If You Were A Carpenter
Joan Baez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come give me your tomorrow

If you worked your hands in wood, would you still love me?
Answer me, Yes I would, I'd put you above me"
And if you were a miller, had a mill-wheel grinding,
Would you see it written on my face? I'm here for the finding.

See my love through loneliness
See my love for sorrow
I've given you my onlyness,
Come give me your tomorrow

If you were a carpenter, and I were a lady

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joan Baez's song "If You Were a Carpenter" present a series of scenarios that explore the depth of love and loyalty between two people. The song opens with the singer posing a hypothetical question to her lover: if he were a carpenter and she were a lady, would he still marry her and have a baby with her? The line implies that the two come from different backgrounds, but that this would not be a barrier to their love.

As the song progresses, the singer continues to ask hypothetical questions, such as whether her lover would still love her if his trade were that of a tinker or miller. The chorus, "See my love through loneliness, See my love for sorrow," underscores the singer's vulnerability and desire to be loved for who she is, regardless of circumstance.

Overall, the lyrics of "If You Were a Carpenter" suggest that love transcends differences in social class and profession. The song emphasizes the unselfish nature of love, with the singer indicating she has given all of herself to her lover and now seeks his commitment in return.

Line by Line Meaning

If you were a carpenter, and I were a lady
If your profession was carpentry and I were a woman

Would you marry me anyway? would you have my baby?
Would you still choose to marry me and have a child with me even though we have different professions?

If a tinker were your trade, would you still find me
If you were a tinker instead of a carpenter would you still search for me?

Carrying the pots you made, following behind me?
Would I still be at your side carrying the pots that you have created?

See my love through loneliness
Understand that my love is still present even in times of loneliness

See my love for sorrow
My love is also evident in times of sadness and sorrow

I've given you my onlyness,
I have given you everything that I have, my undivided attention and love

Come give me your tomorrow
Return my love and commit to a future with me

If you worked your hands in wood, would you still love me?
If you had a profession that was different from carpentry, would you still love me?

Answer me, Yes I would, I'd put you above me"
Yes, I would still love you and prioritize you above myself

And if you were a miller, had a mill-wheel grinding,
Even if you were a miller who worked with grinding mill-wheels

Would you see it written on my face? I'm here for the finding.
Would you recognize my love and commitment to finding a meaningful relationship?

If you were a carpenter, and I were a lady
Repeats the first line, emphasizing the initial question

Would you marry me anyway? would you have my baby?
Repeats the second line to reaffirm the central question of the song

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01If You Were A Carpenter

Joan Baez

02Be Not Too Hard2:51

03Eleanor Rigby2:20

04Turquoise

05La Colombe (The Dove)5:16

06The Dangling Conversation2:43

07The Lady Came from Baltimore2:31

08North

09Children of Darkness3:52

10The Greenwood Side

11If I Were a Carpenter

12Annabel Lee

13Saigon Bride3:13

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@tawnima2262

6y↑3

If you were a carpenter, and I were a lady
Would you marry me anyway? would you have my baby?
If a tinker were your trade, would you still find me
Carrying the pots you made, following behind me?

See my love through loneliness
See my love for sorrow
I've given you my onlyness,
Come give me your tomorrow

If you worked your hands in wood, would you still love me?
Answer me, Yes I would, I'd put you above me"
And if you were a miller, had a mill-wheel grinding,
Would you see it written on my face? I'm here for the finding.

See my love through loneliness
See my love for sorrow
I've given you my onlyness,
Come give me your tomorrow

If you were a carpenter, and I were a lady
Would you marry me anyway? would you have my baby?
Would you marry me anyway? would you have my baby?
❤❤❤❤❤

All comments from YouTube:

@debbiedeal5937

11y↑8

I have loved her voice for decades......it is so pure yet so strong. I wish she was still recording!

@chizzlemang8630

9y↑66

My dad loved her voice so. He's passed recently and her early works have gotten me thru some rough nights. Sounds so different now I'm older. Amazing voice amazing woman. Thanks Joan.

