House Carpenter- Phillips (AR) 1958 Hunter REC
[From: Max Hunter Folk Song Collection. This version has the rare "young lady threw herself overboard" ending stanza.
R. Matteson 2013]
The House Carpenter- As sung by Mrs. Roxie Phillips, Berryville, Arkansas on November 4, 1958
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0269
VERSE 1
Well met, well met, my own true love
Well met, well met, cried he
I've jest returned from the salt water sea
An' it's all for the sake of thee
An' it's all for the sake of thee.
VERSE 2
I could have married a kings daughter fair
She offered marriage, to me
But I refused on the crown of gold
And it's all for the sake of thee
An' it's all for the sake of thee
VERSE 3
If you could have married a king's daughter fair
I'm sure you are to blame
But I have married a house carpenter
And I think he's a fine young man
And I think he's a fine young man.
VERSE 4
O, won't you forsake your house carpenter
And go along with me
I'll take you were the lilies grow green
On the banks of the sweet Willie
On the banks of the sweet Willie
VERSE 5
Then, she went into another room
And dressed herself, most gay,
And a veil, she threw, all over her face
Outshined the glittering day,
Outshined the glittering day.
VERSE 6
Then, she called her babes around her knees
And gave them kisses three
Saying, stay at home with your Papa dear
An' keep him company,
An' keep him company.
VERSE 7
We hadn't been on sea but about two weeks
I'm sure, not quite three
When the fair young lady begin to weep
An' she wept most bitterly
An' she wept most bitterly.
VERSE 8
O, do you weep for gold my love
Or, do you weep for fear?
Or, do you weep for the house carpenter
That you never shall see any more
That you never shall see any more?
VERSE 9
I do not weep for gold, my love
Nor do I weep for fear
But I do weep for the three little babes
That I left when I came with you here
That I left when I came with you here.
VERSE 10
We hadn't been on sea but about three weeks
I'm sure not quite four
When the fair young lady threw herself overboard
An' her weeping was heard[1] no more
An' her weeping was heard, no more.
1. "heered" as transcribed by Hunter