House Carpenter

"Well met, well met," said an old true love

"Well met, well met," said he

"I have just returned from the salt, salt sea

And it's all for the love of thee"

Come in, come in, my own true love

And have a seat by me

It's been three-fourths of a long, long year

Since together we have been

I can't come in, and I can't sit down

For I've only a moment's time

They say you're married to a house carpenter

And your heart will never be mine

I could've married the king's daughter fair

And she would have married me

But I have forsaken her crowns of gold

And it's all for the love of thee

Now will you forsake your house carpenter

And go along with me

I'll take you where the grass grows green

On the banks of the deep blue sea

Then she picked up her darling little babe

And kisses she gave it three

Saying, "Stay right here, my darling little babe

And keep your papa company"

They had not been on the ship two weeks

I'm sure it was not three

'Til this true love began to weep and to mourn

And she wept most bitterly

Saying, "Are you weeping for my silver and my gold?"

Saying, "Are you weeping for my store?

Or are you weeping for your house carpenter

Whose face you'll never see no more?"

A curse, a curse to the sailor she cried

A curse, a curse she swore

You robbed me of my darling little babe

That I shall never see no more

They had not been on the ship three weeks

I'm sure it was not four

When there came a leak in the bottom of the ship

And sank them for to rise no more