@xsleex

chizzle mang 💕

@Dave070545

Generations will love Joan’s voice forever

@joelmaqueira4851

2y↑1

Praying for your father, you, and your family.

@0512007d

12y↑6

JB has a voice of an angel. She touches the depths of my soul. Thanks for posting this.

@JoachimderZweite

11y↑30

The voice comes from heaven.

@douggbloch

4y↑4

Amen

@philippeboudry8560

From paradise...

@polopopolo2197

Yes. Amen

@eligaini4062

3y↑3

This woman has a heavenly voice.

@chriscringle1484

11y↑5

Joan's opening vocal line in her rendition of this beautiful song goes straight to my heart.

@crazeedogs

5y↑2

Her voice is pure poetry...one of the greatest gifts to this world.

@MichaelStaub77007

9y↑52

...the first love in my life... loved every one of her songs... and what a brilliant mind, soul and heart.

@MichaelStaub77007

9y↑3

thanks for visiting me...

@miranriznar

9y↑14

Fascinating version. Her voice I wear constantly in my heart...

@faeryquene

11y↑4

I've never heard this version before! Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! :)

@Davidthomas-jb9ik

8y↑10

Joan Baez, pure class and still beautiful, 😊

@tamaratamaral2552

9y↑1

La voz más bella del mundo

@JoachimderZweite

13y↑2

Lovely in its simplicity and directness performed by a great artist without all the fluff.

@tawnima2262

6y↑3

@MichaelOZimmermannJCDECS

11y↑3

A classic beauty of looks and voice...

@evemaried3

13y

I LOVE Joan's version of this beautiful song.

@adrianjeffery7889

6y↑3

The purest singing voice I've ever heard.

@douggbloch

Yes

@adrianjeffery7889

What a beautiful voice.

@desdicado999

9y↑6

she still moves me even thirty five years later

@viktorsberzs1865

Прекрасно ! Удовольствие , хороший позитив !

@evemaried3

13y↑1

my favorite version of this song! thanks for posting!

@vickyiturrizar1761

7y↑2

beautiful voice .

@scotnick59

13y↑3

she has the voice of an Angel

@estoesesto4

11y↑1

Extraordinary Voice!

@vickyiturrizar1761

7y↑1

amazing voice

@evemaried3

13y↑1

Love this thanks for posting!

@Cardywhite111

12y

Of course a woman wants to respect a man....And a man wants to respect a woman....I am married to a man from a different culture. I am old enough to be his mother...I love and respect him....He may not be educated in the Western view of education but he is wise beyond worlds and has taught me so much....Love is the key. Love transcends all insecurites.

@stevieray7920

The video footage of her with earl scruggs at the end of David Hoffmans documentary made me fall in love with her voice. We all missed out boys. That was a woman.

@faeryquene

9y↑9

Lovely as only Joan can be. ♪♫

@flavionoronha2527

11y

great singer,great women!

@beingpeace100

13y

The song was written by the late great Tim Hardin. Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnnie Cash and all the others covered his song !

@annegrethelarsen3517

In my youth I used to be a big fan of Joan Baez, I even was lucky to meet her in The Royal Albert hall in 1968.

@JohnnyLongoria58

10y

Talented. Nice version of this song.

@powerqqatsi

13y

"If I Were a Carpenter" is a song written by Tim Hardin. Hardin's recording appeared on his 1967 album Tim Hardin 2. It was a Top Ten hit for Bobby Darin in 1966, reaching number 8 in the US. (wiki)

@ocean4307

Grew up listening to this song. Thanks mom and dad!

@badinage100

12y↑2

For the sake of accuracy, Tim Hardin definitely wrote this song!!! Darin first had a hit with it but Hardin wrote it.

@gunnerglory

Hardins original version is the best by country mile

@surfingbrrrd

9y↑3

Beautiful!

@awesomedawg88

9y↑4

Yes. Thank you Joan. I grew up memorizing your lyrics. Thank you Mom. My kids are plugged in to screens. Shame on me. I play Joan.. but it's tough to compete with their texts and the Flash and Arrow and Tom and Jerry.. :).. but I keep trying.

