know any songs about construction/ carpentry/ building houses

[fishwax]

I'm considering assembling a playlist for some folks who will be building a spec house this summer, and I can think of but a couple ... any suggestions are welcome, regardless of genre ...

[Generic Brad]

1. If I Had a Hammer

(And I'm not referring to Tom DeLay).

[fishwax]

2. ah yes, good one!

:toast:

[Schema Thing]

3. John Prine: Grandpa was a Carpenter

[fishwax]

7. that one is definitely on the list

great song! (and also true, for me :))

[SKKY]

17. Oh Yes! Give it up for John Prine!!!!

[Metta]

4. Grandpa Was a Carpenter - John Prine.

Working on a Building - old bluegrass sacred song. This Old House - Rice Brothers, Vol. 2; song about a family told from the point of view of the house.

[fishwax]

8. thanks for the suggestions

I love the Prine song. I think I have some rendition of Working on a Building, but I'm not sure about the other. Thanks! :toast:

[Nailzberg]

5. We Built This City

Okay so it's not about construction, but just try getting that out of your head now. Muahahahaha. :evilgrin:


We Built This City on ROCK AND ROLL
Built This City...

[fishwax]

6. ack!

that's just cruel ;) :P

[Nailzberg]

16. Yeah, that's a tough one to get out of your head.

But if you are having trouble shaking Starship, there's always Come Sail Away. :evilgrin:

[bmbmd]

9. The wise man

built his house upon the rock
and the rain came tumbling down.

[mykpart]

10. That old Pete Seeger song

See the boxes, pretty boxes
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same

. . . and so on.

[dweller]

11. Watch out - you might get what you're after

Cool babies - strange but not a stranger
I'm an ordinary guy
Burning down the house

Talking Heads...

hey, then you rebuild !

:think:

dp

[Hissyspit]

12. Cowboy Junkies "Working On A Building"

It's a traditional song, but they do a great version of it.

[Hissyspit]

15. Seldom Scene, Ralph Stanley, Col. Bruce Hampton and others

have done. Tav Falco and Panther Burns, Tony Joe White, as well...

[Floogeldy]

13. ZZ Top - "Woke Up With Wood"

When I woke up this morning
I was feeling mighty good
My baby understood had to do what she should

Lying near a pile of wood
Laying it on some
Playing with it some

When I, I woke up with wood.

I was lying there thinking 'bout basketball
Trying not to lose my mind
My baby came to help and I let out a yell

She grabbed me from behind
Laying on it some
Playing with it some

When I, I woke up with wood

Beauty queens fall in trances
Debutantes lose their furs
But it felt so good from where they stood

They were working on a pile of wood
Laying on it some
Playing with it some

When I, I woke up with wood

- Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill & Frank Beard

[Pale Blue Dot]

14. "Our House" by Madness

Father wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep, he can't hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our

Our house, it has a crowd
There's always something happening
And it's usually quite loud
Our mum, she's so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down, and a mess is not allowed

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our
Our house, in the middle of our street
(Something tells you that you've got to get away from it)
Our house, in the middle of our

Father gets up late for work
Mother has to iron his shirt
Then she sends the kids to school
Sees them off with a small kiss
She's the one they're going to miss in lots of ways

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our

I remember way back then when everything was true
And when we would have such a very good time
Such a fine time, such a happy time
And I remember how we'd play simply waste the day away
Then we'd say nothing would come between us
Two dreamers

[Nailzberg]

18. Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford

Not construction, but a great manual labor/working song. As someone who has built several houses in the last year, I think it could apply to building. It should go on your mix CD.

[reyd reid reed]

19. If I Were a Carpenter

"If I Were A Carpenter"

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?

[Nicole]

20. Brick by Brick

Iggy Pop

Brick By Brick


People are so sad and I know why
With no chance to live before you die
You get pretty sick if you hafta
Keep it inside

I wanna build a house where an ad don't scream
I wanna live in peace-quietly
I wanna have a place of love and safety
People oughta live how and where they want
People oughta have respect in front
People oughta get along pretty O.K.

So get off my dick
I'm building it brick by brick
Brick by brick

I'm building a house where I can think
And have some balance and dignity
I'm building a house where no one can hurt me
I'm huilding a house where the weak are strong
I'm building a house with a real song
I'm using faith that is immortal
I'm building it with simplicity
and the way that we feel, you and me
I'm buidling it with what I believe in

So get off my dick
I'm building it brick by brick
Brick by brick

Now I'm looking at just a little time
So be it-I want to
Be true to my simple heart
And not put nothing else above it
Brick by brick
Brick by brick
Brick by brick
Brick by brick
Brick by brick by brick

[leftofthedial]

21. "Lucky Break"

Bottle Rockets