From Charlestown, New Hampshire, we have this version by Orlon Merrill (1931). He learned this "in logging woods in northern New Hampshire."

The House Carpenter

"I might have married a king's daughter fair,
And she would have married me,
But I have come across the sal', salt sea,
And it's all on account of thee."

"If you could have married a king's daughter fair,
I am sure that you're to blame,
Because I am married to a house carpenter,
And I'm sure he's a nice young man."

"But if you will forsake your house carpenter
And go along with me,
I will take you to the place where the grass grows green
On the banks of the sweet Will-lea."

"But if I forsake my house carpenter,
To go along with you,
What have you there to maintain me on,
And keep me from slavery?"

"I have three ships sailing on the sea,
All sailing for dry land,
And one hundred and ten jolly good seamen,
They are all at your command."

She took her baby on her knee
And gave it kisses three.
Saying, "Stay at home, my darling little baby,
To keep your father's company."

Then she dressed herself in a stylish dress.
Methinks she looks so gay!
As she walked through those streets of gold
She shone like a lily gay.

They had not been on sea two hours,
And I'm sure it was not three,
Before this maid she was found for to weep,
And she wept most bitterly.

"Is it for my gold you weep,
Or is it for my store,
Or is it for your house carpenter
That you never shall see any more?"


"No, it's neither for your gold I weep,
Nor it's neither for your store,
But it's all for the sake of my darling little baby
That I never shall see any more."

They had not been on the sea three months,
And I'm sure it wasn't for four,
Before the ship it sprang a leak,
And it sank for to rise no more.

"A curse, a curse, to all the seamen,
And a curse on me this life,
For robbing of a house carpenter
And a-stealing away his wife."