House Carpenter

Well met, well met said my own true love Well met, well met said she Oh I’ve just returned from the salt, salt sea From the land where the grass grows green Oh I could have married a king’s daughter fair And she would have married me But I have forsaken her silver and her gold And it’s all for the love of thee If you could have married a king’s daughter there I’m sure you are to blame For I am married to a house carpenter And I think he’s a nice young man If you’ll forsake your house carpenter And come and go with me I’ll take you where the grass grows green On the banks of the salt, salt sea So she picked up her darling little babes And kissed them one, two, three Saying “you stay here with the house carpenter, Who’ll take good care of thee.” They hadn’t been a-sailing but about two weeks I’m sure it was not three When the maid began to weep and moan Oh, weep most bitterly Oh are you weeping for your house carpenter Or are you weeping for your store? No I am weeping for my darling little babes Whose face I’ll never see no more They hadn’t been a-sailing but about three weeks I’m sure it was not four When the ship sprang a leak to the bottom of the sea And sank to sail no more --- House Carpenter - JP Harris