The house carpenter
Well met, well met,
my own true love
Well met, well met, cried he
I've just returned from the
salt, salt sea
And it's all for the love of thee
O I could have married the
king's daughter dear
And she would have married me
But I have refused the
crown of gold
And it's all for the sake of thee
If you could have married the king's
daughter dear
I'm sure you are to blame
For I am married to the
house carpenter
And he is a fine young man
If you'll forsake your
house carpenter
And come away with me
I'll take you to where the
grass grows green
On the banks of the sweet Willie
If I forsake my house carpenter
And come away with thee
What have you got to maintain
me upon
And keep me from slavery
I've six ships sailing on the
salt, salt sea
A-sailing from dry land
And a hundred and twenty
jolly young men
Shall be at thy command
She picked up her poor wee babe
And kisses gave him three
Saying stay right here with the
house carpenter
And keep him good company
They had not been at sea
two weeks
I'm sure it was not three
When this poor maid began to weep
And she wept most bitterly
O do you weep for your gold,
he said
Your houses, your land, or
your store?
Or do you weep for your
house carpenter
That you never shall see anymore
I do not weep for my gold,
she said
My houses, my land or my store
But I do weep for my
poor wee babe
That I never shall see anymore
They had not been at sea
three weeks
I'm sure it was not four
When in their ship there
sprang a leak
And she sank to rise no more
What hills, what hills are those,
my love
That are so bright and free
Those are the hill of Heaven,
my love
But not for you and me
What hills, what hills, are those,
my love
That are so dark and low
Those are the hills of Hell,
my love
Where you and I must go