He can knock down the wall 
Build it up strong 
Set the flagstones in a path 

With a nail and a hammer 
Barrow and saw 
See about the hole in the roof 

And the gathered all breathe 
A sigh of relief 
At completion of a well-laid plan 
It's wearing the day long 
And breaking the skin 
In the palms of the workingman's hands 

Let the tool do the work 
Pull and don't push 
Drag that wagon over the hill 

Measure twice and cut once, son 
Clear the felled brush 
Edge around the gardens and walks 

On a shiny John Deere 
Will he reappear 
With a power drill and a paintbrush 
And a chip on his shoulder 
As wide as a barn 
And as hard as the workingman's hands 

Now your Uncle John walked 
A mile to school 
In a storm and it was uphill both ways 
Oh, you save your money for a hole in the ground 
A black car and a long wall of roses 

And the gathered all breathe 
A sigh of relief 
At completion of a well-laid plan 
It's wearing the day long 
And breaking the skin 
In the palms of the workingman's hands 

Now the old iron gate 
Could use some fresh paint