The House Carpenter- O.F.A. Conner (PA) pre1908 Barry; Folk-Songs of the North Atlantic States; Reprinted JOAFL 1912
[From: Some Aspects of Folk-Song by Phillips Barry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 25, No. 97 (Jul. - Sep., 1912), pp. 274-283. Informant's last name supplied from MS.
Barry comments: The ballad of situation, to which type "The House-Carpenter" belongs, impresses us by the realism of the action.
R. Matteson 2013]
THE HOUSE-CARPENTER- "The Demon Lover," B, Folk-Songs of the North Atlantic States. From O. F. A. Conner, Harrisburg, Pa.
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 love of thee!"
2. "I might have married a king's daughter fair,
In vain she'd have married me,
But I refused the crown of gold,
And it's all for the love of thee!"
3. "If you could have married a king's daughter fair,
I think you are much to blame,
For I have married a house-carpenter,
And I think he's a nice young man."
4. "If you will forsake your house-carpenter,
And will run away with me,
I'll take you where the grass grows green,
On the banks of Italy!"
5. "If I forsake my house-carpenter,
And will run away with thee,
What have you for to maintain me upon,
And keep me from slavery?"
6. "I have four and twenty ships at sea,
All making for dry land,
I've a hundred and forty jolly sailor boys,
They shall all come at your command."
7. She pressed her babe up to her lips,
And gave it kisses three,
Saying, "Stay here, stay, my sweet little babe,
And keep your papa's company!"
8. She dressed herself in rich array,
Most glorious to behold,
And as she walked the streets along,
She shone like glittering gold.
9. They had not sailed but about two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three,
Until this lady began to weep,
And she wept most bitterly.
10. "Are you weeping for my gold?" said he,
"Or is it for my store?
Or are you weeping for that house-carpenter
Which you never shall see any more? "
11. "I'm not weeping for your gold," said she,
"Nor is it for your store,
But I'm weeping for my sweet little babe,
Which I never shall see any more."
12. They had not sailed but about three weeks,
I'm sure it was not four,
Until this good old ship sprang a leak,
And she sunk for to rise no more.
13. "Adieu, adieu, my jolly sailor boys!
Adieu, adieu!" he cried,
"For I have robbed a house-carpenter,
By the stealing away of his bride."