Sharp Collection EFFSA (House Carpenter) 1932 edition (includes 1917 edition)
[Sharp used Child's designation, The Daemon Lover, as the title for his versions. I've changed it to the more appropriate title- House Carpenter. The 1932 edition of English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians has the versions from the 1917 edition. Other version taken from Sharp's MS were published by Bronson. I will include these at the bottom of the page.
R. Matteson 2013]
The Daemon Lover (House Carpenter) Sharp 1932 (A-U)
Version A-G originally from 1917: English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; Comprising 122 Songs and Ballads, and 323 Tunes With Lyrics & sheet Music; Collected by Olive Dame Campbell and Cecil J. Sharp, published 1917. Sharp's No. 29 is titled, The Daemon Lover.
Notes 1917 edition: No. 29. The Daemon Lover.
Texts without tunes:—Child, No. 243.
Texts with tunes:—Journal of the Folk-Song Society, iii., 84. Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix xv., tune 1. Songs of the West, 2nd ed., No. 76. American variants: —Journal of American Folk-Lore, xviii., 207; xix., 295; xx., 257; xxvi., 360; xxv., 274 (with tune). Broadside by H. De Marsan, New York. Musical Quarterly, January, 1916, p. 18.
Version A
Heptatonic. Mode 4, (dorian). If F be tonic :— Mode 3, a + b (ionian).
Sung by Mrs. MARY SANDS
at Allanstand, N. C, Aug. 1, 1916
House Carpenter- Sands (NC) 1916 Sharp A
1 If you could have married the King's daughter dear,
You'd better have married her;
For lately I got married to a house-carpenter,
And I'm sure he's a nice young man.
2 If you will forsaken your house-carpenter
And go along with me,
I will take you away where the grass grows green
On the banks of sweet Da Lee.
3 She picked up her tender little babe
And give it kisses three.
Stay here, stay here, my tender little babe,
And keep your papa company.
4 She dressed herself as in a yellow rose,
Most glorious to behold,
And she walked the streets all round and about,
And shined like glittering gold.
5 They had not been on the sea more than two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three,
Till she begin to weep and mourn
And wept most bitterly.
6 Are you weeping for your gold?
Or are you for your store ?
Or are you weeping for your house-carpenter
That you never shall see no more?
7 I'm neither weeping for my gold,
Nor neither for my store;
I'm weeping about my tender little babe
I left a-sitting on the floor.
8 And if I had it's all the gold
That ever crossed the sea,
So free would I give it to see land again
And my tender little babe with me.
9 If you had all the gold
You should give it all to me,
For you shall never see land any more,
But stay here for ever with me.
10 Don't you see yon light cloud arising
As light as any snow?
That's the place called heaven, she says,
Where all righteous people go.
11 Don't you see yon dark cloud arising
As dark as any crow?
That's the place called hell, she says,
Where I and you must go.
12 They had not been on the sea more than three weeks,
I'm sure it was not four,
Till the ship sprung a leak, to the bottom it went,
And it went to rise no more.
----------------------
Version B
Hexatonic. Mode 4,
Sung by Mrs. SARAH BUCKNER at Black Mountain, N. C., Sept. 18, 1916
The Daemon Lover (House Carpenter) Sharp B
1 Well met, well met my own true love
Well met, well met says he.
I've just returned from the salt water sea,
And it's all for the sake of thee.
2 We've met, we've met, my old true love,
We've met, we've met, says she,
I have just married a house-carpenter,
A nice young man is he.
3 If you'll forsake your house-carpenter
And go along with me,
I'll take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of sweet Tennessee.
4 She picked up her tender little babe
And kisses give it three.
Stay here, stay here, my tender little babe,
And keep your pa company.
5 They hadn't been a-sailing but about two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three,
Till this fair damsel began for to weep,
She wept most bitterly.
6 O what are you weeping for, my love?
Is it for my gold or store ?
Or is it for your house-carpenter,
Whose face you'll see no more ?
7 I'm neither weeping for your gold,
Nor neither for your store,
But I'm weeping for my tender little babe
Whose face I'll see no more.
8 What banks, what banks before us now
As white as any snow?
It's the banks of Heaven, my love, she replied,
Where all good people go.
