The House Carpenter- Ross (OH) pre1922 Eddy A
[From: Traditional Texts and Tunes by Albert H. Tolman and Mary O. Eddy The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 35, No. 138 (Oct. - Dec., 1922), pp. 335-432.
The first (a.) text from the JAF is the A text in Eddy's Ballads and Songs from Ohio, 1939, which is based on Child B and the US broadside versions. This A text is the same as M. M. Moores (E) text.
Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2013]
243. JAMES HARRIS (THE DAEMON LOVER)
For American texts see JAFL xxx, 325-327. Add English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, No. 29 (5 texts, II airs).
English texts: Songs of the West, No. 76 (a shortened text; see Introduction); Real Sailor Songs 74, 2d text.
The House Carpenter.
American texts of "The House Carpenter" are not uncommon. Usually they do not vary greatly from the de Marsan broadside (New York City, about 1860), reprinted in Henry de Marsan's "New Comic and Sentimental Singers' Journal " (i, 626 [No. 83]), and by Barry (JAFL xviii, 207).
Miss Eddy sends three variants and three airs. In one of her texts the wife jumps overboard. I print the airs. The first is from the singing of Mrs. Daniel Ross, Shreve, O. The second air was obtained from Mrs. M. M. Moores, Perrysville, O. The third was taken down by Professor Eschman, Denison College, Granville, O., from the singing of Professor Lily Bell Sefton.
The House Carpenter- Ross (OH) pre1922 Eddy A
1. "Well met, well met, my own true love,
Well met, well met," said he.
"I've just returned from the salt, salt sea,
And it's all for the love of thee,
I've just returned from the salt, salt sea,
And it's all for the love of thee."
2. "I might have married a king's daughter,
And she would have married me;
But I refused the crown of gold,
And it's all for the love of thee."
But I refused the crown of gold,
And it's all for the love of thee."
3. "If you could have married the king,s daughter,
And she would have married thee,
I say, young man, you've come too late,
For I'm married to the house carpenter." (Repeat last two lines)
4. "If you will leave your house carpenter,
And go along wirh me,
I'll take you to where the grass grows green
On the banks of the sweet Dundee."
5. "If I should leave my house carpenter,
And go along with thee,
What have you got to maintain me upon,
Or to keep me from slavery?"
6. "Oh, I have seven ships at port,
And seven more at sea,
With a hundred and fifty jolly sailors bold,
All for to wait on thee."
7. Then she called her two prety babes,
And kisses gave them three,
Saying, "Stay at home, my pretty babes,
And keep your father company."
8. Then she left her house carpenter,
And went with the sailor bold,
And every port that she sailed through
She shone like the glittering gold.
9. She had not sailed two months at sea,
I'm sure she had not sailed three,
Till she was seen sitting in the ship's cabin door,
And weeping most bitterly.
10. "Oh, do you weep for the love of gold,
Or do you weep for fear,
Or do you weep for the house carpenter
You left when you came on here?"
11 "I do not weep for the love of gold,
Nor do I weep for fear,
But I do weep for my two pretty babes
I left when I came on here."
12 She had not sailed three months at sea,
I'm sure she had not sailed four,
Till from the deck in the deep she did spring,
Her weeping was heard no more.
13 Let this be a curse to all sea-faring men,
And a curse to the sailor's life,
For the robbing of the house carpenter,
And taking away his wife.