The House Carpenter- (TN) 1936 Crabtree
[No informant named. From "Songs and Ballads Sung in Overton County, Tennessee: A Collection" by Lillian Crabtree, 1936; 316 pages long. It was her Master's thesis, at George Peabody College for Teachers in 1936, which resulted in the texts of 323 songs and ballads, without music.
R. Matteson 2016]
THE HOUSE CARPENTER
1. We'll meet[1], we'll meet with my own true love,
We'll meet, we'll meet," said he;
"Just turning from the salt, salt sea,
And it's all for the love of thee,
And it's all for the love of thee."
2. "I could have married a king's daughter, love,
And she could have married me,
But I forsake a crown of gold ,
And it's all for the love of thee,
And it's all for the love of thee."
3. "If you could have married a king's daughter,
I am sure I would;
But I just married a house carpenter
And think he' s a nice young man,
And think he' s a nice young man.
4 "Oh, leave your house carpenter
And go along with me.
I'll take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of the roaring sea,
On the banks of the roaring sea."
5. She took her baby upon her lap,
The kisses she gave were free;
"Stay here, stay here my sweet, little babe,
And keep your pa company."
6. She dressed her baby so neat and clean,
And gave it kisses three;
Saying, "Lie there my darling little babe,
And keep your father company,
And keep your father company."
7.l She dressed herself in silks so fine
And went along with thee;
And when the sun shone upon her;
She shines like the glittering gold,
She shines like the glittering gold.
8. They had been gone but about two weeks;
I'm sure it was not three,
Till she sat down to weeping,
And she wept most bitterly,
And she wept most bitterly.
9. "Are you weeping for my gold,
Are you weeping for my store?
Are you weeping for your house carpenter,
Which you left on the other shore?
Which you'll never see any more,
Which you'll never see any more?"[2]
10. "I am not weeping for your gold, my dear,
I am not weeping for your store;
But I am weeping for my tender little babe
Which I'll never see any more,
Which I'll never see any more."
11. "Cheer up, cheer up, my own true love,
Cheer up, cheer up," said he.
"For we'll soon be where the grass grows green
On the banks of the roaring sea,
On the banks of the roaring sea."
12. They hadn't been gone about three weeks
I am sure it wasn't four,
Till the ship sunk to the bottom of the sea,
And it sunk to rise no more,
And it sunk to rise no more.
13. Now, you'd better stayed with your house carpenter,
I am sure the rented[3] you will.
But, now, your body is in the bottom of the sea,
And your soul is burning in hell,
And your soul is burning in hell.
1. Crabtree says: Perhaps this should be- "Well met." I think it is "we'll meet" and that Crabtree didn't know there were versions that began "We'll meet."
2. Irregular stanza, the fourth line should be left off.
3. Crabtree has [sic] written here, not sure what "rented' means here.