House Carpenter

Cat. #0535 (MFH #246) - As sung by Mr. William Edens, Mont Ne, Arkansas on August 17, 1960

VERSE 1
We met, we've met, my own true love
We've met, we've met, my honey
I'm just from th salt spring sea
An' it's all for th love of thee, of thee
An' it's all for th love of thee

VERSE 2
It's, I should've married th kings daughter dear
An' she would've married me
But I refused that large crown of gold
An' it's all for th love of thee, of thee
An' it's all for th love of thee

VERSE 3
If you could've married th kings daughter dear
I'm sure I'm not to blame
For I have married a house carpenter
An' I think he's a nice young man, young man
And I think he's a nice young man

VERSE 4
If you will forsake your house carpenter
an' go along with me
I'll take you where th grass, it grows green
On th banks of sweet Edalee, Edalee

VERSE 5
If I forsake my house carpenter
An' go along with thee
I'll take you where th grass, it grows green
On th banks of sweet Edalee, Edalee

VERSE 6
I have seven ships that is now on the sea
An' seven more on shore
An' one hundred an' ten jolly, jolly men
All for to wait upon thee, upon thee
All for to wait upon thee

VERSE 7
She went unto her dressing room
She dressed both fine an' gay
So aft, she come with a rose in 'er hand
Out showin' th glittering day, day, day
Out showin' th glittering day

VERSE 8
She called 'er babies to 'er side
She kissed 'em one, two, three
Saying, stay here, stay here, you three little babes
All for your Papas company, company
All for your Papas company

VERSE 9
She had'nt been on sea, weeks more than one
Week more than one, two, three
Till she fell aweeping one day
An' she wept most bitterly, bitterly
An' she wept most bitterly

VERSE 10
Are you weeping for my gold, my love
Or are you weeping for my store
Or are you weeping for that house carpenter
That you left when you come with me here, with me here
That you left when you come with me here

VERSE 11
I'm not weeping for your golds
Nor weeping for your store
But I'm weeping for those three little babes
That I left a sitting in th floor, in th floor

VERSE 12
I'm not weeping for your gold
Nor weeping for your store
But I'm weeping for those three little babes
That I never shall see no more, no more
That I never shall see no more

VERSE13
Cheer up, Cheer up, my own true love
Cheer up, cheer up, says he
I'll take you where th grass it grows green
On th banks of sweet Edalee, Edalee
On th banks of sweet Edalee

VERSE 14
She had'nt been on sea, weeks more than one, two, three
Weeks more than four, I am sure
Till she fell a weeping one day
An' she fell overboard
An' her weeping was heard no more, no more
An' her weeping was heard no more

VERSE 15
If I had not stole th house carpenters wife
He might of been treateing 'er well
But now her bodies in th bottom of th sea
An' her soul is gone to _____farewell, farewell
An' her soul is gone to __ farewell

Variants