First, "painting pictures carving wood" does not describe a typical farm work.
It is an allegory on being an artist; I think it represents Andy himself.
Second, there is another XTC song with a similar meaning - "Earn enough for us".
Apparently Andy was under a lot of financial pressure when he was young, probably he felt insecure about the future, he was not sure he will be able to provide for his family.
Another song, "Harvest Festival", has a clue about Andy feeling that he is a failure while at school: - "And what a year when the exams and crops all failed". So, no surprise he was feeling insecure about his future.
First, "painting pictures carving wood" does not describe a typical farm work. It is an allegory on being an artist; I think it represents Andy himself. Second, there is another XTC song with a similar meaning - "Earn enough for us". Apparently Andy was under a lot of financial pressure when he was young, probably he felt insecure about the future, he was not sure he will be able to provide for his family. Another song, "Harvest Festival", has a clue about Andy feeling that he is a failure while at school: - "And what a year when the exams and crops all failed". So, no surprise he was feeling insecure about his future.