One Floor at a Time

"Grandpa wore his suit to dinner, Nearly everyday, No particular reason, He just dressed that way, Brown necktie and a matching vest, And both his wingtip shoes, He built a closet on our back porch, And put a penny in our burned out fuse."

"Grandpa was a carpenter, He built houses stores and banks, Chain smoked camel cigarettes, And hammered nails in planks, He was level on the level, And shaved even every door, And voted for eisenhower, 'cause lincoln won the war"

"Well, he used to sing me "blood on the saddle", And rock me on his knee, And let me listen to radio, Before we got t.v., Well, he'd drive to church on sunday, And take me with him too!, Stained glass in every window, Hearing aids in every pew."

"Grandpa was a carpenter, He built houses stores and banks, Chain smoked camel cigarettes, And hammered nails in planks, He was level on the level, And shaved even every door, And voted for eisenhower, 'cause lincoln won the war"

"Now my grandma was a teacher , Went to school in bowling green,

Traded in a milking cow, For a singer sewing machine, She called her husband "mister", And walked real tall and pride, And used to buy me comic books, After grandpa died."

"Grandpa was a carpenter, He built houses stores and banks, Chain smoked camel cigarettes, And hammered nails in planks, He was level on the level, And shaved even every door, And voted for eisenhower, 'cause lincoln won the war"

John Prine