1.

" Well met, well met, my own true love, "
Well met, well met! " cried he,
" For I've just returned from the Salt Sea,
And all for the love of thee! "

2.

" I might have married the King's daughter, dear, — "
" You might have married her, " cried she,
" For I am married to a House-Carpenter,
And a fine young man is he! "

3.

" If you will forsake your House-Carpenter,
And go along with me,
I will take you to where the grass grows high,
On the banks of old Tennessee! "

4.

" If I forsake my House-Carpenter,
And go along with thee,
What have you got to keep me upon,
And keep me from misery? "

5.

Says he, " I've got six ships at sea,
All sailing to dry land,
One hundred and ten of your own countrymen,
Love, they shall be at your command! "

6.

She took her babe upon her knee
And kissed it one, two and three,
Saying, " Stay at home, my darling sweet babe,
And keep your father's company! "

7.

They had not sailed four weeks or more,
Four weeks, or scarcely three,
When she thought of her darling sweet babe at home,
And she wept most bitterly.

8.

Says he, " Are you weeping for gold, my love,
Or are you weeping for fear,
Or are you weeping for your House-Carpenter,
That you left and followed me? "

9.

" I am not weeping for gold, " she replied,
" Nor am I weeping for fear,
But I am weeping alonge for my sweet little babe,
That I left with my House-Carpenter. "

10.

" Oh, dry up your tears, my own true love,
And cease your weeping, " cried he,
" For soon you'll see your own happy home,
On the banks of old Tennessee! "

11.

They had not sailed five weeks or more,
Five weeks, or scarcely four,
When the ship struck a rock and sprang a leak,
And they never were seen any more.

12.

A curse be on the sea-faring men,
Oh, cursed by their lives,
For while they are robbing the House-Carpenter,
And coaxing away their wives.