Natalie Merchant - House Carpenter lyrics

"Well met, well met

And I know 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 own true love

And have a seat with me

It's been three-fourths

Of a long, long year

Since together we have been”

“no I can't come in

And I can't sit down

For I have but a moment's time

They say that you're married

To a house carpenter

And your heart shall never be mine”

“well I could have married

The king's daughter fair

She would have married me

But I forsaked upon

Her crowns of gold

And it's all for the love of thee”

“now will you forsake on

Your house carpenter

And go along with me?

I'll take you where

The grass grows green

On the banks of the bitter reeds”

She pick'd up her wee little babe

And kisses, gave it three saying,

“stay right here my darling little one

Keep your papa company”

Now they had not been

On the ship two weeks

I swear it was not three

When his true love began

To weep and moan

And she wept most bitterly

“are you weeping

For my silver and gold

Are you weeping for my store or are

You weeping for that house carpenter

That you ne'er shall see no more?”

“a curse on the sailor she swore

A curse, a curse she swore

You robbed me of my sweet little babe

That I never shall see no more!”

Well, they had not been

On the ship three weeks

I swear it was not four

Until there came a leak in the ship

And she sank

To rise no more