@luciotavares1978

Amazing woman! Such an artist! Which year she recorded this song?

@dawnhurst-stultz6203

11y↑1

me too! always has been. it soothes me when I'm sad. rejuvenates me when I need guidance--the inate goodness....

@kevinwalk4580

9y↑1

Love, love, love this woman

@damienmcleod2622

Love you Joan, always have, always will.

@chih-chienwu5757

One of a famous pasted away poet in Taiwan used to say that her voice just like a golden oriole, the other two are Judy Collins n Joni Mitchell, it's God given.

@bugr68

11y

..Joan Baez je krásná ženská...

@sissaboolives2012

12y

I always took the song to be about class distinction rather than education, because the song was written in the late 60s while women were homemakers rather than out in the work force...the song makes me think of a trades person wanting to marry a "lady", like a person he feels is above his class, not used to labor, maybe born to money, maybe the old fashion "southern belle" used to having things done for her...

@losascio

10y↑1

Joan has "latin roots" She is part Mexican/South American and the rest is Scot/Irish like Linda Ronstadt. A beautiful woman, and an exceptional voice.

@maxmustardman298

Is that an oboe or a bassoon during the chorus ? Probably both, mixed with some string and brass sounds, but it sounds incredible.

@JohnnyLongoria58

11y

I wish she would have made this song with Johnny Rivers as a duo. Would have been great.

@LEONDULOT3146

Déjà dit..mais que c'est beau...!

@hathbenali

I wish I am that carpenter its 2018 what a voice beautiful

@MegaPablito82

11y

HERMOSAAAAAAAAAAAA

@niclasjohansson3390

9y↑4

Again i say Bellisimo!!!!!!

@PanicByNumbers

13y↑1

Beautiful

@24356778s

12y↑1

I often wonder if Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall ever listened to this wonderful song!

@Wuei108

Some songs by her sound better than the original.

@sissaboolives2012

12y

June Carter and Johny Cash also did a real nice version of the song!

@benoitlemineur4572

quelle voie... j adore
et depuis tant d'années. Woodstock c'est loin.....& dream is over.

@Cardywhite111

11y↑1

thankyou for saying sorry....that was really big of you and I mean it...it takes a strong and beautiful soul to speak the truth....x people who like Joan Baez are bound to be thus.....when her voice hits the heart it opens..

@ericpatterson6031

FYI: That's Peter Schickele (of PDQ Bach fame) on piano. He did quite a bit of work for Joan back in the day.

@Cardywhite111

12y↑1

I understand what you are saying and in the 60s when I was in my teens "class" was very relevant. It would be unlikely anyone would climb out of poverty unless you married well. Women were still expected to leave work after the war to look after their children However everything began to change quickly. Education became vitally important and I was fortunate enough to get qualified and obtain a well paid job. Because of that I had "male" choices and chose to marry a man who had "nowt".

@rolandmartin1483

Yes, nos enfants ne connaitront jamais cette partie de vie, unique, que nous avons pu vivre! Nous n'avons pas été capable de leurs sauvegardé cette joie de vivre et découverte, le droit, pas sans batailles, de parlé, nous leurs laissons en héritage des personnages tel que Trump., il est venu le temps que nous revenons a nos valeurs, vieux mais pas morts, ne laissons pas nos enfants et petit-enfants, stand up it's late, but not to late give a future to your and all the other children. We gonna die but wee have to do a last job

@Saladrazalahalahaz

14y

So glad this is back up!

@leahmonday1182

LOVE YOU, JOAN! lm

@sissaboolives2012

12y

That's great! Times have changed drastically and women have a lot more choices now. And with it I think these hangups about class barriers are coming down too. Perhaps love is becoming more important than the accumulation of wealth.

@rusalkarin

12y

Her voice in this song reminds me of Joni Mitchell.

