House Carpenter- sargent (AR) 1960 & 1963 Parler
[Two versions from the same informant from: Ozark Folk Song Collection- Version 1 is Reel 303 Item 12. Collected by Raymond Whittier For M.C. Parler Transcribed by Linda Humphrey.
Version 2 was collected and transcribed by Don Callaway 25 Reel 434 Item 7.
Apparently Sargent "fixed" the first stanza by 1963. However the order of stanzas two and three cannot be made becasue they are corrupt.
R. Matteson 2016]
THE HOUSE CARPENTER (1) Sung by Irene Sargent of West Fork, Arkansas December 3, 1960
"You’ve wed, you've wed," said the house[1] to the house carpenter,
"You've wed, you've wed," said he.
"I've just returned from the salt water sea,
And all for the sake of thee,
And all for the sake of thee."
If you'll forsake your house carpenter,
And go along with me,
I have seven ships a-sailing on the sea,
And they each have seven slaves,
And they each have seven slaves.
If I forsake my house carpenter,
What would you support me on?
I have seven ships a-sailing on the sea,
And they're laden down with gold,
And they're laden down with gold.
She dressed her baby up so neat,
And laid it on the bed,
Saying lay there, lay there you sweet little babe,
And keep you father company,
And keep you father company.
They had not been sailing but 'bout two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three,
When this fair maiden began to weep,
And she wept most bitterly,
And she wept most bitterly.
What are you weeping for my love?
Are you weeping for my gold?
Or weeping for the house carpenter
You never will see no more?
That you never will see no more?
I'm neither weeping for your gold,
Or neither for your store.
I'm weeping for my sweet little babe,
That I never will see no more,
That I never will see no more.
They had not been sailing but 'bout three weeks,
I'm sure it was not four,
When the ship sprang a leak and it sank to the deep,
And it sank to rise no more, It sank to rise no more.
1. Haha! a talking house! To remedy: "You’ve wed, you've wed," said the house carpenter,
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THE HOUSE CARPENTER (2) 2nd version sung Irene Sargent of West Fork, Ark. Fall 1963.
"We've met, we've met," said the house carpenter
"We've met, we've met," says he
"I have just returned from the salt water sea
And all for the sake of thee
It's all for the sake of thee."
If you forsake your house and land
And go along with me
I have seven ships that sail on the sea
And shall be at your command
And shall be at your command.
If I forsake my house and land
And also my dear babe
And go along with you
What will you support me on,
What will you support me on?
I have seven ships sailing on the sea [1]
all laden down with gold
And they each have seven slaves.
She dressed her baby up so neat
and laid it on the bed
Saying lay there, lay there you sweet little babe
And keep your father company
And keep your father company.
They had not been sailing but a week
I'm sure it was not more [2]
Until the fair damsel began to weep
And she wept most bitterly
And she wept most bitterly.
What are you weeping for my love?
Are you weeping for my gold?
I'm weeping for my sweet little babe
That I left when I came to sea
That I never shall see any more
That I never shall see any more.
They had not been sailing but three weeks
I'm sure it was not four
Till the ship sprang a leak and it sank to the deep
It sank to rise no more It sank to rise no more.
1. incomplete
2 three (to rhyme with bitterly)