Natalie Merchant Lyrics

Album: The House Carpenter's Daughter

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...