James Stinson chose the alias, 'Clarence G' as a reference to an author 'Clarence G. Hamilton' who wrote books regarding music theory and music history. Some of the titles of the books are:
- Epochs in Musical Progress
- Outlines of Music History
- Sound: And Its Relation To Music
- Touch and Expression in Piano Playing
Drexciya, James Stinson, were very secretive in their production techniques and influences, but this is one of many Drexciyan mysteries solved.
House Carpenter
Clarence Lyrics
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We'll met we'll met said he
I'm just returning from the salt salt sea
And it's all for the love of thee
Climb in climb in my old true love
And have a seat with me
It's been three-fourths of a long long year Since together we have been
Well I can't come in or I can't sit down
For I haven't but a moment's time
They say you're married to a house carpenter
And your heart will never be mine
Now it's I coulda married a king's daughter here
I'm sure she'da married me
But I've forsaken her crowns of gold
And it's all for the love of thee
Now will you forsaken 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
She picked up here little babe
And kisses gave him three
Says stay right here my darling little babe
And keep your pappa company
Well they hadn't been on ship but about two weeks
I'm sure it wasn't three
Well his true love began to weep and mourn
And he weeped most bitterly
Says are you a-weepin' for my silver or my gold
Says are you weeping for my store
Are you weeping for that house carpenter
Whose face you'll never see any more
No it's I'm not a-weepin' for your silver or your gold
Or neither for your store
I am weeping for my darling little babe
Whose face I'll never see any more
Well they hadn't been on ship but about three weeks
I'm sure it wasn't four
'Til they sprung a leak in the bottom of the ship
And they sunk for to rise no more
"The House Carpenter" is a traditional song with variants in the United States and Great Britain, and Clarence Ashley's version is one of the most popular known as "The Demon Lover". The story is of a house carpenter's wife who leaves him for a sailor and essentially choosing love over family duty, but the outcome is tragic. The song tells of the deep love between an old true love and the back-story about the older man recently returned from the salt sea after having been away for a long time. He offers to take her by his side, but she tells him that she is married to a house carpenter with whom she has a child. The old sailor offers her a life with all the luxuries that she could ever want, but she tells him that she would rather live in poverty with her true love. The carpenter's wife boards the ship with her little baby to begin a new life with her love. However, the journey does not have a happy ending - the ship springs a leak and sinks, killing everyone onboard.
"The House Carpenter" has persevered through the test of time, but the depth of meaning behind the lyrics is still debated. Some interpret the song as a warning to women who stray from their husbands, while others view it primarily as a ballad of love, loss, and regret. Also, the origins of "The House Carpenter" are not explicitly delineated, and the song has many versions throughout the United States and other countries like Scotland.
Line by Line Meaning
We'll met we'll met said an old true love
An old lover met me and greeted me with joy
We'll met we'll met said he
I returned the greeting with joy
I'm just returning from the salt salt sea
I returned from a voyage at sea
And it's all for the love of thee
I went on that voyage for the sake of love for you
Climb in climb in my old true love
Come and sit with me, my old beloved
And have a seat with me
Take a seat with me
It's been three-fourths of a long long year
It's been nine months since we were last together
Since together we have been
Since we've last seen each other
Well I can't come in or I can't sit down
I can't enter or sit with you
For I haven't but a moment's time
I have only a moment
They say you're married to a house carpenter
Rumors are that you're married to a carpenter
And your heart will never be mine
And that you'll never love me again
Now it's I coulda married a king's daughter here
I had the opportunity to marry a princess
I'm sure she'da married me
She would've married me
But I've forsaken her crowns of gold
But I gave up her wealth and status
And it's all for the love of thee
For the sake of my love for you
Now will you forsaken your house carpenter
Will you leave your carpenter husband?
And go along with me
And join me in my travels?
I'll take you where the grass grows green
I'll take you to beautiful places
On the banks of the deep blue sea
By the ocean's shore
She picked up here little babe
She took her child
And kisses gave him three
And gave him three kisses
Says stay right here my darling little babe
She said to her child to stay behind
And keep your pappa company
And to keep their father's memory close
Well they hadn't been on ship but about two weeks
They had only been on the ship for two weeks
I'm sure it wasn't three
I'm certain it wasn't three weeks
Well his true love began to weep and mourn
His love began to cry
And he weeped most bitterly
And he cried deeply
Says are you a-weepin' for my silver or my gold
He asked if she cried over his money or possessions
Says are you weeping for my store
He asked if she cried over what he owned
Are you weeping for that house carpenter
He asked if she cried for her husband
Whose face you'll never see any more
Whose face she would never see again
No it's I'm not a-weepin' for your silver or your gold
She says she doesn't cry for his money or possessions
Or neither for your store
And not for what he owns
I am weeping for my darling little babe
She cries for her child
Whose face I'll never see any more
Whose face she will never see again
Well they hadn't been on ship but about three weeks
They had only been on the ship for three weeks
I'm sure it wasn't four
He's certain it wasn't four weeks
'Til they sprung a leak in the bottom of the ship
Until the ship sprung a leak
And they sunk for to rise no more
And sank, never to rise again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KELLY JOE PHELPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind