About The Song
“If I Were a Carpenter” is a folk song written by Tim Hardin in the 1960s, and re-recorded with commercial success by various artists. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a man asking an elegant woman if she would still love and marry him if he was just a carpenter. There may be some biblical meaning, as Jesus was a carpenter.
It had been three years since Bobby Darin had a hit record. The Beatles had arrived, and if it wasn’t English, it didn’t sell. Darin was still a very marketable talent; if he recorded a song, it was going to get a fair shot. Two music publishers, Charles Koppleman and Don Rubin, walked into his office one day and played him a song they felt was perfect for him: “Do You Believe in Magic?” After hearing it through one time Bobby was convinced it wasn’t hit record material and told them so: “Very cute, but it will never be a hit.” That song was eventually pitched to The Lovin’ Spoonful and became a hit. Several months went by and these same guys came back by Bobby’s office and played him another song they thought was perfect for him: “Summer in the City.”
Again, Bobby didn’t like the song and turned it down. That one also went to The Lovin’ Spoonful and sold over two and a half million records. More time went by and the two men called on Bobby a third time. Before they sat down he said, “I don’t care what you got! I’m gonna record it,” and he did. They pitched him “If I Were A Carpenter” and It became Darin’s last big hit. Darin died in 1973 at age 37.
The song became the biggest hit for Darin since his 1963 song “You’re the Reason I’m Living”, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at No. 9 in the UK. Darin’s recording received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Rock and Roll Solo Vocal Performance at the 9th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to Paul McCartney’s vocal performance on The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby”.
Video
Lyrics
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway
Would you have my baby?
If a tinker were my trade
Would you still find me
Carrin’ the pots I made
Followin’ behind me?
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love for sorrow
I’m given you my onliness
Come give your tomorrow!
If I worked my hands in wood
Would you still love me?
Answer me babe, “Yes I would
I’ll put you above me!”
If I were a miller
At a mill wheel grinding
Would you miss your color box
And your soft shoe shining?
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway
Would you have my baby?
Would you marry anyway?
Would you have my baby?