The House Carpenter

The Handsome Family

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 seat with me
It's been three-fourths of a long, long year
Since together we have been

Well I can't come in or 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

That's odd, could have married the king's daughter dear
I'm sure she'd of married me
But, I've forsaken her crowns of gold
All for the love of thee

Will you forsaken your house carpenter
And come and go with me?
I'll take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of the deep blue sea

She picked up her little babe
And kisses gave it three
Says stay right here, my darling little babe
And keep your papa company

Well they hadn't been on ship for about two weeks
I'm sure it was not three
When his true love sat down
And began to weep and mourn most bitterly

Says "Are you weepin' for my silver or gold?
Says Are you weeping for my store?
Or are you weeping for that house carpenter
Whose face you'll never see no more?"

No, I'm not weepin' for your silver or your gold
Or neither for your store
I am weepin' for my darling little babe
Whose face I'll never see no more

Well they hadn't been on ship for about three weeks
I'm sure it was not four
When they sprung a leak in the bottom of the ship
And it sunk for to rise no more