9 What banks, what banks before us now
As black as any crow?
It's the banks of hell, my love, he replied,
Where I and you must go.
10 They hadn't been sailing but about three weeks,
I'm sure it was not four,
Till that fair ship begin for to sink,
She sank and riz' no more.
--------------
Version C
Sung by Mrs. BISHOP
Hexatonic. Mode 4, at Clay Co., Kentucky, July 16, 1909
House Carpenter- Sharp C
1 Well met, well met my own true love
Well met, well met says he.
O I am from a foreign land,
All alone for the sake of thee.
2 I could have been married to the Queen's daughter
And she would a-married me,
But I've forsaken her and her gold
All alone for the sake of thee.
3 If you could have married the Queen's daughter,
And she would a-married you,
I'm sure you must be for to blame,
For I am married to a little house-carpenter,
And I think him a neat young man.
4 O will you forsake that house-carpenter
And go, O go along with me?
And I will take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of old Willie.
5 What have you got to maintain me?
And what have you got? says she;
O what have you got to maintain me on
While sailing on the sea?
6 Seven vessels all on shore,
Seven more on sea;
And I have got one hundred and ten neat young men
All alone for to wait on thee.
7 She dressed herself in finest silk,
Her baby she kissed, 'twas one, two, three.
O stay, O stay, O stay at home
And bear your father company.
8 She hadn't sailed but a day or two,
I'm sure it was not three,
Till she began to weep
And wept most bitterly.
9 Are you a-weeping for my gold and my silver?
Or are you a-weeping for my store?
Or are you a-weeping for that house-carpenter
That you will never see no more?
10 I'm neither weeping for your gold nor your silver,
I'm neither weeping for your store ;
I'm a-weeping for my poor little baby
That I will never see no more.
11 Cheer up, cheer up, my pretty, fair maid,
Cheer up, cheer up, cried he,
For I will take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of the sweet Willie.
12 They did not sail but a day or two,
I'm sure it was not four
Till the vessel sprung a leak and began to sink,
And sank for to rise no more.
---------------------
Version D
Hexatonic. Mode 4, a,
Sung by Mr. WM. RILEY SHELTON
at Alleghany, N. C, Aug. 29, 1916
The Daemon Lover (House Carpenter) Sharp D
1 Well met, well met my own true love
We've met, we've met once more.
For I've lately crossed this salt water sea,
And it's all for the sake of thee.
2 It's I could have married the king's daughter dear,
I'm sure she'd have married me;
But I forsaken them crowns of gold,
And it's all for the sake of thee.
3 If you could have married the king's daughter dear,
I'm sure you ought to have married then;
For I am married to the house-carpenter,
I'm sure he's a fine young man.
4 If you'll forsake your house-carpenter
And go along with me,
I'll take you where the grass grows green
All on the banks of sweet Lillee.
5 If I forsake my house-carpenter
And goes along with thee,
Pray tell me the wealth you have on board
To keep me from slavery?
6 I have three ships all sailing on the sea,
All making for dry land,
And besides three hundred jolly sailor boys,
You can have them at your command.
7 She catched her tender little babes in her arms,
Kisses give them, one, two, three,
Saying: Stay at home with your papee,
I'm sure he'll be good to thee.
8 They hadn't been sailing but a day or two,
Not more than two or three,
Till she began to weep and mourn
And she weep most bitterly.
9 Are you weeping about my gold, said he?
Are you weeping about my stores?
Or are you weeping about your house-carpenter
That you shall never see no more?
10 I'm neither weeping for your gold,
Nor neither for your store;
But I am weeping about my tender little babe
That I never shall see any more.
------------------------
Version E
[Inexplicably, there is no verse 4.]
Heptatonic. Mode 4, a (mixolydian).
Sung by Mrs. SYLVANEY RAMSEY
at Flag Pond, Tenn., Sept. 1, 1916
House Carpenter- Sharp E
1 Well met, well met my own true love
It's well met, said he.
I have just returned from the State of Tennessee,
And it's all for the love of thee.
2 O who will clothe my little babe,
And who will shoe its feet,
And who will sleep in its lily-white arms
While we're sailing for dry land?
3 Its papa will kiss its little cheek,
And also shoe its feet,
And also sleep in its lily-white arms
While we're sailing for dry land.
