The House Carpenter
[This is a version of Child No. 243, James Harris (The Daemon Lover). The title in the US and Canada is usually "The House Carpenter" or "The Ship('s) Carpenter." Alisoun Gardner-Medwin, author of The Ancestry of "The House-Carpenter": A Study of the Family History of the American Forms of Child 243 [See attached to Recordings & info page], believes "that the ballad came to the Appalachian Mountains before 1775." Although I agree with her assessment, she offers no real evidence. The migration from Virginia and North Carolina into the mountains actually began before this time.
R. Matteson 2014]
THE HOUSE CARPENTER
1. We'll meet[1], we'll meet with my own true love,
We'll meet, we'll meet," said he;
"Just turning from the salt, salt sea,
And it's all for the love of thee,
And it's all for the love of thee."
2. "I could have married a king's daughter, love,
And she could have married me,
But I forsake a crown of gold ,
And it's all for the love of thee,
And it's all for the love of thee."
3. "If you could have married a king's daughter,
I am sure I would;
But I just married a house carpenter
And think he' s a nice young man,
And think he' s a nice young man.
4 "Oh, leave your house carpenter
And go along with me.
I'll take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of the roaring sea,
On the banks of the roaring sea."
5. She took her baby upon her lap,
The kisses she gave were free;
"Stay here, stay here my sweet, little babe,
And keep your pa company."
6. She dressed her baby so neat and clean,
And gave it kisses three;
Saying, "Lie there my darling little babe,
And keep your father company,
And keep your father company."
7.l She dressed herself in silks so fine
And went along with thee;
And when the sun shone upon her;
She shines like the glittering gold,
She shines like the glittering gold.
8. They had been gone but about two weeks;
I'm sure it was not three,
Till she sat down to weeping,
And she wept most bitterly,
And she wept most bitterly.
9. "Are you weeping for my gold,
Are you weeping for my store?
Are you weeping for your house carpenter,
Which you left on the other shore?
Which you'll never see any more,
Which you'll never see any more?"[2]
10. "I am not weeping for your gold, my dear,
I am not weeping for your store;
But I am weeping for my tender little babe
Which I'll never see any more,
Which I'll never see any more."
11. "Cheer up, cheer up, my own true love,
Cheer up, cheer up," said he.
"For we'll soon be where the grass grows green
On the banks of the roaring sea,
On the banks of the roaring sea."
12. They hadn't been gone about three weeks
I am sure it wasn't four,
Till the ship sunk to the bottom of the sea,
And it sunk to rise no more,
And it sunk to rise no more.
13. Now, you'd better stayed with your house carpenter,
I am sure the rented[3] you will.
But, now, your body is in the bottom of the sea,
And your soul is burning in hell,
And your soul is burning in hell.
1. Crabtree says: Perhaps this should be- "Well met."
2. Irregular stanza, the fourth line should be left off.
3. Crabtree has [sic] written here.