If I Were a Carpenter ( song ) - Wikipedia If I Were a Carpenter ( song ) `` If I Were a Carpenter '' Single by Four Tops from the album Reach Out B - side `` Wonderful Baby '' Released 1968 Format 7 '' single Genre Folk, soul Length 2 : 47 Label Motown M 1124 Songwriter ( s ) Tim Hardin Producer ( s ) Brian Holland Lamont Dozier Four Tops singles chronology `` Yesterday 's Dreams '' ( 1968 ) `` If I Were a Carpenter '' ( 1968 ) `` Do n't Let Him Take Your Love From Me '' ( 1968 ) `` Yesterday 's Dreams '' ( 1968 ) `` If I Were a Carpenter '' ( 1968 ) `` Do n't Let Him Take Your Love From Me '' ( 1968 ) `` If I Were a Carpenter '' is a song written by Tim Hardin. Hardin 's own recording of the piece appeared on his 1967 album Tim Hardin 2. It was one of two songs from that release ( the other being `` ' Misty Roses '' ) performed by Hardin at Woodstock in 1969. The song has been covered a number of times by other artists : Contents 1 Cover versions 2 Personnel 3 Johnny Hallyday version ( in French ) 3.1 Track listings 3.2 Charts 4 References 5 External links Cover versions In 1966, it was a Top Ten hit for Bobby Darin, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Bobby Darin also had an album If I Were A Carpenter, which contained the song. In 1967 Joan Baez covered a gender - reversed version on her album Joan, initially renamed If You Were a Carpenter though later compilations reverted to the original title. In 1968, The Four Tops hit the Top 20 on both the pop and soul charts with their version. It also reached number eight in the UK charts in 1968 staying in the charts for 11 weeks. It reached number four in the Netherlands. In 1970 a duet by Johnny Cash and June Carter went to number 2 on the country chart. In 1972, a cover by Bob Seger reached number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was released from his album Smokin ' O.P. 's. Personnel Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs Background vocals by Duke Fakir, Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton Additional background vocals by The Andantes Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers Johnny Hallyday version ( in French ) `` Si j'étais un charpentier '' Single by Johnny Hallyday Released 1966 ( 1966 ) Label Philips Songwriter ( s ) French adaptation : Long Chris Johnny Hallyday singles chronology `` Noir c'est noir '' ( 1966 ) `` Si j'étais un charpentier '' ( 1966 ) `` Hey Joe '' ( 1967 ) `` Noir c'est noir '' ( 1966 ) `` Si j'étais un charpentier '' ( 1966 ) `` Hey Joe '' ( 1967 ) French singer Johnny Hallyday covered the song in French in 1966. His version, titled `` Si j'étais un charpentier '', reached no. 3 in Wallonia ( French Belgium ). Track listings 7 '' EP Philips 437.281 BE ( 1966 ) A1. `` Si j'étais un charpentier '' ( 2 : 15 ) A2. `` On s'est trompé '' ( 2 : 40 ) B1. `` Je veux te graver dans ma vie '' ( 2 : 50 ) B2. `` La fille à qui je pense '' ( 2 : 57 ) Charts `` San Francisco '' / `` Je veux te graver dans ma vie '' / `` La fille à qui je pense '' Chart ( 1966 -- 1967 ) Peak position Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) References Jump up ^ Evans, Mike ( 2010 ). Woodstock : Three Days that Rocked the World. Sterling. ISBN 9781402780349. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits : Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 162. Jump up ^ `` Joan Baez - Joan ( Vinyl, LP, album ) ''. Discogs. Retrieved 18 December 2016. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 212. Jump up ^ `` Four Tops ''. www.officialscharts.com. Retrieved 18 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutch Charts : The Four Tops ''. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 03. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits : 1944 - 2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 74. Jump up ^ `` Billboard Hot 100 Chart August 19, 1972 ''. Billboard Hot 100. Retrieved 19 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Bob Seger : Charts & Awards -- Billboard Singles ''. Allmusic. United States : Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 May 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Ultratop.be -- Johnny Hallyday -- Si j'étais un charpentier '' ( in French ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` ultratop.be - Johnny Hallyday - Je veux te graver dans ma vie ''. