The House Carpenter- Lee M. Presnell (NC) 1956 REC
[From Folk Legacy's Ballads and Songs of Tradition, recorded by Diane Hamilton, Paul Clayton and Liam Clancy in 1956. Presnell (on his mother's side) is one of the grandsons of Council Harmon. He was also recorded by Frank Warner and is part of the Hick/Harmon family.
R. Matteson 2016]
The House Carpenter - sung by Lee Monroe Presnell, 1956
"Well met, well met, my own true love,"
"Well met, well met," she re plied to me;
"I'm just returning from the salt, salt sea,
It's all for the love of thee."
"I could have married a queen's daughter,
She could have married me,
And I've forsaken her silver and her gold,
It's all for the love of thee."
"If you could have married a queen's daughter fair,
I'm sure you are to blame,
For I am married to a house carpenter,
I think he's a nice young man."
"If you will leave your house carpenter,
And go along with me;
I'll take you across that deep blue sea
On the banks of Sweet Willee."
I'll take you across that deep blue sea
On the banks of Sweet Willee."
Do you have anything to pertain (maintain) me on,
To keep from slavery
I have five ships on the ocean wide,
All sailing for dry land
I have five hundred fifty-six men,
It will be at your command.
"Yes, I will leave my house carpenter
And go along with you,
If you take me across that deep blue sea
On the banks of sweet Willee."
Oh she pick-ed up her sweet little babe,
And kisses give it three,
Saying stay at home you sweet little babe,
And keep your poppy company,
Saying stay at home you sweet little babe,
And keep your poppy company.
Oh she dressed up in her silk so fine
Most beauty to be seen,
As she marched out through the town
They took her to be some queen.
Oh she'd not been sailing more two long weeks
I'm sure it was not three.
Till this young lady began to weep,
And wept most bitterly.
"Oh is it for my silver that you weep, my love
Or is it for my store?
Or is it for your house carpenter
Who you never will see any more."
"Oh it's not for your silver that I weep, my love
Nor neither for your store,
Oh it's for my poor little sweet babe
I will never see any more."
Oh she'd not been a-sailing more than three long weeks
I'm sure it was not four,
Till there take a leak unto their ship
And it sunk for to rise no more
A curse, a curse to all seamen,
A curse forever more
You've robbed me of my sweet little babe
I never will see no more.