The House Carpenter- Watson (NC) pre1963 REC
[From the Folkways album, The Doc Watson Family.
The Watson family (Doc Watson did not play on this) version was sung by Annie Watson (Doc's mother) accompanied on solo fiddle by Gaither Carlton (Doc's father-in-law). This haunting and truly traditional version is titled, The House Carpenter, and was recorded in 1963 on their Folkways album The Doc Watson Family which has been re-released. The date she learned this
and her source are unknown. Doc remembered her singing this when he was a child so that would take it back to circa 1930 (Doc was born in 1923 and recently died).
Doc Watson adapted his mother's version and Doc's, The House Carpenter, is on Doc Watson At Gerdes Folk City. Both versions can be heard free on youtube. Doc also plays a different version with Jean Ritchie on Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City, 1963, Smithsonian Folkways SF 40005.
R. Matteson 2013]
The House Carpenter- sung by Annie Watson; accompanied on fiddle by Gaither Carlton.
"Well met, well met," said an old true love,
"Well met, well met," said he.
"I'm just returning from the salt, salt sea,
And it's all for the love of thee."
"Come in, come in, my own true love,
And have a sit with me.
It's been three-fourths of a long, long year,
Since together we have been."
"I can't come in and I can't sit down,
For I have but a moment's time.
They say you're married to a house carpenter,
And your heart will never be mine."
"I could have married the king's daughter fair,
And she would have married me.
But I have forsaken her crowns of gold,
And it's all for the love of thee."
"Now will you forsake your house carpenter,
And go along with me?
I'll take you where the grass grows green,
On the banks of Iteree." [Italy]
She picked up her little babe
And kisses gave it three.
Saying, "Stay right here, my darling little babe,
And keep your papa company."
They had not been on the ship two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three,
'Til his true love began to weep and mourn,
And she wept most bitterly.
"Are you weeping for my silver and my gold,
Are you weeping for my store?
Or are you weeping for that house carpenter,
Whose face you'll never see any more?"
"A curse, a curse," to the sailor she cried,
"A curse, a curse," she swore.
"You've robbed me of my sweet little babe,
That I never shall see no more."
They had not been on board three weeks,
I'm sure it was not four,
Until there came a leak in the ship,
And it sunk for to rise no more.