The House Carpenter- Griffin (AR) 1953 Parler
[From: Ozark Folk Song Collection- Reel 177 Item 1.
Listen:
http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/2885/rec/9
Collected by M.C. Parler.
R. Matteson 2016]
The House Carpenter- Sung by Mrs. Miner Griffin of Conway, Ark. on 12/12/53. Coll. by M.C. Parler
Well Matt, well Matt, my own true love,
It is all for the sake of thee,
I have returned from the salt, salt sea,
And it's all for the sake of thee,
And it's all for the sake of thee.
I had the offer of a king's daughter fair,
She offered marriage to me,
But I refused a hand full of gold,
And it's all for the sake of thee,
And it's all for the sake of thee.
If you had the offer of a king's daughter fair,
I'm sure you have done wrong,
For I have married a house carpenter,
And I think he's a nice young man,
And I think he's a nice young man.
But won't you leave your house carpenter
And go along with me?
I will carry you where the grass grows green,
On the banks of the sweet Willie,
On the banks of the sweet Willie.
If I were to leave my house carpenter
And go along with thee,
What have you got to sustain me upon
Or keep me from slavery,
Or keep me from slavery?
I have seven ships sailing on the sea,
They shall sail at your command,
One hundred twenty-five sailor boys
To keep you from slavery,
To keep you from slavery.
She called her babes unto her arms
And gave them kisses three,
Saying, Stay at home, my sweet little babes,
And keep your father company,
And keep him company.
She dressed herself in silk so fine,
Most beautiful to behold,
And as she walked the streets around
She shone like the glittering gold,
She shone like the glittering gold.
They had not been on the sea more than weeks one or two,
I'm sure it was not three,
Till this fair damsel began to weep
And she wept most bitterly,
And she wept most bitterly.
"What are you weeping for," said the sea-faring men[1],
"Are you weeping for our gold,
Or is it for your house carpenter
That you'll never see any more,
That you'll never see any more?"
I am not weeping for your gold,
And neither for your store,
But I do weep for my sweet little babes
That I'll never see any more,
That I'll never see any more.
They had not been on sea more than weeks two or three,
I'm sure it wasn't four,
Till this fair vessel sprang a leak
And sank to rise no more,
And sank to rise no more.
What a curse it will be to the sea-faring men,
Likewise the sailor's life,
Robbing of the house carpenter
And stealing away his wife,
And stealing away his wife.
1. man