If You Were a Carpenter

Love's Craftsmanship: If You Were a Carpenter by Joan Baez
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Lyrics

If you were a carpenter, and I were a lady

If the person addressed was a carpenter and the speaker a lady

Would you marry me anyway? would you have my baby?

Questioning if the carpenter would marry and have a child with the lady

If a tinker were your trade, would you still find me

If the carpenter's profession was tinkering, would they still be interested in the lady

Carrying the pots you made, following behind me?

Imagining the lady following the carpenter carrying the pots he made


See my love through loneliness

Expressing the speaker's love through loneliness

See my love for sorrow

Highlighting the speaker's love in the face of sorrow

I've given you my onlyness,

Conveying the depth of the speaker's commitment by giving their onlyness

Come give me your tomorrow

Inviting the carpenter to share their future (tomorrow)


If you worked your hands in wood, would you still love me?

Asking if the carpenter would still love the speaker if they worked with wood

Answer me, Yes I would, I'd put you above me"

Positive affirmation that the carpenter would love and prioritize the speaker

And if you were a miller, had a mill-wheel grinding,

Imagining the carpenter as a miller with a grinding mill-wheel

Would you see it written on my face? I'm here for the finding.

Wondering if the carpenter would perceive the speaker's intentions


See my love through loneliness

Reiterating the speaker's love expressed through loneliness

See my love for sorrow

Reiterating the speaker's enduring love in the face of sorrow

I've given you my onlyness,

Reiterating the depth of commitment by giving onlyness to the carpenter

Come give me your tomorrow

Reiterating the invitation for the carpenter to share their future


If you were a carpenter, and I were a lady

Repeating the hypothetical scenario of the carpenter and the lady

Would you marry me anyway? would you have my baby?

Repeating the question about marriage and having a baby

Would you marry me anyway? would you have my baby?

Repeating the question, emphasizing the lady's desire for commitment

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