The House Carpenter (American) Songtext
von Peggy Seeger

Well met, well met, my own true love
Well met, well met cried she
I have just returned from the salt salt sea
And all for the love of thee
I could have married the king's daughter dear
I'm sure she would have married me
But I have refused her crowns of gold
And all for the love of thee
If you could have married the king's daughter dear
I'm sure you are to blame
For I am married to a house carpenter
I think he's a fine young man
Will you forsake your house carpenter
To go along with me
I'll take you to where the grass grows green
On the banks of the salt salt sea
If I forsake my house carpenter
To go along with thee
What have you got to maintain me on
And keep me from poverty?


Six ships, six ships are out on the sea
Seven more are on dry land
One hundred and ten all bold sailor men
Shall be at your command
She picked up her sweet little babe
Kisses gave it three
Saying stay right here with my house carpenter
And keep him good company
She dressed herself in rich attire
So glorious to behold
And as she trod upon her road
She shone like the glittering gold
They were not out but about two weeks
It was not more than three
When that young lady began for to weep
She wept most bitterly
My love, why are you weeping so?
Do you weep for your golden store?
Or are you weeping for your house carpenter
That never you will see anymore?
I do not weep for my house carpenter
Neither for any store
But I am weeping for my own little babe
Whom I shall never see anymore
They were not out but about three weeks
It was not more than four
Meanwhile this lady continued to weep
And her weeping did cease no more
They were not out but about three weeks
It was not more than four
When the ship sprang a leak and began to sink
And sank to rise no more
Once around spun our gallant ship
Twice around spun she
Three times around spun our gallant ship
And sank to the bottom of the sea