Well met, well met
said an old true love
well met, well me
said he
i have just returned

from the salt, salt sea
and it's all
for the love of thee

come in, come in,
my own true love
and have a seat by me
it's been three-fourths
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're married
to a house carpenter
and your heart
will never be mine

i could've 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

now will you forsake
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

then she picked up
her darling little babe
and kisses she gave it three
saying stay right here
you darling little babe
and keep your papa company

they had not been
on the ship two weeks
i'm sure it was not three
til this true love began
to weep and to mourn
and she wept most bitterly

saying are you weeping
for my silver and my gold?
saying are you weeping for my store?
or are you weeping
for your house carpenter
whose face you'll never see no more?

a curse, a curse
to the sailor she cried
a curse, a curse
she swore
you robbed me
of my darling little babe
that i shall never see no more

they had not been
on the ship three weeks
i'm sure it was not four
when there came a leak
in the bottom of the ship
and sank them for
to rise no more