Well met, well met, said an old true love
well met, well met, said he
i just returned from the salt, salt sea
and its all for the love of thee

come in, come in, my own true love
and have a seat by me
its been three-fourths of a long, long year
since together we have been

i cant come in and i cant sit down
for ive only a moments time
they say youre married to a house carpenter
and your heart will never be mine

i couldve married the kings daughter fair
and she wouldve married me
but i have forsaken, her crowns of gold
and all for the love of thee

now will you forsake your house carpenter
and come along with me
ill 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 pop company

they had not been on the ship two weeks
im 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 weeeping for my store?
or are you weeping, for your house carpenter
whose face youll 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 will never see no more

they had not been on the ship three weeks
im sure it was not four
when there came a leak, in the bottom of the ship