Plumb, Square, and Level



Metadata

Song Length 3:55
Primary Genre Folk-Contemporary
Secondary Genre Folk-Country
Tempo / Feel Medium Slow (91 - 110)
Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Mood 1 Composed
Language English
Era 2000 and later

Credits

Lyric Credits Roger Nelson
Music Credits Roger Nelson
Performance Credits Roger Nelson
Short Song Description:

A song of reassurance

Long Song Description:

The narrator tells a little story about modern-day carpenters Noah and Jesus. All of them claim to be "plumb, square, and level," for their lovers.

Story Behind the Song:

As an architect, sometimes I get to do interesting things. Once when I designed a church, I was asked to participate in a Masonic ceremony of certifying that the cornerstone was plumb, square, and level. It was a wood frame church that didn't really have

Lyrics

Plumb, Square, and Level

Noah was a carpenter
He built the big box stores
People come in two by two
Just to save a little more
And he didn?t go to college
He was married to a nurse
When she struggled with her sanity
He said her knowledge is a curse

Chorus:
Maybe I?m square,
But baby I?m level
Plumb, square, and level for you
Baby I?m there
When you?re facing your devils
Plumb, square, and level for you

Jesus was a carpenter
On the sheetrock crew
Noah?s tell him where to hang
One layer or two.
Every week he?d call Maria
On the cellular phone
He said, ?I make a little money,
I send a little home.?

Chorus

It?s metal studs and sheetrock screws
Laser line to keep it straight and true
Is like something we rely on, me and you
And if that something has a human trace
In the things we build
around the things we face
The most common things can take on
A state of grace



Noah was a carpenter
Jesus was too
Maybe if you stretch the word
I?m a carpenter too
I?m uncomfortable in public
I don?t like to wear a tie
I love my country when it?s honest
I like poetry that rhymes

Chorus