Rakestraw Wood

There lived an old man in Tennessee
Who learned to carve when he was three
He carved on everything he thought he could
When he was still a little boy
He taught himself to carve a toy
And all the people called him Rakestraw Wood

Well he grew into a lonesome man
For he never found a lady's hand
To keep him company like he thought they should
So he took out his old carving knife
And whittled himself a hickory wife
And referred to her as Mrs. Rakestraw Wood

[Chorus]
Rakestraw Wood
Rakestraw Wood
Always seemed to be misunderstood
With a straw in his mouth and a chisel in his hand
The chisel would whittle at his command
Nobody could carve as good as Rakestraw Wood

Rakestraw Wood kept to himself
With his whatnots lined upon the shelf
And the people all around, they thought him strange
Only went to town once in a while
For the kids he always had a smile
And the people said old Rakestraw'd never change

It was Christmas Eve of '34
And everyone around was poor
No gifts for the children would there be
So Rakestraw carved and he whittled and he filed
Till he'd made a gift for every child
And he left them under the big town Christmas tree

[Chorus]
Rakestraw Wood
Rakestraw Wood
Always seemed to be misunderstood
With a straw in his mouth and a chisel in his hand
The chisel would whittle at his command
Nobody could carve as good as Rakestraw Wood

There was no one standing by his side
On the day that Rakestraw Woody died
And his carving knife was found upon the floor
By a little girl who just by chance
Saw a wooden horse begin to dance
To all the townsfolk that is what she swore

[Chorus]
Rakestraw Wood
Rakestraw Wood
Always seemed to be misunderstood
With a straw in his mouth and a chisel in his hand
The chisel would whittle at his command
Nobody could carve as good
(Nobody ever could)
Nobody could carve as good as Rakestraw Wood