Cat. #0204 (MFH #246) - As sung by Lucy Quigley, Eureka Springs, Arkansas on September 2, 1958
VERSE 1
To late, to late, my own true love
To late, to late, are you now
I've lately married a house carpenter
An' a nice young man is he
VERSE 2
O, won't you forsake your house carpenter
An' go along with me
I'll take you down where th green grass grows
On th banks of the Sweet Dundee
VERSE 3
If I forsake my house carpenter
An' go along with you
What have you there to montain us on
To keep us from slavery
VERSE 4
I've got five ships all sailing on th sea
An' five more ready to sail
And ninety nine of th brightess sailor boys
All there to wait upon thee
VERSE 5
She laid her baby on th bed
An' kisses she give three
Saying, stay there, stay there, my dearest sweet babe
An' keep your Papa company
VERSE 6
She dressed herself, in th finest of silk
An' away together they roamed
An' ever town that they drove thru
She shined like th glittering gold
VERSE 7
She had not sailed upon th deep
More weeks I'm sure not three
Till this lady begin to weep an' mourn
And she wept most bitterly
VERSE 8
O, is it for my gold you weep
Or is it for my fee
Or is it for your house carpenter
An' your sweet little babe
VERSE 9
It's neither for your gold I weep
Nor neither for your fee
It's all for th sake of my house carpenter
And my sweet little babe