Folk-styled CCM singer/songwriter Bob Bennett from Downey, California. Firs… Read Full Bio ↴Folk-styled CCM singer/songwriter Bob Bennett from Downey, California. First played guitar at nine years of age. Later, he formed a rock band while in high school. His conversion to Christianity in the late 1970s changed the focus of his music. His 1st album, in 1979, was FIRST THINGS FIRST. In 1982, he released MATTERS OF THE HEART which was voted Album of the Year by Contemporary Christian Music Magazine. 1985 saw the release of NON-FICTION followed in 1989 by LORD OF THE PAST: A COMPILATION, a best hits album along with a few new songs. SONGS FROM BRIGHT AVENUE, came along in 1991. After several years of recording absence, he released SMALL GRACES in 1997. a concept album exploring the dissolution of Bennett's marriage, followed in 1991, and in 1997 he resurfaced with SMALL GRACES. He pretty well fell off of the musical landscape until the release of THE VIEW FROM HERE, a rare gem recorded by the small Canadian label, Signpost Music.

Bennett's music is very much a expression of his life experiences from the point of view of his faith. From his difficulties to forget past hurts to his divorce to the discovery of 'small graces' that keep him rooted in the love of his Lord. Bennett has a wonderfully smooth voice and plays a simple but effective guitar.

Carpenter Gone Bad?
Bob Bennett Lyrics

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CARPENTER GONE BAD?
Bob Bennett
(c) 1979 Maranatha! Music (ASCAP)

There's a man down in the street
Says he's the Messiah
Telling people he is the Chosen One
Says that He is in the Father

And the Father's in the Son

Empty nets made full of fish
And blind eyes that see
Didn't he used to work with wood in Galilee?
Now he's in the synagogue
Telling people they are wrong
To live as whitewashed tombs
Full of dead men's bones

Some say he is the Son of God
Others laugh and call him mad
Well do you think he's who they say he is
Or just a carpenter gone bad?

People talking about him wherever I go
They say he teaches with authority
Is there something I don't know?
The say it is his fervent prayer
That we stay in the Father's care
And believe that he is the Word made man

Some say he is the Son of God
Others laugh and call him mad

Well do you think he's who he says he is
Or just a carpenter gone bad?

Overall Meaning

The song "Carpenter Gone Bad" by Bob Bennett reflects on the life of Jesus Christ and his teachings as a carpenter. The song opens with a reference to a man claiming to be the Messiah, which echoes the story of Jesus' ministry. The man claims to be the Chosen One and speaks about his oneness with the Father.

The lyrics then transition to a description of Jesus' miraculous acts, such as making nets full of fish and healing blindness. The song then poses a question about Jesus' true identity, asking if he is who people believe him to be or just another carpenter gone bad. The word "bad" implies that Jesus has turned away from his humble beginnings as a carpenter to become something unpredictable or even dangerous.

The song concludes with a call to embrace Jesus' teachings and believe that he is the Word made flesh. The lyrics emphasize the importance of staying in the Father's care and accepting Jesus' authority as a teacher and leader.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a man down in the street
There is a man on the street

Says he's the Messiah
He claims to be the Messiah

Telling people he is the Chosen One
He informs people that he is the Chosen One

Says that He is in the Father
He claims to be in the Father

And the Father's in the Son
He believes that the Father is in the Son

Empty nets made full of fish
He performs miracles like filling empty nets with fish

And blind eyes that see
He performs miracles like restoring sight to the blind

Didn't he used to work with wood in Galilee?
He used to work as a carpenter in Galilee

Now he's in the synagogue
He now speaks in the synagogue

Telling people they are wrong
He corrects people in their beliefs

To live as whitewashed tombs
He criticizes those who live as hypocrites