Story Behind The Song

Walls are not the solution. Bridges make better neighbors.

Lyrics

The Carpenter's Wall © 2016 Jon Peterson
C - C/B - Am - G - F - C
F - C Find a carpenter to build me a wall,
F - G - Am I've got a neighbor, he don't like me at all.
F - C - Am Once upon a time, we used to be friends,
G - F - C Don't know what's happened, but that was the end.

Am - G - F - C A wall will fix, every wrong with my life, [chorus]
It'll block out the madness, the sadness, the strife.
And I won't see anything, I don't want to see,
A wall will hide everything frightening me.
Won't you build a wall for me.
So, I don't have to see.

F - C I gave him some money, to go buy some wood,
F - G - Am Explained the situation - told him all I could.
F - C - Am He worked through the day, and all through the night,
G - F - C I went to bed dreaming, the morning would bring light.

[repeat chorus]

F - C When I awoke, the carpenter was gone,
F - G - Am Money well spent - I was feeling strong.
F - C - Am Making my coffee, I looked out to see,
G - F - C There was no wall, only a bridge across that creek.

Am - G - C My head was pounding, could hardly breathe.
Am - G - C The bum had built a bridge, between my neighbor and me.
Am - G - Em I went out to see, just how bad it could be,
F - G When my neighbor came out, staring in disbelief.

F - C He said, "I never thought you would do such a thing,
Didn't think you had it in you, to bridge that creek,
F - C - Am I've been thinking long and hard, just trying to understand,
F - G - C Now I see the answer," and he shook my hand.

C - C/B - Am - G - F - G
Am - G - F - C A bridge will fix everything wrong with my life,
It'll cross over the madness, the darkness - bring light.
I'll see everything, I've ever wanted to see.
A bridge will take me over what's troubling me, [2x]
A bridge will take me over, [2x]
Won't you build a bridge for me.
And I'll finally be free.