Said a friend to a friend one day:
Was a man who passed away
St.Peter met him at the gate
Pete said: Walk with me if you will
I'll take you to the house you built
Man said I can't wait

Passed a mansion made of stone
But with each new house he's shown
They get smaller by degrees
Stopped in front of a two room shack
Pete said: Hope you're happy with that
Man said: How can this be?
Pete sai

That's all the lumber, that's all the lumber,
That's all the lumber you sent
Looks like the builder, man He's got your number
That's all the lumber you sent

Man didn't know what to say
Poor guy was blown away
Said: You mean this is what I deserve?
Pete said: I'm afraid it's so
It's too late but now you know
Shoulda done better work

Man said: You mean not lie and cheat
And helpin' old ladies across the street?
Pete said: Well, that's a start
Remember that man back in that great big house?
He found out early what it's all about
Built that place with his heart - as for you

That's all the lumber, that's all the lumber,
That's all the lumber you sent
Looks like the builder, man He's got your number
That's all the lumber you sent

What if that man was me
And I'd failed that miserably
You're showin' me things I don't wanna see

St. Peter if you can send me back to earth again
Is that somethin' you can do?
Pete said: It ain't up to me
If it was I'd like to see
How you plan to improve

Man said: I'd love God and fellow man
Take a wife and make a stand
Be the givin'est guy I can be
And when I get back to this neighborhood
There'd be a gigantic pile of wood
And I'd say : What's this I see?
And you'd tell me :

That's all the lumber - all that's your lumber
That's all the lumber you sent
Well the Big Boss'll help you
Hammer it all together
That's all the lumber you sent
That's all the lumber you sent


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

The Lumber Song Lyrics as written by Rick Cua Robert Sidney Jr. Halligan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

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