Grandaddy was a carpenter and he taught the prisoners his trade
Left out before the rooster crowed getting home about half past 8
Spent all his time with the hound dogs just to earn the federal wage
He had to work some Sundays but getting off on Veterans Day

Grandaddy used to tell me son about man about 8 foot tall
Who burned down the honky tonk and fight with his ex in-laws
Used to build gun cabinets, back then they was all the rage
He got out on good behavior and locked up thе very next day

Grandaddy was a carpentеr and he taught the prisoners his trade
Left out before the rooster crowed getting home about half past 8
Spent all his time with the hound dogs just to earn the federal wage
He had to work some Sundays but getting off on Veterans Day

Itty bitty birdhouses and coffee tabletops
Sell at the flea market where all the state police all shop
They use the finest timber son from birch to pine to oak
Most folks are in for silly crime and the rest for slinging dope

Grandaddy was a carpenter and he taught the prisoners his trade
Left out before the rooster crowed getting home about half past 8
Spent all his time with the hound dogs just to earn the federal wage
He had to work some Sundays but getting off on Veterans Day

In the walls of the Big House you never know what you might see
A stick up man from the convenience store or a farmhand living tax-free
There ain't nothing in the universe that my grandaddy would ever do
Than hang out with the chain gang and teach 'em bout nails and screws
Grandaddy was a carpenter and he taught the prisoners his trade
Left out before the rooster crowed getting home about half past 8
Spent all his time with the hound dogs just to earn the federal wage
He had to work some Sundays but getting off on Veterans Day