5 She picked up her little babe,
And kissed it on the cheek,
She laid it down on a soft bed of down
And bid it go to sleep.
-----------------------
Version F
Heptatonic. Mode i, a + b (Tonic C. Mixolydian influence).
Sung by Mr. FRANKLAND B. SHELTON
at Alianstand, N. C, July 31, 1916
We've met, we've met, my own true love, We've
met, we've met once more. I've late ly crossed the salt
wa - ter sea And it's all for the love of thee.
G
Hexatonic. Mode 4, a.
Sung by Mrs. TEMPA SHELTON
at Spillcorn, N. C, Sept. 6, 1916
We've met, we've met, my own true love, We've
met, we've met once more. I have late ly . crossed the
salt wa - ter sea And it's all
for the sake of thee.
H
Hexatonic. Mode 4, a.
Sung by Mrs. JANE GENTRY
at Hot Springs, N. C, Sept. 12, 1916
O come you home, my own true love, O come you home from sea? It's
are you mar - ried ? he said. Yes, I am mar - ried to a house
car pen - ter And I think he is a nice young man.
I
( mixolydian influence).
Sung by Mrs. HESTER HOUSE
at Hot Springs, N. C, Sept. 15, 1916
Well met, well met, my own true love, Well
met, well met, says he. I've just re-turned from the
salt wa ter sea And it's all for the sake of thee.
J
Hexatonic. Mode 4,
Sung by Mrs. ANELIZE CHANDLER
at Alleghany, N. C, Aug. 28, 1916
We've met, we've met, my own true love, We've
met, we've met once more. I've late ly crossed the
salt wa ter sea And it's all for the sake of you.
K
Heptatonic. Mode 1, a + b (ionian).
Sung by Mrs. ADDY CRANE
at Flag Pond, Tenn., Aug. 31, 1916
O are you weep - ing for my gold, Or is it for my store, Or is it
for ycur house-car-pen ter Whose face you shall see no more?
L
Heptatonic. Aeolian.
Sung by Miss MAY RAY
at the Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Claiborne Co., Tenn., April 29, 1917
1. O I have mar-ried a queen's daugh-ter, I'm sure you are to blame, And
you have mar-ried a house car-pen-ter, But I think he's a nice young man;
2 If you will leave your house-carpenter
And come and go with me,
I'll take you where the grass grows green
On old sweet Cavalry.
3 If I should leave my house-carpenter,
Go strolling along with thee,
What have you to keep and clothe me with
And to keep me from slavery ?
4 I have a ship on the ocean a-sailing.
A-sailing for dry land,
Over one hundred and ten jolly men
Are here at your command.
5 She went, picked up her sweet little babe,
And kisses she gave it three.
Stay at home, stay at home with your papa, little love,
And give him company.
6 She dressed herself in scarlet red,
Her belt was in green,
And every station that she came through
Her glittering gold was seen.
7 They hadn't been on sail but about two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three,
Till she began to weep and she began to mourn,
She wept most bitterly.
8 O are you weeping for gold, my love,
0 are you weeping for fee,
Or are you weeping for your house-carpenter
That you love much better than me ?
9 I neither weep for gold, my love,
1 neither weep for fee,
But I weep to return back again
My sweet little babe to see.
10 You need not weep for gold, my love,
You need not weep for store,
You need not weep for your sweet little babe;
You'll see it never no more.
11 They hadn't been on sail but about three weeks,
I'm sure it was not four,
Till the ship sprang a leak and to bottom began to sink.
I'm sinking to rise no more.
12 Farewell, farewell to my sweet little babe,
Farewell to my friends on the shore,
Farewell, farewell to the man that parted me,
I'm sinking to rise no more.
13 What banks, what banks is that, my love,
As black as any crow ?
The banks, the banks of hell, my love,
Where you and I shall go,
14 What banks, what banks is that, my love,
As white as any snow ?
The banks, the banks of heaven, my love,
Where all tender little babes shall go.
M
Hexatonic (no 3rd),
Sung by Mrs. VIRGINIA BENNETT
at Burnsville, N. C , Sept. 13, 1918
1. Well met, well met, my own true love, Well met, well met, said
he. I've just re-turned from the salt, salt sea,
And it's all for the sake of thee,
It's all for the sake of thee. I've just re-turned from the
salt, salt sea, And it's all for the sake of thee.
