The House Carpenter- Williams (NC) c.1945 Abrams REC
[No source of Williams version was named. Abrams Collection of recordings made from 1939-1946. Abrams, in many cases, added commentary later.
R Matteson 2016]
THE HOUSE CARPENTER- performed by Dr. Cratis Williams. Recorded on August 16, 1945.
http://omeka.library.appstate.edu/items/show/18856
[tape begins]
"I have seven ships on the ocean wide
All sailing for dry land,
One hundred jolly sailor boys,
Shall be at your command."
She pick-ed up her sweet little babe,
And kisses she gave it three,
"Stay here, stay here my sweet little babe,
And keep your poppy company."
They had not sailed but about two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three
Until this lady began for to weep,
And she wept most bitterly.
"It's do you weep for me and for my gold?
Or do you weep for my store? [tape skips then ends]
[Or do you a weep for your house carpenter
That you never will see no more?"]