House Carpenter Jean Ritchie (child 243)

House Carpenter
Jean Ritchie
Ballads from Her Appalachian Family Tradition
Child Ballad No. 243
Also known as The Daemon Lover, James Harris or James Herries


The woman of the song had plighted herself to marry a Seaman, but later is married to a carpenter. Afterwards she is visited by a spirit to punish her for breaking her original vow, that of intending to marrying the Seaman.

She is enticed into leaving her husband and baby, in some songs children, and going with the Seaman. In a few weeks she begins to miss and mourn for the family she has left behind. Soon after the boat begins to leak.

As the boat is sinking she sees a bright hill and is told that it is heaven where she will never go. She then sees black dark hills down in sea and is told those are the hills of hell where she will go.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• house
• carpenter
• jean
• ritchie
• appalachian
• child
• ballad
• daemon
• lover
• demon
• james
• harris

[Poohlosophy]

Wow -- this is amazing! I only wish I could have such a beautiful voice. Thanks for sharing this wonderful song. It would be a shame to have such a tune lost!

[leanannsidhe]

@Poohlosophy Glad you liked it, she does have a beautiful voice.

[leanannsidhe]

@Poohlosophy Forgot to say, I Love your name, it's so cute!

[mouldybear]

I love hearing Jean sing these ballads unaccompanied. I've been listening to her for more than 45 years and she's still great. What a

ballad.

[robesofearth]

I love this version- the voice is so natural and real, what folk music ought to be.

[Poohlosophy]

@leanannsidhe thanks :o)

[jtallen12345]

No comments for this beautiful tune? love it so haunting