2 I could have married a king's daughter fair,
I'm sure she would have married me,
But I refused those golden crowns,
And it's all for the sake of thee.
3 If you could have married a king's daughter fair,
I'm sure you are to blame,
For I am married to a house-carpenter,
And I think he's a nice young man.
4 I pray you leave your house-carpenter
And go away with me;
Til take you down where the grass grows green
On the banks of the Aloe Dee.
5 Have you anything to support me on
To keep me from slavery ?
Have you anything to supply my wants
To keep me from slavery ?
6 I have three ships on the ocean wide,
Sailing towards dry land;
Three hundred and sixty sailor men
Shall be at your command.
7 She took her babe up in her arms,
And kisses gave it three,
Saying: Stay at home with your papa dear,
And keep him company.
8 She dressed herself in silk so fine,
Most beautiful to behold.
As she marched down by the brine water side,
Bright shined those glittering golds.
9 She had not been on the sea two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three,
Till she lay on deck of her true lover's boat
And wept most bitterly.
10 Are you weeping for your silver and gold,
Or is it for your store,
Or is it for your house-carpenter
You never shall see any more ?
11 I'm not weeping for my silver and gold,
Neither for my store;
'Tis all for the love of my darling little babe
I never shall see any more.
12 She had not been on sea but three weeks,
I'm sure it was not four,
Till a leak sprung in her true lover's boat,
And sank it to rise no more.
13 Accursed, accursed be all sea-men,
Accursed for ever more.
They've robbed me of my darling little babe,
I never shall see any more.
N
Hexatonic (no 3rd).
Sung by Mrs. EF CHRISOM
at Cane Branch, Burnsville, N. C , Oct. 3, 1018
Welt met, well met, my own true love, Well
met, well met, said he. I've just re turned from the salt
wa - ter sea, And it's all for the sake of thee.
O
Hexatonic (no 3rd).
Sung by Mrs. FRANCIS CARTER
at Proctor, Ky., Sept. 7, 1917
Well met, well met, my own true love, Well met, well met, said
he, For I've just returned from the old salt sea, And it's
all for the sake of thee.
P
Heptatonic.
Sung by Mrs. LAURA VIRGINIA DONALD
at Dewey, Va., June 6, 1918
We've met, we've met, my old true love, WeVe met, we've met, cried
he. I'm just re turned from the salt wa - ter sea, And it's
all for the love of thee.
Q
Heptatonic. Dorian.
Sung by Mrs, Doc. PRATT
at Hindman, Knott Co., Ky., Sept. 22, 1917
Well met, well met, my old true love, Well met, well met, said he, For
I've re - turned from the salt, salt sea, And it's all for the sake of thee.
R
Heptatonic. Aeolian,
Sung by Mrs. WILLIE ROBERTS
at Nellysford, Va., May 22, 1918
Well met, well met, my old true love, Well met, well met, said
he. I've just re turned from the salt, salt sea, And it's
all for the sake of thee.
S
Pentatonic. Mode 2. * This D was sometimes definitely natural, never sharp, but occasionally neutral,
Sung by students at Berea College,
Madison Co., Ky., May 20, 1917
Well met, well met, says an old true love, Well met, well met, says he. I've
come from far a cross the sea, And its all for the sake of thee.
T
Heptatonic. Mixolydian.
Sung by Mr. H. D. KINNARD
at Berea, Madison Co., Ky., May 27, 1917
It's I could have mar - ried queen's daugh - ter, And she would have mar - ried
me, But I re-fused a crown of gold, And all for the sake of thee.
U
Hexatonic (no 6th).
Sung by students
at Hindman School, Knott Co., Ky., Sept. 20, 1917
Well met, well met, my own true love, Well met, well met, says
he. I've just re turned from the old salt sea, And its
all for the sake of thee, And it's all for the sake of thee.
V
Pentatonic. Mode 4.
Sung by Mrs. JULIE BOONE
at Micaville, N. C , Oct. 3, 1918
She picked up her sweet lit - tie babe, And gave it kiss - es three;
Set it down and told it to stay And keep its Pa - pa corn-pan y.