The House Carpenter

The House Carpenter - Clarence Ashley

Well met well met said an old true love

Well met well met said he

I 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

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

Since together we have been

Well I can't come in or I can't sit down

For I've but a moment's time

They say you're married to a house carpenter

And your heart will never be mine

That I could have married a King's daughter fair

I'm sure she'd married me

But I've forsaken her crowns of gold

And it's all for the love of thee

Now we 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

She picked up a little babe

And kisses she gave it three

Saying Stay right here my dalring little baby

And keep your pappa company

Well they had been on the ship about two weeks

I'm sure it was not three

Till his true love began to weep and to mourn

We most bitterly

Saying Are you weeping for my silver and my gold

Saying Are you weeping for my store

Are you weeping for that house carpenter

Whose face you'll never see any more

Lord I'm not weeping for your silver and your gold

Are you needed for your store

I am weeping for my darling little babe

Whose face you'll never see any more

Well they had not been on the ship about three weeks

I'm sure it was not four

Tell it's brand a leak in the bottom of the ship

And sank them for to rise no more