"Well met, well met," said an old true love
"Well met, well met," said he
"I'm just returning 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 sit with 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 have but a moment's time
They say you're married to a house carpenter
And your heart will never be mine."
"I could have 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 gra** grows green
On the banks of Iteree."
She pickéd up her little babe
And kisses gave it three
Saying, "Stay right here, my 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 his true love began to weep and mourn
And she wept most bitterly
"Are you weeping for my silver and my gold?
Are you weeping for my store?
Or are you weeping for that house carpenter
Whose face you'll never see any more?"
"A curse, a curse," to the sailor she cried
"A curse, a curse," she swore
"You've robbed me of my sweet little babe
That I never shall see no more."
They had not been on board three weeks
I'm sure it was not four
Until there came a leak in the ship
And it sunk for to rise no more