House Carpenter

Well met, well met, my own true love

Well met, well met, said he.

I’ve 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 with me

Its 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 have but a moment’s time.

They say you’re married to a house carpenter,

And your heart will never be mine.

I could have married the King’s daughter dear

And she would have married me

But I have refused the crown of gold

And It’s all for the love of thee

Now will you forsaken your house carpenter,

And go along with me?

I’ll take you where the grass grows green.

On the banks of the deep.

Then she picked up her darlin’ little babe,

And kisses, she gave it three.

Saying “Stay right here, my darling little baby, and keep

your pappa company.”

They had not been at sea two weeks,

I’m sure it was not three,

When this poor maid began to weep

And she wept most bitterly.

“Oh do you weep for your gold”, he said,

“your houses, your land, or your store?

Or do you weep for your house carpenter,

That you’ll never shall see no more?“

“I do not weep for my gold”, she said,

“My houses, my land, or my store.

But I do weep for my poor wee babe

That I never shall see any more.”

They had not been at sea three weeks,

I’m sure it was not four,

When in their ship there sprang a leak

And she sank to rise no more.