The first time I saw him,
he was just a little tot
Trying to help the best he could,
there in Joseph's shop
I'd say son what are you building
as I watched him there at play
and then the little carpenter
would turn to me and say
I'm going to build a ship,
a ship to sail the sea
I'm going to build a great big bridge.
I'll build it from a tree.
I'm go ing to build a mansion
where all my friends can dwell.
Then away went the little carpenter
with his wood, his hammer, and his nails.
It was hard for me to realize,
as I watched from the crowd that day,
He once was the little carpenter
Whom I had watched at play
And as I watched him bear the cross
As he walked up Calvary's hill
The words he spoke many years ago
It seemed I heard them still
I'm going to build a ship,
a ship to sail the sea
I'm going to build a great big bridge,
I'll build it from a tree
I'm going to build a mansion,
where all my friends can dwell
Then away went the carpenter
with his wood, his hammer,
and his nails.
I'm going to build a ship,
a ship to sail the sea.
I'm going to build a great big bridge
I'll build it from a tree
I'm going to build a mansion
Where all my friends can dwell
Then away went the carpenter
with his wood, his hammer,