The House Carpenter- (NY) c.1882 Wehman's Universal Songster #7
[The House Carpenter in Wehman's Universal Songster #7 (c. 1882) is the exact text of the US broadside, the "Philadelphia" broadside, published in the late 1850- early 1860s. It can be viewed at Bodleian Broadside collection, with the imprint: J. H. Johnson, Song Publisher, Stationer And Printer, No. 7 N. Tenth Street, 3 doors above Market, Philadelphia, Pa., dated ca1860. It has the same text as the other broadside (DeMarsan) except - the version at the Bodleian has House Carpenter at the end of the very last line, while the DeMarsan broadside has House Carpenters (plural).
R. Matteson 2013]
THE HOUSE CARPENTER- Wehman's Universal Songster #7; c. 1882; Henry J. Wehman, publisher; New York.
"Well met, well met, my own true love,
Well met, well met," cried he;
"For I've just returned from the salt sea,
All for the love of thee."
"I might have married the King's daughter, dear,"
'You might have married her," cried she,
"For I am married to a house carpenter,
And a fine young man is he."
"If you will forsake your house carpenter,
And go along with me,
I will take you where the grass grows high,
On the banks of old Tennesee."
"If I forsake my house carpenter,
And go along with thee,
What have you got to keep me upon,
And keep me from misery? "
Says he, "I have got six ships at sea,
All sailing to dry land,
One hundred and ten of your own countrymen,
Love, they shall be at your command."
She took her babe upon her knee,
And kissed one, two, or three,
Saying: "Stay at home, my darling, sweet babe,
And keep your father's company."
They had not sailed four weeks or more,
Four weeks, or scarcely three,
When she thought of her darling sweet babe at home,
And she wept most bitterly.
Says he, "Are you weeping for gold, my love.
Or are you weeping for fear,
Or are you weeping for your house carpenter.
That you left and followed me? "
"I am not weeping for gold," she replied,
"Nor am I weeping for fear,
But I am weeping alone for my sweet little babe
That I've left with my house carpenter."
"Oh, dry up your tears, my own true love.
And cease your weeping, cried he;
"For soon you will see your own happy home.
On the banks of old Tennessee."
They had not sailed five weeks or more,
Five weeks or scarcely four.
When the ship struck a rock and sprung a-leak,
And they were never seen any more.
A curse be on the sea-faring men,
Oh, cursed be their lives,
For while they are robbing the house carpenter,
And coaxing away their wives.