If I Were a Carpenter (song)

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Song by Tim Hardin
from the album Tim Hardin 2
Released	April 1967
Genre	Folk
Length	2:41
Label	Verve Forecast
Songwriter(s)	Tim Hardin
Producer(s)	Charles Koppelman, Don Rubin

"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 including Bobby Darin, The Four Tops and Johnny Cash.^[1] Hardin's own recording of the piece appeared on his 1967 album Tim Hardin 2. It was one of two songs from that release (the other being "Misty Roses") performed by Hardin at Woodstock in 1969.^[2] The song, believed by some to be about male romantic insecurity, is rumored to have been inspired by his love for actress Susan Morss, as well as the construction of Hardin's recording studio (in the home of Lenny Bruce).^[3][1]

Bobby Darin version

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Bobby Darin
from the album If I Were a Carpenter
B-side	"Rainin'"
Released	September 1966
Genre	Folk rock[4]
Length	2:22
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Tim Hardin
Producer(s)	Charles Koppelman, Don Rubin
Bobby Darin singles chronology
"Merci Cherie" (1966) "If I Were a Carpenter" (1966) "The Girl Who Stood Beside Me" (1966)

The first notable version of "If I Were a Carpenter" was released by Bobby Darin in September 1966.^[5] The song was produced by Charles Koppelman and Don Rubin at Darin's insistence. Darin played the acoustic guitar on the recording. Darin took some time to record the song in his recording session, and did not finish the recording until 7 o'clock in the morning.^[6] The song was released by Atlantic Records, whose executives were reluctant to release the song until it received enthusiastic response by radio audience on the West Coast when Koppelman managed to get the song played there.^[6]

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.^[7] It also peaked at No. 9 in the UK.^[8] 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".^[6]

The song is the title song of Bobby Darin's album If I Were a Carpenter, also produced by Koppelman and Rubin.

Charts

Chart (1966)	Peak position
Canada (CHUM Chart)[9]	7
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10]	8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12]	7
New Zealand (Listener)[13]	8
UK Singles (OCC)[14]	9

Four Tops version

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Four Tops
from the album Reach Out
B-side	"Wonderful Baby"
Released	April 11, 1968
Genre	Folk, soul
Length	2:47
Label	Motown
Songwriter(s)	Tim Hardin
Producer(s)	Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier
Four Tops singles chronology
"Walk Away Renée" (1968) "If I Were a Carpenter" (1968) "Yesterday's Dreams" (1968)

In 1968, The Four Tops hit the Top 20 on both the pop and soul charts with their version, released as the seventh and final single from their 1967 studio album, Reach Out.^[15] It also reached No. 7 in the UK charts in 1968 staying in the charts for 11 weeks.^[16] It reached No. 4 in the Netherlands.^[17]

Cash Box said that "Excellent arrangements put a punch into the rhythmic serving, and the vocal brilliance of the quartet transforms the ballad into molten blues with monster potential."^[18]

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs
• Background vocals by Duke Fakir, Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton
• Additional background vocals by The Andantes
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Charts

Chart (1968)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19]	12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20]	21
Ireland (IRMA)[21]	6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22]	4
UK Singles (OCC)[23]	7
US Billboard Hot 100[24]	20
West Germany (GfK)[25]	34

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash’s duet version

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Johnny and June Carter Cash
from the album Hello, I'm Johnny Cash
B-side	"'Cause I Love You"
Released	December 22, 1969
Recorded	1969
Genre	Folk, country
Length	3:00
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Tim Hardin
Producer(s)	Bob Johnston
Johnny Cash singles chronology
"See Ruby Fall" (1969) "If I Were a Carpenter" (1969) "Rock Island Line" (1970)
June Carter Cash singles chronology
"Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man" (1967) "Don't Know Much" (1969) "A Good Man" (1971)

In 1969, Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded a duet of the song, which went to No. 2 on the country chart and No. 36 on pop, released as the third and final single off of Cash's thirty-third studio album, Hello, I'm Johnny Cash.^[26] Their recording won Cash and June a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1971 Grammys.^[27]

Charts

Chart (1970)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[28]	13
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[29]	11
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[30]	1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[31]	9
US Billboard Hot 100[32]	36
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[33]	2

Robert Plant version

"If I Were a Carpenter"
Single by Robert Plant
from the album Fate of Nations
B-side	"Ship of Fools" (Live from Montreaux) "Tall Cool One" (Live from Montreaux)
Released	December 1993[34]
Genre	Rock
Length	3:45
Label	Fontana Es Paranza
Songwriter(s)	Tim Hardin
Producer(s)	Chris Hughes Robert Plant
Robert Plant singles chronology
"Calling To You" (1993) "If I Were a Carpenter" (1993) "The Battle of Evermore" (1994)

In 1993 former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant released a version on his studio album Fate of Nations, released as the fourth and final single off that record. Plant's version reached No. 63 on the UK Singles Chart.^[35]

