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House Carpenter

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This gives a little variation if you're doing this solo acoustic.
House Carpenter
Traditional, Arr. Sara Watkins / Alison Krauss.
Capo 2
[Em] "Well met, well [D] met, said an [Em] old true love.
"Well met, well [D] met, said [Em] he.
"I have [C] just returned from the [D] salt, salt [Bm] sea.
"And it's [C] all for the [D] love of [Em] thee." 
[Em] Come in, come [D] in, my [Em] own true love,
And have a [D] seat by [Em] me.
It's [C] been three-fourths of a [D] long, long [Bm] year,
Since [C] together, [D] we have [Em] been.
[Em] "I can't come [D] in and I [Em] can't sit down,
"For I've only a [D] moment's [Em] time.
"They [C] say you're married to a [D] house carpenter,
"And your [C] heart will [D] never be [Em] mine.
 Em"I could have  Dmarried a  EmKing's daughter, fair,
"And she would have  Dmarried  Emme,
"But  CI have forsaken her  Dcrowns of  Bmgold,
"And it's  Call for the  Dlove of  Emthee."
 Em"Now you  Dforsake your  Emhouse carpenter,
"And go  Dalong with  Emme.
"I'll  Ctake you where the  Dgrass grows  Bmgreen.
"On the  Cbanks of the  Ddeep blue  Emsea."
 EmThen she picked  Dup a  Emdarlin' little babe,
And kisses, she  Dgave it  Emthree.
Saying  C"Stay right here, my  Ddarlin' little  Bmbabe,
"And  Ckeep your pappa  Dcompany Em."
 EmThey had not  Dbeen on the  Emship two weeks,
I'm sure it  Dwas not  Emthree,
Till his  Ctrue love began to  Dweep and to  Bmmourn,
And  Cshe wept most  Dbitterly Em.
 EmSayin': "Are you  Dweepin' for my  Emsilver and my gold."
Sayin': "Are you  Dweepin' for my  Emstore?
"Or  Care you weepin' for your  Dhouse  Bmcarpenter,
"Whose  Cface you'll never  Dsee no  Emmore?"
 Em"A curse, a  Dcurse to the  Emsailor," she cried.
"A curse, a  Dcurse," she  Emswore.
"You  Crobbed me of my  Ddarlin' little  Bmbabe,
"That  CI shall never  Dsee no  Emmore."
 EmThey had not  Dbeen on the  Emship three weeks,
I'm sure it  Dwas not  Emfour,
When there  Ccame a leak in the  Dbottom of the  Bmship,
And  Csank them for to  Drise no  Emmore.

All chords in this song (4)

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House Carpenter

by Nickel Creek

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

This gives a little variation if you're doing this solo acoustic.

House Carpenter

Traditional, Arr. Sara Watkins / Alison Krauss.

Capo 2

Em D Em

[] "Well met, well [] met, said an [] old true love.

D Em

"Well met, well [] met, said [] he.

C D Bm

"I have [] just returned from the [] salt, salt [] sea.

C D Em

"And it's [] all for the [] love of [] thee."

Em D Em

[] Come in, come [] in, my [] own true love,

D Em

And have a [] seat by [] me.

C D Bm

It's [] been three-fourths of a [] long, long [] year,

C D Em

Since [] together, [] we have [] been.

Em D Em

[] "I can't come [] in and I [] can't sit down,

D Em

"For I've only a [] moment's [] time.

C D

"They [] say you're married to a [] house carpenter,

C D Em

"And your [] heart will [] never be [] mine.

Em D Em

"I could have married a King's daughter, fair,

D Em

"And she would have married me,

C D Bm

"But I have forsaken her crowns of gold,

C D Em

"And it's all for the love of thee."

Em D Em

"Now you forsake your house carpenter,

D Em

"And go along with me.

C D Bm

"I'll take you where the grass grows green.

C D Em

"On the banks of the deep blue sea."

Em D Em

Then she picked up a darlin' little babe,

D Em

And kisses, she gave it three.

C D Bm

Saying "Stay right here, my darlin' little babe,

C D Em

"And keep your pappa company ."

Em D Em

They had not been on the ship two weeks,

D Em

I'm sure it was not three,

C D Bm

Till his true love began to weep and to mourn,

C D Em

And she wept most bitterly .

Em D Em

Sayin': "Are you weepin' for my silver and my gold."

D Em

Sayin': "Are you weepin' for my store?

C D Bm

"Or are you weepin' for your house carpenter,

C D Em

"Whose face you'll never see no more?"

Em D Em

"A curse, a curse to the sailor," she cried.

D Em

"A curse, a curse," she swore.

C D Bm

"You robbed me of my darlin' little babe,

C D Em

"That I shall never see no more."

Em D Em

They had not been on the ship three weeks,

D Em

I'm sure it was not four,

C D Bm

When there came a leak in the bottom of the ship,

C D Em

And sank them for to rise no more.

About House Carpenter Chords by Nickel Creek

Learn how to play House Carpenter by Nickel Creek with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “House Carpenter chords”, “House Carpenter guitar chords”, or “Nickel Creek House Carpenter chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy House Carpenter chords and for experienced players who want accurate House Carpenter lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, D, C, Bm, A.

FAQ — House Carpenter by Nickel Creek

How do I play "House Carpenter" by Nickel Creek on guitar?

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Can I transpose "House Carpenter" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "House Carpenter" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "House Carpenter"?

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Is "House Carpenter" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "House Carpenter" in?

The chords for "House Carpenter" show the original chord names (including Em, D, C, Bm, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.