The House Carpenter- Sherwood (NC) c.1930 Greer A
[From: The I. G. Greer Folksong Collection. There is no date- I'm guessing for now. This is another version, resembling Brown A where the opening stanza greeting is "we'll meet."]
The House Carpenter- Annie V. Sherwood, 1895-1988 (Cove Creek, Watauga County, North Carolina) c.1930 Greer A
From I. G. Greer Collection No. 1
"We’ll meet, we’ll meet, my old true Love,"
"We’ll meet," she did reply. [1]
I am just returning from the salt, salt sea,
And it’s all for the love of thee.
I could have married the king’s daughter.
I’m sure she would married me.
But I have forsaken her crown of gold,
And it’s all for the love of thee.
If you could have married the King’s daughter,
I am sure you are to blame
For I am married to a house carpenter and
I think he’s a fine young man.
If you will leave your house carpenter
And go along with me I will take you
Where the grass grows green
On the bank of the Sweet Willowree.
If I do leave my house carpenter
And go along with you,
Hast thou anything to mount me
Upon or to keep me from slavery.
I have five ships on the ocean wide,
All sailing for dry land;
I have five hundred salt sea men, and
They’ll all be at your command.
She picked up her little babe
And kisses gave it three
Saying stay at home, my sweet little Babe,
And keep your Papa company.
She dressed her self up in her silk
Most glorious to behold,
And as she passed down toward the grave
She out shined any glittering gold
They hadn’t been on sea more than
Two weeks I’m sure it was not three
Until she fell to weeping in her
True love arms, and wept most bitterly.
Are you weeping for my silver or my gold,
Are you weeping for my store, or
Are you weeping for your house carpenter
That you never will see any more.
I am neither weeping for your silver nor your gold.
I am neither weeping for your store.
But I am weeping for my sweet little Babe
That I never shall see anymore.
They hadn’t been on sea more than three weeks,
I am sure it was not four,
Until there sprung a leak in her true love’s ship.
And it sank to rise no more.
A curse, A curse to all sea
A curse forever more.
You have robbed me of my sweet little Babe,
Which I never shall see anymore.
1. said she. (change to rhyme)