@sissaboolives2012

12y

the song just tells a story, which the lady chooses to tell(this happens in music), about a trades person in love with a woman he feels is above him in class, perhaps a marriage that would not be the norm in their society, I take it to be a kind of old fashioned folk song, the carpenter, tinkerman, miller, were the trades of the early settlers, perhaps the "lady" in this case was the old fashion southern belle, used to having trades people do for her...can their love overcome class differences?

@kaseofblues

12y

@FrederikHNS It was Tim Hardin that wrote the song. You can check the copyright registration that lists Hardin as the writer (easiest at harryfox.com). Bobby Darin does a wonderful arrangement as well, check for a live version from his 1973 TV show on youtube.

@OnePiece-nl2hf

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚👍

@Imissthepostoffice

12y

Doesn't Tim Hardin also play with Tom Russell ? Is this the same Tim Hardin though, I wonder. I just love Joan's beautiful smooth & easy voice, always have.

@rajennaidoo5380

Watch her on Woodstock the documentary. This documentary 1969 was the best music ever, enjoy

@sissaboolives2012

12y

good musicians, interesting take on a folky song (motown meets folk song).

@enez979

jhonny +joan quel bonheur !

@shipidyship4067

8y↑1

muhteşem

@rayw295

12y

Gee Whiz this brings back memories.

@veefriend4201

7y↑1

Beautiful.
For my only love.

@Cardywhite111

12y

I agree many men are insecure because they no longer have clear guidelines about what is their place. But there is no "place" for any of us actually. We have to learn to sink or swim in this society. The rules have all changed and the goal posts. That applies for men and women though men still wield most of the power. I believe in respect but that doesnt happen unless it is reciprocal. We (men and women) need to love and respect one another and not to be afraid of the other.

@willinnewhaven3285

11y

Seems like every time a woman sings a song some guy says that he likes another guy's version better. I _know_ that I am in the minority in preferring women's voices but I don't go around saying so and so's version is better.

@user-ht1jn9cw3e

29w

❤

@Gibson4383

11y

robert plant's version is best

@subg8858

8y↑1

Hardly

@silverfoxoz

5y↑1

Bobby?!

@rothsuede

12y

I like Joan Baez version.

@AnthonyMichaelNJ

13y

34k views, 85 likes, 0 dislikes. Yep, this is a Joan Baez video.

@michelerot9772

so schön...

@losascio

10y

I don't care. I am Italian, and she is perfect.

@JanELuft

10y↑1

I think my younger sister Bunny looks a lot like Joan, but with lighter eyes and hair.

@bufb

9y↑20

songs were beautiful then.

@catlovertea4203

8y↑2

+Mary Lynn Johnson-Kerker Yes, as Joni MItchell said, today the "muse" has been left out of "music" and left only "ick." What you say is so true.

@elianaalixandria9500

LOVE

@shelkala

13y

Joan Baez looks exactly like I did when I was in my twenties schelchala 88

@michaeldoak7387

10y

If You Were A Carpenter, And I Were A Lady....

@ulanarni8804

!!!

@intothevortex

12y

oh if u were younger joan...i wud marry u...but your music remains young in my heart..

@temuridev

10y

სხვანაირად ვერ შეასრულებ ამ სიმღერას :)

@Klaudiart

8y↑1

Bob Dylan also loves Joan Baez still.

@RedGreEk2o12

haha so?

@georgestyer2153

N o she gave Bob all....She still loves him but in rejection has gone from one David to anothe David !!!
Bob loves Bob and smack.
We love Joany forever.

@Cardywhite111

11y

I meant nothing "materially" but everything "spiritually"....

@ptownsmash

banger

@DYSW

13y↑1

@FrederikHNS Tim hardon wrote this. bobby recorded it, Then bobby wrote "a simple song of freedom", which Tim hardon sang. So it evens out that way.

@_oguixta

3y↑1

Elias monkbel me trouxe aqui. Curte aqui br's

@andrewcothran2829

11y

i sometimes ask my best friend that very question ,,if i were a carpenter and you were a lady ..would you marry me anyway ..would you have my baby ? and we are both guys .