Personnel

• Robert Plant – lead vocals
• Kevin Scott MacMichael – guitar
• Charlie Jones – bass guitar
• Chris Hughes – drums
• Phil Johnstone – harmonium
• Maartin Allcock – mandolin
• Lynton Naiff – string arrangement

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[35]	63

Johnny Hallyday version (in French)

"Si j'étais un charpentier"
Single by Johnny Hallyday
Language	French
Released	December 7, 1966
Recorded	late 1966
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	2:15
Label	Philips
Songwriter(s)	French adaptation: Long Chris
Producer(s)	Lee Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday singles chronology
"Noir c'est noir" (1966) "Si j'étais un charpentier" (1966) "Hey Joe" (1967)

French singer Johnny Hallyday covered the song in French in December 1966. His version, titled "Si j'étais un charpentier", reached No. 3 in Wallonia (French Belgium).^[36]

Track listings

7-inch EP Philips 437.281 BE (1966)

A1. "Si j'étais un charpentier" – 2:15

A2. "On s'est trompé" – 2:40

B1. "Je veux te graver dans ma vie" – 2:50

B2. "La fille à qui je pense" – 2:57^[36]

Charts

"Si j'étais un charpentier" / "Je veux te graver dans ma vie" / "La fille à qui je pense"^[36][37][38]

Chart (1966–1967)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[36]	3

Other versions

• In 1969, Yugoslav band Crveni Koralji released a Serbo-Croatian version, entitled "Da sam drvosječa", on their EP Sam, the song becoming a nationwide hit for the band.^[39]
• In 1972, a cover by Bob Seger reached No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[40] The single was released from his album Smokin' O.P.'s.^[41]
• In 1974, Leon Russell released a version with a funk tempo and his own rewritten lyrics from the perspective of a "rock star".^[1] His single reached No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 100^[42] and was included on his album Stop All That Jazz.^[43]
• In 1982, Swanee released a version. It peaked at number 5 on the Kent Music Report and was the 33rd biggest selling single in Australia in 1981.^[44]

References

1. Morris, Charles (October 23, 2017). "'If I Were a Carpenter' – the folk singer whose song went on to become a Motown classic". ft.com. Financial Times. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
2. Evans, Mike (2010). Woodstock: Three Days that Rocked the World. Sterling. ISBN 9781402780349.
3. Songfacts. "If I Were A Carpenter by Bobby Darin - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
4. Hanson, William (1998). "Bobby Darin". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 309–310.
5. Rodriguez, Robert (2012). Revolver: How the Beatles Re-Imagined Rock 'n' Roll. Montclair: Backbeat Books. p. 251. ISBN 978-1-61713-009-0.
6. Starr, Michael Seth (2011). Bobby Darin: A Life. Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 153. ISBN 9781589795983 – via Google Books.
7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 162.
8. "Bobby Darin". www.officialscharts.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
9. "CHUM Hit Parade - October 24, 1966".
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6822." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bobby Darin" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
12. "Bobby Darin – If I Were A Carpenter" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
13. "NZ listener charts > Bobby Darin". flavourofnz.co.nz.
14. "Bobby Darin: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
15. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 212.
16. "Four Tops". www.officialscharts.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
17. "Dutch Charts: The Four Tops". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
18. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 27, 1968. p. 22. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
19. "The Four Tops – If I Were A Carpenter" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
20. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5774." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If I Were A Carpenter". Irish Singles Chart.
22. "The Four Tops – If I Were A Carpenter" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
23. "The Four Tops: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
24. "The Four Tops Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
25. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Four Tops – If I Were A Carpenter" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
26. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 74.
27. Alexander, John M. (2018). The Man in Song. University of Arkansas Press. p. 128. ISBN 9781682260517 – via Google Books.
28. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3753." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
29. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3778." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
30. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3774." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
31. "June Carter Cash Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
32. "June Carter Cash Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
33. "June Carter Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
34. The Great Rock Discography. 1995. p. 477. ISBN 9780862415419.
35. "if i were a carpenter | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
36. "Johnny Hallyday – Si j'étais un charpentier" (in French). Ultratop 50.
37. "ultratop.be - Johnny Hallyday - Je veux te graver dans ma vie". Ultratop. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
38. "ultratop.be - Johnny Hallyday - La fille à qui je penses". Ultratop. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
39. Janjatović, Petar (2007). EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960–2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 49.
40. "Billboard Hot 100 Chart August 19, 1972". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
41. "Bob Seger: Charts & Awards – Billboard Singles". AllMusic. United States. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
42. "Leon Russell Chart History". Billboard.com. Billboard. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
43. "Leon Russell, Stop All That Jazz". Allmusic.com. Allmusic. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
44. "National Top 100 Singles for 1981". Kent Music Report. January 4, 1982. p. 7. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Imgur.