House Carpenter- Collier (VA) 1936 Scarborough A
[From Scarborough's A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, 1937. Scarborough died in 1936 and the book was already completed. Bronson dates the versions 1931; for now I'll leave them pre1936. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2013]
Scarborough: I captured several specimens in Virginia and had one from North carolina given to me. I found two at Pirkey, Virginia, one from Mrs. Evelyn Collier, who had learned it from her father a man in his eighties. It begins with the greeting of the returned seaman.
(A) House Carpenter- Mrs. Evelyn Collier, pre1936 from Pirkey, Virginia, "learned it from her father a man in his eighties."
Well met, well met, my old true love,
Well met, well met, said he.
I've come from the land where the grass grows green
On the banks of the Sweet Willie.
I could have married a king's daughter,
So freely she would to me,
But it's all for the sake of thee,
But it's all for the sake of thee.
If you could have married a king's daughter,
I'm sure you were to blame,
For I have married a house carpenter
And he is a fine young man.
Can't you forsake your house carpenter
And go along with me?
I'll take you to the land where the grass grows green
On the banks of the Sweet Willie.
She picked up her tender little babe,
The kisses she gave it was three,
Saying, Stay at home, my tender little babe,
Keep your papa company.
They hadn't been sailing on the sea two weeks,
And I'm sure it was not three,
Before the damsel began to weep,
And she wept most bitterly.
What are you weeping for my gold,
Or is it for my store?
Or is it for the house carpenter
That You shall never see any more?
I'm not a-weeping for your gold,
And it is neither for your store,
I'm weeping for my tender little babe
That I shall never see any more.
They hadn't been sailing on the sea three weeks,
And I'm sure it was not four,
Before the vessel began to sink,
And it sank to rise no more.