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 06. Jump up ^ `` ultratop.be - Johnny Hallyday - La fille à qui je penses ''. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 06. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` Brown Eyed Handsome Man '' by Waylon Jennings RPM Country Tracks number - one single ( Johnny Cash and June Carter version ) March 7, 1970 Succeeded by `` Honey Come Back '' by Glen Campbell Tim Hardin Studio albums Tim Hardin 1 ( 1966 ) Tim Hardin 2 ( 1967 ) This Is Tim Hardin ( 1967 ) Tim Hardin 4 ( 1969 ) Suite for Susan Moore and Damion : We Are One, One, All in One ( 1969 ) Bird on a Wire ( 1971 ) Painted Head ( 1972 ) Nine ( 1973 ) Unforgiven ( 1981 ) Compilation albums The Best of Tim Hardin ( 1969 ) Hang On to a Dream : The Verve Recordings ( 1994 ) Simple Songs of Freedom : The Tim Hardin Collection ( 1996 ) Live albums Tim Hardin 3 Live in Concert ( 1968 ) The Homecoming Concert ( 1981 ) Singles `` Do n't Make Promises '' `` If I Were a Carpenter '' `` Misty Roses '' `` Reason to Believe '' Johnny Hallyday Studio albums Je t'aime, je t'aime, je t'aime Solitudes à deux Hollywood À partir de maintenant En pièces détachées Pas facile Quelque part un aigle La Peur Hallyday 84 : Nashville en direct Rock'n'Roll Attitude Gang Cadillac Ça ne change pas un homme Rough Town Lorada Ce que je sais Sang pour sang À la vie, à la mort ! Ma vérité Le Cœur d'un homme L'Attente Singles `` T'aimer follement '' `` Souvenirs, souvenirs '' `` Itsy bitsy petit bikini '' `` Kili watch '' `` Viens danser le twist '' `` Retiens la nuit '' `` Ya ya twist '' `` Elle est terrible '' `` Tes tendres années '' `` Les Bras en croix '' ( c / w `` Quitte - moi doucement '' and `` Dis - moi oui '' on the EP ) `` Da dou ron ron '' `` Ma guitare '' `` Pour moi la vie va commencer '' `` Le Pénitencier '' `` Un ami ça n'a pas de prix '' `` Quand revient la nuit '' `` Cheveux longs et idées courtes '' `` Noir c'est noir '' `` Si j'étais un charpentier '' `` Hey Joe '' `` Petite fille '' `` San Francisco '' `` À tout casser '' `` Cours plus vite Charlie '' `` Que je t'aime '' `` Ceux que l'amour a blessé '' `` Jésus Christ '' `` Deux amis pour un amour '' `` Essayez '' `` Oh ! Ma jolie Sarah '' `` Comme un corbeau blanc '' `` J'ai un problème '' ( with Sylvie Vartan ) `` Noël interdit '' `` Prends ma vie '' `` Je t'aime, je t'aime, je t'aime '' `` Johnny Rider '' `` La Fille de l'été dernier '' `` La Terre promise '' `` Requiem pour un fou '' `` Derrière l'amour '' ( c / w `` Joue pas de rock'n'roll pour moi '' ) `` Gabrielle '' `` Ne me quitte pas '' ( live ) `` L'Envie '' ( live ) `` Que je t'aime '' ( live ) `` Tous ensemble '' `` Marie '' `` Mon plus beau Noël '' `` Ça n'finira jamais '' Other songs `` Je n'suis pas un héros '' Films Tales of Paris D'où viens - tu Johnny ? Cherchez l'idole À tout casser The Specialist Point de chute L'aventure, c'est l'aventure L'Animal Détective Terminus The Iron Triangle Why Not Me ? The Man on the Train Crime Spree Crimson Rivers II : Angels of the Apocalypse Quartier V.I.P. Jean - Philippe Vengeance The Pink Panther 2 Titeuf Salaud, on t'aime Rock'n Roll Chacun sa vie et son intime conviction Family Sylvie Vartan David Hallyday Laura Smet Related articles Johnny Hallyday discography Johnny Cash Studio albums With His Hot and Blue Guitar Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous The Fabulous Johnny Cash Greatest ! Songs of Our Soil Sings Hank Williams Now, There Was a Song ! Now Here 's Johnny Cash The Sound of Johnny Cash All Aboard the Blue Train Ring of Fire : The Best of Johnny Cash The Original Sun Sound of Johnny Cash I Walk the Line Orange Blossom Special Everybody Loves a Nut Happiness Is You Old Golden Throat More of Old Golden Throat Hello, I 'm Johnny Cash The World of Johnny Cash Man in Black A Thing Called Love Any Old Wind That Blows Ragged Old Flag The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me John R. Cash Look at Them Beans One Piece at a Time The Last Gunfighter Ballad I Would Like to See You Again Gone Girl Silver Rockabilly Blues The Baron The Adventures of Johnny Cash Johnny 99 Rainbow Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town Classic Cash : Hall of Fame Series Water from the Wells of Home Boom Chicka Boom The Mystery of Life American Recordings Unchained American III : Solitary Man American IV : The Man Comes Around Personal File American