House Carpenter / Jerusalem Ridge

(album: Hell On Church Street - 2022)

"Well met, well met," said an old true love
"Well met, well met," said he
"I have just returned from the salt, salt sea
And it's all for the love of thee"

"Come in, come in," said his old true love
"And have a seat by me
It's been three quarters of a long, long year
Since together we have been"

I can't come in and I can't sit down
For I've only a moment's time
They say you've married a house carpenter
So your heart will never be mine

I could have married the king's daughter fair
And she would have married me
But I have forsaken her crowns of gold
And it's all for the love of thee

So, 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

So she picked up her darling little babe
And kisses, she gave it three
Saying "Stay right here, you sweet little babe
And keep your papa company"

They had not been on that ship two weeks
And I'm sure it was not three
Till his true love began to weep and to mourn
And she wept most bitterly

Saying are you weeping for my silver and my gold
Or are you weeping for my store?
Or are you weeping for your house carpenter
Whose face you'll never see no more?

I am not weeping for your silver or your gold
I am not weeping for your store, no
I am weeping for my darling little babe
Whose face I'll never see no more

A curse, a curse to that sailor, she cried
A curse, a curse she swore
You've robbed me of my sweet little babe
Whose face I'll never see no more

What is, what is that mountain, my love?
All covered in death and snow?
Oh those, they are the gates of hell
Where you and I must go

They had not been on that ship three weeks
And I'm sure it was not four
Till his true love sprang a leak in that ship
And it sank them for to rise no more