House Carpenter- Ireland (NB) 1954 Creighton
[From "Folksongs from Southern New Brunswick;" 1971, Creighton, Page 14. Her notes follow. This is a rare version (one of three extant versions) collected in Canada by Helen Creighton.
R. Matteson 2016]
NOTES
This ancient ballad is the story of Jane Reynolds, who was betrothed to James Harris. According to Child A, he was impressed and sent [o sea. After three years, word came that he was dead; so, in time, Jane married a house carpenter and had three children, again according to Child A. The New Brunswick version mentions only one. Later James Harris returned, but as a spirit and for this reason, sometimes the ballad has another title, "The Daemon Lover." This explains why JaneĀ left her husband and child.
Mr. Ireland's ballad, learned from a Mr. Doucet, begins at v. 22 of Child A, and the next four verses are fairly similar. Most of the 145 variants given by Bronson (vol. 3, pp. 429ff.) also begin at v. 27 of Child A and carry through to James's punishment, which Jane is forced to share.
"The House Carpenter" sung by William E. Ireland, of Elgin, New Brunswick. September, 1954.
1. "Well met, well met, this pretty fair maid,
And very well met," said he.
I might have bee married to a king's daughter,
Had it not been for the love of thee
Had it not been for the love of thee.
2. "If you might have been married to a king's daughter,
Then don't lay the blame on me,
For I am married a house carpenter,
And a nice young man is he,
And a nice young man is he."
3. Now if you will forsake your house carpenter
And will come along with me,
I will take you where the grass grows ever green
On the banks of the sweet Dundee.
4. "Oh what have you to support a wife
Or to help her out of misery?"
"I have seven ships on dry land
And seven more at sea,
And a hundred and seamen bold,
They're all at your command
And they're all at your command."
5. She took her baby in her arms
And she gave it kisses three.
Saying, "You stay home with your own dada
For he will be the best to thee,
He will be the best to thee."
6. Now they were three weeks a-sailing,
Three weeks and scarcely four
When the thoughts of her husband came ringing in her mind,
Likewise her dear baby,
And likewise her sweet baby.
7. "Now do you mourn for silver gold
Or do you mourn for me?
Or do you mourn for your house carpenter
And likewise your sweet baby,
And likewise your sweet baby?"
8. "Now I don't mourn for silver gold
Or I don't mourn for thee,
But I do mourn for my house carpenter
And likewise my sweet baby,
And likewise my sweet baby."
9. Now they were three months a-sailing.
Three months and scarcely four
When the ship sprang a leak, to the bottom went,
She never was once saw more,
And never was once saw more.
10. There was many a ship lost in that gale,
And many a seaman too,
But this is for the loss of a house carpenter
And the stealing of his wife,
And the stealing of his wife.