House Carpenter- Gilbert (AR) 1969 Hunter REC
[From The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection online; Cat. #0772 (MFH #426). I've done some minor editing.
R. Matteson 2013]
House Carpenter - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on June 25, 1969
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0772
VERSE 1
Good morning, good morning my ole true love
Good morning, good morning, said he
Just returned from the salty water sea
An' it's all for the love of thee
VERSE 2
Will you forsake your house carpenter
An' go along with me
I'll take you down yonder where the grass grows green
On the banks of Sweet Willie.
VERSE 3
She called her three little babes to 'er knee
An' kisses she give three
Sayin', Stay at home my sweet little babes
An' keep your Papa's company
VERSE 4
She hadn't been on sea, more two weeks or three
I'm sure it was not four
Til this fair maid begin to weep
An' she wept most bitterly
VERSE 5
What are you weeping for, my dear?
Are you weeping for your store?
Are you weeping for your house carpenter,
That you'll never see anymore?
VERSE 6
I'm neither weepin' for my house carpenter
I'm neither weepin' for my store
[I'm] Weepin' for my sweet little babes
That I'll never see anymore.
VERSE 7
They hadn't been on ship more'n two weeks or three
I'm sure that it was not four
Till this fair ship begin to sink
An' it sunk, to rise no more.
While my poor body's sinking in the sea
My soul will burn in hell.