The Once And Future Carpenter
The Avett Brothers Lyrics

I ain't from Texas, but I made my way from Dallas
Although I am not a native Texan, I once roamed its streets.

And I know the lonesome sound is following
I can feel the sadness and isolation that surrounds me.

I ain't a gambler, but I can recognize a hand
I may not be a risk-taker, but I understand when there is a good opportunity before me.

And when to hold, when the queens are staring back at me
I know when to hold onto my hand during a game of chance, and not be tempted by what appears to be a good bet.

Once I was a carpenter, man my hands were calloused
In the past, I worked hard as a skilled worker and had the scars to show for it.

I could swing a metal mallet sure and straight
My skills as a carpenter allowed me to work with precision and accuracy.

But I took to the highway, a poet young and hungry
Despite my profession, I left it behind to pursue a more artistic and soulful path.

And I left the timbers rotting where they lay
I abandoned my physical work and let the materials I once crafted deteriorate and decay.

Forever I will move like the world that turns beneath me
I will continue to travel forward in life, with the world always spinning beneath my feet.

And when I lose my direction I'll look up to the sky
When I feel lost, I will look to the sky for guidance and answers.

And when the black cloak drags upon the ground
When I am faced with death, I will be prepared to let go and accept it.

I'll be ready to surrender, and remember
I will be ready to let go of my earthly worries and remember the important things in life.

Well we're all in this together
We are all connected as human beings, sharing a common experience in life.

If I live the life I'm given, I won't be scared to die
If I live my life to the fullest, I will not be afraid to face my mortality.

I don't come from Detroit, but her diesel motors pull me
Even though I am not a native of Detroit, the sounds of the city still have a gripping effect on me.

And I followed till I finally lost my way
I pursued something to the point where I could no longer find my way back.

And now I spend my days in search of a woman we called purpose
I now spend my time looking for a sense of purpose or meaning in life.

And if I ever pass back through her town I'll stay
If I ever return to a place where I found purpose, I will stay there.

And my life is but a coin, pulled from an empty pocket
My life is like a coin, something that has no inherent value, except what we give it.

Dropped into a slot with dreams of sevens close behind
We all have dreams and hopes for what life can give us, but we know that they may not happen.

Hope and fear go with it, and moon and the sun go spinning
Our lives are full of both hope and fear, and the world keeps on turning, regardless of our feelings.

Like the numbers and fruits before my eyes
We are all subject to the uncertain world of chance and fate, much like the symbols on a slot machine.

Sometimes I hit, sometimes it robs me blind
Life is full of both victories and defeats, and sometimes we are left with nothing.