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If I Were A Carpenter (WORD)
If I Were A Carpenter (PDF)
You can play in the same key as the Cash/Carter video using the songsheet - the instrumentals are shortened for group play!
"If I Were a Carpenter" was one of two songs (the other being "'Misty Roses") performed by Hardin at Woodstock in 1969. James Timothy Hardin (December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980) was an American folk and blues musician and composer. As well releasing his own material, several of his songs, including "If I Were a Carpenter" and "Reason To Believe" became hits for other artists. Hardin grew up in Oregon and joined the Marine Corps. He started his music career in Greenwich Village which led to recording several albums in the mid to late 1960s, and a performance at the Woodstock Festival. Hardin struggled with drug abuse throughout most of his adult life, and live performances were sometimes erratic. He was planning a comeback when he died in late 1980 from a heroin overdose at age 39.
This song has been covered a number of times by other artists including the original recording by Bobby Darin. In 1966, it was a top ten hit for Bobby Darin, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became Darin's last big hit. Darin died in 1973 at age 37. The 1970 duet cover by Johnny Cash and June Carter went to number 2 on the country chart.