The House Carpenter

General Information
Performer: Clarence Ashley

Instrumentation: Banjo

Date of recording: 1930

Record label: Columbia

Serial #:15654D(WI94982)

Summary
(As summarized by Harry Smith, The Anthology Of American Folk Music) "WIFE AND MOTHER FOLLOWS CARPENTER TO SEA; MOURNS BABE AS SHIP GOES DOWN" (2)

Information On This Song
This song is a rendition of Child Ballad #243 (James Harris-The Daemon Lover), it is most like version "B" of said ballad. There is also a Broadside version of this ballad from 1685 (later reprinted in c. 1711-1732) entitled "A Warning for Married Women.Being an Example of Mrs. Jane Reynolds (a weſt-country-Woman) born neer Plimouth who having plighted her troth to a Seaman, was afterwards married to a Carpenter, and at laſt carried away by a Spirit, the manner how ſhall presently be recited."

Albums Featuring This Song

 * The Anthology Of American Folk Music
 * Songcatcher II
 * Greenback Dollar (1929-1933)
 * Before The Blues, Vol. 3
 * Old Time Music at Newport

Related Articles

 * List Of Ballad Renditions
 * Tragic Love Ballads