This a story about a ghost come back from out of the sea

Come to take his bride away from the house carpenter

Well met, well met, my own true love

Well met, well met, cried she

I've just returned from the salt, salt sea

And it's all for the love of thee

I could have married a king's daughter there

She would have married me

But I have forsaken my king's daughter there

It's all for the love of thee

Well, if you could have married a king's daughter there

I'm sure you're the one to blame

For I am married to a house carpenter

And I'm sure he's a fine young man

Forsake, forsake your house carpenter

And come away with me

I'll take you where the green grass grows

On the shores of sunny Italy

So up she picked her babies three

And gave them kisses, one, two, three

Saying, "Take good care of your daddy when I'm gone

And keep him good company"

Well, they were sailin' about two weeks

I'm sure it was not three

When the younger of the girls, she came on deck

Sayin' she wants company

Well, are you weepin' for your house and home?

Or are you weepin' for your babies three?

Well, I'm not weepin' for my house carpenter

I'm weepin' for my babies three

Oh what are those hills yonder, my love

They look as white as snow

Those are the hill of heaven, my love

You and I'll never know

Oh what are those hills yonder, my love

They look as dark as night

Those are the hills of hell fire my love

Where you and I will unite

Oh twice around went the gallant ship

I'm sure it was not three

When the ship all of a sudden, it sprung a leak

And it drifted to the bottom of the sea


Lyrics submitted by nitsirhc

House Carpenter Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan Traditional

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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House Carpenter song meanings
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    My Interpretation

    A cautionary/morality tale, as were many songs in the folk venue. The lover comes back and convinces his former love to run away with him. For whatever reason, he/they kill her house carpenter husband and three children. The youngest child's appearance on the deck of the ship represents either the child's ghost or the mother's conscience belatedly kicking in. The ship sinking is the retribution.

    Banjos1on August 19, 2012   Link

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