The House Carpenter- Ellis (TX) pre1932 Dobie B
[From: Tone the Bell Easy; Dobie, 1932.
Clearly the last stanzas are written out incorrectly- I've taken the liberty to correct them. Originally:
8. "What hills are those I see as white as any snow?"
"They're the hills of Heaven crying unto thee,
Where all good people go."
"What hills are those I see as black as any crow?"
9. "They are the hills of Hell crying unto thee,
Where you and I must go."
So he sprung a leak, and he sunk the ship;
He sunk it to rise no more.
R. Matteson 2013]
B. [House Carpenter]- This variant (without a title) was contributed by Mrs. A. C. Ellis, of Austin, Texas. Dobie B
1. "I once could have married a king's daughter fair,
But refused for the love of you,"
"You once could have married a king's daughter fair,
But refused for the love of me,
But I have married a house-carpenter,
And I think we can agree."
2. "Oh, come, my love and go with me,
I'll take you far away,
I'll take you to where the grass grows green
On the banks of the sea, oh sea."
3. "What have you there to sustain me free'
To keep me from slavery?"
"I have four and twenty as brave sailor boys
As ever sailed the sea."
4. She called up her tender little babe
And kisses it one, two, three
"Stay here, stay here, my tender little babe;
Keep Your Papa companee
While I go to roam on the sea, oh, sea,
Nevermore to return to thee."
5. They had not sailed more than two weeks-
I am sure they hadn't sailed three-
Till that beautiful woman began to weep and mourn,
And she wept most bitterly.
6. "What are you weeping about, my love?
More gold or more of my store?"
"I am neither weeping for your gold
Nor for any more of your store."
7. "I am weeping for my house-carpenter,
I never shall see any more,
I am weeping for my tender little babe,
I never shall see any more."
8. "What hills are those I see,
As white as any snow?"
"They're the hills of Heaven crying unto thee,
Where all good people go."
9. "What hills are those I see
As black as any crow?"
"They are the hills of Hell crying unto thee,
Where you and I must go."
10. So he sprung a leak, and he sunk the ship;
He sunk it to rise no more.