V : A Hundred Highways American VI : Ai n't No Grave Out Among the Stars Concept albums Ride This Train Blood, Sweat and Tears Bitter Tears : Ballads of the American Indian Sings the Ballads of the True West From Sea to Shining Sea America : A 200 - Year Salute in Story and Song The Johnny Cash Children 's Album The Rambler Gospel albums Hymns by Johnny Cash Hymns from the Heart The Holy Land The Gospel Road Sings Precious Memories A Believer Sings the Truth Believe in Him Return to the Promised Land My Mother 's Hymn Book Christmas albums The Christmas Spirit The Johnny Cash Family Christmas Classic Christmas Johnny Cash Country Christmas Collaborations The Lure of the Grand Canyon Carryin ' On with Johnny Cash and June Carter Johnny Cash and His Woman The Legend of Jesse James The Survivors Live Highwayman Class of ' 55 Heroes Highwayman 2 The Road Goes on Forever VH1 Storytellers Live albums At Folsom Prison At San Quentin The Johnny Cash Show På Österåker Strawberry Cake Koncert v Praze ( In Prague -- Live ) At Madison Square Garden A Concert Behind Prison Walls Non-gospel soundtracks I Walk the Line Little Fauss and Big Halsy Compilations Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Heart of Cash Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Sunday Morning Coming Down International Superstar Five Feet High and Rising Destination Victoria Station Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 The Unissued Johnny Cash Johnny & June Tall Man Encore Biggest Hits The Man in Black 1954 -- 1958 The Man in Black 1959 -- 1962 Come Along and Ride This Train The Essential Johnny Cash ( 1992 ) Wanted Man The Man in Black 1963 -- 1969 The Man in Black -- His Greatest Hits 16 Biggest Hits Love, God, Murder The Essential Johnny Cash ( 2002 ) Unearthed The Legend The Legend of Johnny Cash Johnny Cash : Patriot 16 Biggest Hits : Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash The Legend of Johnny Cash Vol. II The Complete Columbia Album Collection Songs `` 25 Minutes to Go '' `` Seasons of My Heart '' `` Any Old Wind That Blows '' `` The Ballad of Boot Hill '' `` The Ballad of Ira Hayes '' `` Ballad of a Teenage Queen '' `` Big River '' `` Blistered '' `` A Boy Named Sue '' `` Busted '' `` Cat 's in the Cradle '' `` Cocaine Blues '' `` Cry ! Cry ! Cry ! '' `` Daddy Sang Bass '' `` Dark as a Dungeon '' `` Do n't Take Your Guns to Town '' `` Engine 143 '' `` Flesh and Blood '' `` The Folk Singer '' `` Folsom Prison Blues '' `` Forty Shades of Green '' `` Get Rhythm '' `` Give My Love to Rose '' `` Goodnight, Irene '' `` Green, Green Grass of Home '' `` Greystone Chapel '' `` Guess Things Happen That Way '' `` Hey, Porter '' `` Home of the Blues '' `` Hurt '' `` I Could n't Keep from Crying '' `` I Love You Because '' `` I Still Miss Someone '' `` I Walk the Line '' `` If I Had a Hammer '' `` If I Were a Carpenter '' `` In My Life '' `` In the Jailhouse Now '' `` It Ai n't Me Babe '' `` Jackson '' `` Kate '' `` The Man Comes Around '' `` Man in Black '' `` The Matador '' `` Oh Lonesome Me '' `` One Piece at a Time '' `` Oney '' `` Orange Blossom Special '' `` The One on the Right Is on the Left '' `` Remember the Alamo '' `` ( Ghost ) Riders in the Sky '' `` Ring of Fire '' `` Rock Island Line '' `` So Doggone Lonesome '' `` Sunday Mornin ' Comin ' Down '' `` Tennessee Flat Top Box '' `` There Ai n't No Good Chain Gang '' `` A Thing Called Love '' `` Understand Your Man '' `` What Is Truth '' `` What 'd I Say '' Television The Johnny Cash Show Family June Carter Cash John Carter Cash Rosanne Cash Carlene Carter Tommy Cash Carter Family Related Albums discography Singles discography Sun Records discography The Highwaymen Carter Family Fold Man in Black : His Own Story in His Own Words Cash : The Autobiography Johnny Cash ! The Man, His World, His Music Walk the Line We Walk the Line : A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash Ring of Fire ( 2013 film ) Ring of Fire ( musical ) My Father and the Man in Black Forever Words Dyess, Arkansas The Tennessee Three Book Bobby Darin Discography Studio albums Bobby Darin ( 1958 ) That 's All ( 1960 ) This is Darin ( 1960 ) For Teenagers Only ( 1960 ) The 25th Day of December ( 1960 ) Two of a Kind ( 1961 ) Love Swings ( 1961 ) Twist with Bobby Darin ( 1961 ) Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles ( 1962 ) Things and Other Things ( 1962 ) Oh ! Look at Me Now ( 1962 ) You 're the Reason I 'm Living ( 1963 ) It 's You or No One ( 1963 ) 18 Yellow Roses ( 1963 ) Earthy ! ( 1963 ) Golden Folk Hits ( 1963 ) Winners ( 1964 ) From Hello Dolly to Goodbye Charlie ( 1964 ) Venice Blue ( 1965 ) Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow of Your Smile ( 1966 ) In a Broadway Bag ( Mame ) ( 1966 ) If I Were a Carpenter ( 1966 ) Inside Out ( 1967 ) Bobby Darin Sings Doctor Dolittle ( 1967 ) Bobby Darin Born Walden Robert Cassotto ( 1968 ) Commitment ( 1969 ) Live albums Darin at the Copa ( 1960 ) Live at the Desert Inn ( 1987 ) Compilation albums The Bobby Darin Story ( 1961 ) Aces Back to Back ( 2004 ) Singles `` Splish Splash '' `` Early in the Morning '' `` Dream Lover '' `` Mack the Knife '' `` Beyond the Sea '' `` You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby '' `` Things '' `` You 're the Reason I 'm Living '' `` If I Were a Carpenter '' `` Darlin ' Be Home Soon '' Related articles Beyond the Sea ( film ) Dream Lover : The Bobby Darin Musical Book : Bobby Darin Four Tops singles discography 1960s 1964 `` Baby I Need Your Loving '' `` Without the One You Love ( Life 's Not Worth While ) '' 1965 `` Ask the Lonely '' `` I Ca n't Help Myself ( Sugar Pie Honey Bunch ) '' `` It 's the Same Old Song '' `` Something About You '' 1966 `` Shake Me, Wake Me ( When It 's Over ) '' `` Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever '' `` Reach Out I 'll Be There '' `` Standing in the Shadows of Love '' 1967 `` Bernadette '' `` 7 - Rooms of Gloom '' / `` I 'll Turn to Stone '' `` You Keep Running Away '' 1968 `` Walk Away Renée '' `` If I Were a Carpenter '' `` Yesterday 's Dreams '' `` I 'm in a Different World '' 1969 `` What Is a Man '' `` Do What You Gotta Do '' `` Do n't Let Him Take Your Love from Me '' 1970s 1970 `` I Ca n't Help Myself ( Sugar Pie Honey Bunch ) '' ( re-issue ) `` It 's All in the Game '' `` Still Water ( Love ) '' `` River Deep -- Mountain High '' ( with The Supremes ) 1971 `` Just Seven Numbers ( Can Straighten Out My Life ) '' `` You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart '' ( with The Supremes ) `` In These Changing Times '' `` MacArthur Park ( Part II ) '' 1972 `` A Simple Game '' `` Bernadette '' ( re-issue ) `` Walk with Me, Talk with Me, Darling '' `` ( It 's the Way ) Nature Planned It '' `` Keeper of the Castle '' 1973 `` Ai n't No Woman ( Like the One I 've Got ) '' `` Are You Man Enough '' `` Sweet Understanding Love '' `` I Just Ca n't Get You Out of My Mind '' `` One Chain Do n't Make No Prison '' `` Midnight Flower '' `` Seven Lonely Nights '' `` We All Gotta Stick Together '' 1976 `` Catfish '' `` I 'm Glad You Walked into My Life '' 1980s 1981 `` When She Was My Girl '' `` Do n't Walk Away '' 1982 `` Let Me Set You Free '' `` Back to School Again '' `` Sad Hearts '' `` Tonight I 'm Gonna Love You All Over '' `` I Believe in You and Me '' `` I Just Ca n't Walk Away '' 1985 `` Sexy Ways '' `` Reach Out I 'll Be There '' ( re-issue ) `` If Ever a Love There Was '' ( with Aretha Franklin ) `` Indestructible '' `` Loco in Acapulco '' Book : Four Tops Andy Kim Studio albums Baby I Love You Andy Kim Singles `` Baby, I Love You '' `` Be My Baby '' `` Rock Me Gently '' `` Oh, Pretty Woman '' Songwriting Credits `` Jingle Jangle '' `` Sugar, Sugar '' Cover Songs `` By the Time I Get to Phoenix '' `` If I Were a Carpenter '' `` This Guy 's in Love with You '' This 1960s single - related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=If_I_Were_a_Carpenter_(song)&oldid=822566332 '' Categories : 1966 songs 1966 singles 1968 singles 1970 singles 1972 singles Songs written by Tim Hardin Tim Hardin songs Johnny Hallyday songs Burl Ives songs Bob Seger songs Bobby Darin songs Johnny Cash songs June Carter Cash songs Andy Kim songs Four Tops songs Leif Garrett songs Song recordings produced by Brian Holland Song recordings produced by Lamont Dozier RPM Country Tracks number - one singles Philips Records singles 1960s single stubs Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart making named ref All stub articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Eesti Italiano Nederlands Norsk nynorsk Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 27 January 2018, at 03 : 23. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: who wrote the song if i were a carpenter
Answer: Tim Hardin