House Carpenter

"Well met, well met," said an old true love
"Well met, well met," said he
I have just returned 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 by 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've only a moment's time
They say you're married to a house carpenter
And your heart will never be mine

I could have married a 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 you forsake your house carpenter
And go along with me
I'll take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of the deep blue sea

Then she picked up a darlin' little babe
And kisses, she gave it three
Saying, "Stay right here, my darlin' little baby"
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 to mourn
And she wept most bitterly

Sayin', "Are you weepin' for my silver and my gold"
Sayin', "Are you weepin' for my store?"
Or are you weepin' for your house carpenter
Whose face you'll never see no more?

"A curse, a curse to the sailor," she cried
"A curse, a curse," she swore
You robbed me of my darlin' little babe
That I shall never see no more

They had not been on the ship three weeks
I'm sure it was not four
When there came a leak in the bottom of the ship
And sank them for to rise no more

"Well met, well met, said an old true love
"Well met, well met, said he
I have just returned from the salt, salt sea
And it's all for the love of thee