Well Met- Skaggs (AR) 1954 Parler
[From: Ozark Folk Song Collection Reel 211, Item 1. Collected by Mary Celestia Parler; Transcribed by Neil Byer
R. Matteson 2016]
Well Met- Mrs. Evelyn Skaggs of Wayton, Ark. October 2, 1954
Well Met "Well met, well met," said his own true love,
"Well met, well met," said he;
"Why, it's seven long years I've been sailing on the sea,
And it's all for the sake of thee."
"And I could have married a king's daughter fair,
I'm sure she'd have married me,
But I refused her crown of gold,
And it's all for the sake of thee."
"If you could 'a' married a king's daughter fair,
I'm sure you are to blame,
For I am married to a house carpenter,
I think he's a nice young man."
"Leave off, leave off that house carpenter,
And go right along with me;
I'll take you to where the grass grows green
On the banks of the Sweet Libertee."
She called up her tender little babes
And give them kisses three,
And laid them down on a soft bed of down,
and she bid them go to sleep.
Seven years and the dearest of friends has to part, [1]
So must you and I, my babes.
She turned herself around and about,
And into the room she went;
She dressed herself both galliant and gay,
Outshined the glitterin' day.
He tuck her by her lily white hand,
And led her onto the sea,"
She hadn't been there no more than a week,
I'm sure it was not three,
Till this young lady began to weep,
She wept most bitterlee.
"And are you weeping for my gold,
Or weeping for my store,
Are you weepin' for that house carpenter
That you never shall see any more?"
"I'm neither weeping for your gold,
Nor neither for your store,
I'm a-weepin' for my tender little babes
That I never shall see any more."
"And if I had ten thousand pounds of gold,
I'd give it all so free,
To be on land, on land once more,
And them tender little babes for to see."
"And if you had ten thousand pounds of gold,
And you'd give it all so free,
You hain't on land, on land once more,
Come, go right along with me."
"What banks, what banks before us," she said,
"That's as white as any snow?"
"Why, it's the banks of Heaven," he replied unto her,
"Where all the good Christian folks go."
"What banks, what banks behind us," she said,
"That's as black as any crow?"
"Why, it's the banks of Hell," he replied unto her,
"Where you and I must go."
1. from the "Dearest Dear/True Lover's Farewell" songs