House Carpenter- Jones (NC) 1933 Steely; 1940 Warner REC
[Two verses recorded by the Warners on Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still- 2. For a detailed bio see the Warner's: American Folk Songs; 1984. Also collected by Mercedes Steely from Jones in 1933 and this complete version appears in Southern Folk Ballads (below).
Rebecca King Jones, who lived alone in log cabin in the Durham NC area, recorded House Carpenter for Frank Warner circa 1940. The excerpt of Jones, about 76 years old, singing two verses appears on Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still- 2. Warner says she freely substituted words whenever she wanted.
R. Matteson 2013, 2016]
House Carpenter- Rebecca King Jones (NC) 1940 Warner REC; [Transcribed R. Matteson 2013]
"I once could have married a king's daughter dear,
When she looked so wonderfully sweet.
And she ran away with a house carpenter,
And stayed with him three weeks."
"Who will forsaken the house carpenter,
Who will forsaken the land?
Who will forsaken all other things,
And go with you, young man?
___________________________
The House Carpenter- Collected and transcribed by Mercedes Steely from Rebecca Jones, May 1, 1933
"I once could have married a king's daughter dear,
When she looked more wonderful sweet,
And she ran away with a house carpenter,
And she stayed with him three weeks."
"Who will forsaken the house carpenter,
Who will forsaken the land.
Who will forsaken all other things
And go with you, young man?"
Says, "I will forsaken my house carpenter,
I will forsake my land,
I will forsaken all other things,
And I'll go with you, young man."
So she picked up her sweet little babe,
She kissed it more wonderful sweet;
Says, "Stay here with your pa, my dear,
He will keep You a-plenty to eat."
So they traveled on till bout three weeks,
Three weeks, I'm sure 'twas not four,
When there she wiped her water-weeping eyes,
And then she began to mourn.
"'S air[1] you weeping for my gold," says he,
'Air you weeping for my store,
Air you weeping for your house carpenter,
Which you never spec' to see any more?"
"I'm not weeping for your gold," says she,
"Neither am I for your store,
But I am weeping for my sweet little babe,
Which I never spec' to see any more."
So they traveled on till they come to the sea,
Where it looked more wonderful deep;
There she sprang a leap to the bottom of this boat,
And she sank for to rise no more.
'S I have seen green grass that were trod underfoot;
Soon it would spring and grow,
But here she sprang a leap[2] to the bottom of this boat,
And she sank for to rise no more.
1. It's, are you
2. leak