The House Carpenter Lyrics & Chords By Clarence Ashley

"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 old 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 haven't but a moment's time
They say you're married to a house carpenter and your heart will never be mine"

"Now it's I could-a married a king's daughter here
I'm sure she'd-a married me
But I've forsaken her crowns of gold and it's all for the love of thee"

"Now will you forsaken 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"

She picked up her little babe
And kisses gave him three
Says, "Stay right here, my darling little babe and keep your papa company"

Well they hadn't been on ship but about two weeks
I'm sure it was not three
Till his true love began to weep and mourn and he weeped most bitterly

Says, "Are you a-weeping for my silver or my gold?"
Says, "Are you a-weeping for my store?"
Are you weeping for that house carpenter whose face you'll never see anymore?"

"No it's I'm not a-weeping for your silver or your gold
Or neither for your store
I am weeping for my darling little babe whose face I'll never see anymore"

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