The House Carpenter- Gott (ME) pre1926 Barry A
[From: British Ballads from Maine, 1929 by Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth. This version is older than 1926 as it was "sung by him for many years."
R. Mattteson 2013, 2016]
The House Carpenter-Written down by Capt. Lewis F. Gott of Bernard, ME; 1926. Barry A
1. "I might have married a King's daughter, fair,
And she would have married me.
But I've just returned from the salt, salt sea,
All for the sake of thee, all for the sake of thee."
2. "If you could have married a king's daughter,
I am sure you are much to blame;
For I have wed with a house carpenter,
And Johnnie it is his name, and Johnnie it is his name."
3. "If you'll go leave your house carpenter,
And go along with me,
I'll take you where the trees grow tall
On the isle of sweet liberty, on the isle of sweet liberty."
4. "If I go and leave my house carpenter,
Ad go along with thee,
What means have you provided for me
To keep me from slavery? to keep me from slavery?"
5. "Oh, don't you see that good light ship
A-standing in to land,
With a hundred and fifty brave young men
Shall be at your command, shall be at your command."
6. "She took her babe upon her knee,
And she gave him kisses three,
Saying, "Stay at home with your father dear,
For to bear him company, for to bear him company."
7. They had not sailed more than two weeks,
I am sure it was not three,
When this cruel mother began to weep,
And to weep most bitterly, and to weep most bitterly.
8. "Oh, do you weep for your house carpenter,
Or the dangers of the sea?
Or do you weep for that sweet little babe,
That you left when you came with me, that you left when you came with me?"
9. "I don't weep for my house carpenter,
Nor the dangers of the sea,
But I do weep for the sweet little babe
That I left when I came with thee, that I left when I came with thee."
10. They had not sailed more than three weeks,
I am sure it was not four,
When this good ship sprung a leak--
And she sank to rise no more, and she sank to rise no more.
11. Come all you mothers far and near,
Take warning now by me,
And never sell your babe for gold,
Lest you sink in the salt, salt sea.