[Verse 1]
Oh, Grandpa wore his suit to dinner nearly every day
For 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

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
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 a Sunday and he'd take me with him too
Stained glass in every window, hearing aids in every pew

[Chorus]
Grandpa was a carpenter, he built houses, stores, and banks
He chain-smoked Camel cigarettes and hammered nails in planks
He was level on the level, he shaved even every door
And voted for Eisenhower 'cause Lincoln won the war

[Verse 3]
Now my grandma was a teacher, went to school in Bowling Green
Traded in her milkin' cow for a Singer sewing machine
Well, she called her husband "Mister" and she walked real tall in pride
She used to buy me comic books after Grandpa died
[Chorus]
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