For I love you, dear, I love you,

voiceCollected by Oma Kilgore For Mary Celestia Parler Transcribed by Oma Kilgore Sung by Oma Kilgore Fayetteville, Arkansas August 14, 1959 Reel 285-286, Item 16 The House Carpenter Well met, well met, well met said he Well met, well met said he I've just come home from the salt, salt sea And it's all for the sake of thee. And it's all for the sake of thee. Oh won't you leave your house carpenter And go along with me? For I am going where the grass grows green On the banks of the sweet Dundee On the banks of the sweet Dundee. If I was to leave my house carpenter And go along with you You have nothing to support me on And then what would I do? And then what would I do? Oh I have seven ships on the sea And seven ships on the land And I have gold and silver, too. Which shall be at your command. Which shall be at your command. She went into her dressing room And dressed herself so gay All over her face she spread a veil That outshined the glittering day. That outshined the glittering day. She turned around and around three times With a dark and a watering eye Saying the best of friends must part some time And now it's you and I And now it's you and I. She called her children to her knee And kisses she gave them three Stay at home with your father dear And keep him company And keep him company. (Cont'd)The House Carpenter Reel 285-286, Item 16 Continued She hadn't been sailing but about two weeks I'm sure it was not three When this damsel began for to weep And she wept most bitterly. And she wept most bitterly. Are you weeping for my gold he said Are you weeping for my store Or are you weeping for your house carpenter That you never will see any more. That you never will see any more. I'm neither weeping for your gold she said And neither do I weep for your store But I'm weeping for my sweet little babes. That I never will see any more That I never will see any more. She hadn't been sailing but about three weeks I'm sure it was not four When all at once the boat sprung a leak And she sank for to rise no more. And she sank for to rise no more.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation