ages and for several centuries afterward, it was unheard of for a "Lady" to have anything to do with a commoner workman such as a carpenter, a tinker, or a miller. The song asks, "If I were a carpenter, and you were a Lady, would you marry me anyway, would you have my baby." So the speaker in the song is asking his true love if she would love him even if their love were absolutely forbidden by all social mores and conventions. Would she forget her noble birth and status to live with him as a common working man, and by so doing turn completely away from the fine things of life that would be hers if she married someone from her own noble class. A carpenter or a tinker would never be able to afford the "colored blouse" or the "soft shoe shining" because peasants wore clothes made of rough woven and naturally dyed fabric similar to flour sacks and gunny sacks and wore wooden shoes similar to clogs and called sabots. So basically the song asks if the woman would leave her world of high birth and luxury to live with a man who must work 16 hours a day trying to keep her from starving for the rest of her life? How many of us ever get to experience a love strong enough for such sacrifice, for such devotion?
@WoundedEagle Tim Hardin, the writer of the song sings "color box," not "colored blouse." So does Bobby Darin and The Four Tops. Though I realize other versions such as the one by Johnny Cash is sung as "colored blouse." I can't find anything about the meaning of "color box."
@WoundedEagle Tim Hardin, the writer of the song sings "color box," not "colored blouse." So does Bobby Darin and The Four Tops. Though I realize other versions such as the one by Johnny Cash is sung as "colored blouse." I can't find anything about the meaning of "color box."
@WoundedEagle Color box has something to do with makeup I suppose
@WoundedEagle Color box has something to do with makeup I suppose
This song is obviously about Hardin's relationship with his wife, Susan Moore, and her societal position above him. Hardin's lifestyle, which included heroin use, was a constant barrier between the two, and this son is about the inadequacies Hardin feels being in such a relationship.
It's basically a plea for unconditional love.
Some songs lend themselves to such beautiful interpretations
Finally, proper lyrics to this song. Can anyone tell me what he is referring to when he says color box? Most lyrics sites quote the lyrics as "blouse," which is incorrect. Thank you.
@IMTN Makeup stuff for women.
@IMTN Makeup stuff for women.
@IMTN Yes, I like "colour box" very much - it is her box of watercolour paints, sketch-pad and brushes, another symbol of her leisured, high-status way of life.
@IMTN Yes, I like "colour box" very much - it is her box of watercolour paints, sketch-pad and brushes, another symbol of her leisured, high-status way of life.
Best,
Best,
Babbonius
Babbonius
@Babbonius Your explanation makes sense for colour box (proper spelling noted). Thank you!
@Babbonius Your explanation makes sense for colour box (proper spelling noted). Thank you!
Peace,
Peace,
IMTN
IMTN
@IMTN Just listened to Tim's version and he clearly says "coloured blouse" though I agree that box could be a nice interpretation. I think these lyrics here must be some cover version.
@IMTN Just listened to Tim's version and he clearly says "coloured blouse" though I agree that box could be a nice interpretation. I think these lyrics here must be some cover version.
@IMTN I stand corrected. nick (below) pointed out to me that Tim Hardin say's "colored blouse" and since he is the writer of the song, "blouse" is obviously correct. I thought the original was Bobby Darin's (1966). All these years when I've listen to Darin's cover I thought he said "color box." Thanks, nick.
@IMTN I stand corrected. nick (below) pointed out to me that Tim Hardin say's "colored blouse" and since he is the writer of the song, "blouse" is obviously correct. I thought the original was Bobby Darin's (1966). All these years when I've listen to Darin's cover I thought he said "color box." Thanks, nick.
@IMTN Sorry, that would be nick108256 who says that Tim clearly says colored blouse. He's is correct.
@IMTN Sorry, that would be nick108256 who says that Tim clearly says colored blouse. He's is correct.
@IMTN Right, it is clearly "colored blouse" on Hardin's recording (https://youtu.be/ZaCuDv35B6w?t=90). The Four Tops sing "color box", though ... (https://youtu.be/3GvA_oOj3pU?t=123).
@IMTN Right, it is clearly "colored blouse" on Hardin's recording (https://youtu.be/ZaCuDv35B6w?t=90). The Four Tops sing "color box", though ... (https://youtu.be/3GvA_oOj3pU?t=123).
Tim Hardin was handsome and addicted to heroin.It is known that his lookout for women was to steal their money for heroin. In 1965 he was in LA, where he knew tv actress Susan Yardley Morss. His following relationship with her was more important than usual. I think that the song "if I were a carpenter" means that without heroin he would never love Susan, and vice versa (carpenter is a man who repairs holes in wood, methaphor for heroin rehabilitation). From Susan side, attraction for weak creatures is a typical feature of female sexuality. I'm Italian, but I have to say that the Italian song cover (Dik Dik - se io fossi un falegname) is a terrible metamorphosis of a wonderful song in the paracommunist manifesto.