Ralph McTell - Hands of Joseph lyrics

When they looked at Joseph's hands They said, They're the hands of a carpenter They're big and they're powerful and they're strong They're the hands that should work in wood And they're the hands that should work a long day Joseph he did all those things But he also learned how to play He would sing about joy, sing about faith That the people wished they had How he heard the voice of Jesus When the rolling sea got mad He's a boat in the harbour, he's safe in that love He know some day he'll be sailing above When they looked at Joseph's hands They said, They're the hands of a stonemason They're big and they're powerful and they're strong They're the hands that should work in stone And they're the hands that should work a long day Joseph he did all those things But he also learned how to play When they looked at Joseph's hands They said, They're the hands of a fisherman The musician and the mason-carpenter And he's happy all the time For they're working every day And those old hands of Joseph Oh how they can play.