Pentangle - House Carpenter

Basket of Light (1969)

[@detachedprawn1431]

the greatest song of all time

[@Jarlen01]

I love this song, especially this version. Absolutely gorgeous and sad. I have also noticed something else from the numerous times I have listened to it. The young House Carpenter that is left for satan, did you ever think that the House Carpenter could be more than her husband? I can think of only one famous Carpenter who is the opposite of satan. In a song so full of imagery, poetry, and symbolism I cant imagine that was unintentionally done by the original writer 200 or so years ago.

[@spudeleven5124]

This is so amazing: who could even imagine a banjo, a sitar and a brilliant vocalist putting an amazing new spin on a traditional folk song, all in the same arrangement?!

[@p1gscanfly]

Well I once could have married the king's third son And a fine young man was he But now I'm married to a house carpenter And a noisy old man is he "(but) Will you forsake your house carpenter And a go along with a me I will take you to where the grass grows green On the bank of the river deep." "But will you have to maintain me a bound To keep me at in slavery?" "Well I have seven ships They will soon be at land And they at your command shall be." She took her two babes by the hand And gave them kisses three Said, "Stay at home you darling little babes Keep your father sweet company." Now she dressed herself in her very best Like a high born lady was she She shivered and she shimmered and she proudly stepped As they walked by the banks of the sea Well she hadn't been gone but a short, short time Until she wept for sor' "I would give all the gold in this round world Just to see my babes once more." Well if you had all the gold and the silver too That ever did cross the sea You never would be at land anymore And your babes you will never more see Well they hadn't been sailing but a short, short time About two weeks three or four When the ship sprang a leak and they were doomed And they were far away from the shore "I see bright hills of heaven my dear Where angels come and go I see bright hills that tell my dear Where you and I must go." "Well I wish I was back to my house carpenter I'm sure he would treat me well But here I am in the raging sea And my soul is bound for hell."

[@udokaiser9655]

woww!

[@micheltanaka2420]

I always thought the house carpenter as "an icy old man", not "a noisy old man". o.O

[@daragildea7434]

It's the river DEE, not "deep".

[@Pendragon667]

​@@micheltanaka2420 I always thought she was singing "and a nice young man was he". Which, in the context of the story, would make sense. The king's son was a fine young man (which riches and gold) while the House Carpenter was "just" a simple nice young man. And later she's singing that she whished she was back at her house carpenter (and the children she had with him). All in all it sounds like a happy family only to be torn apart by greed and false promises.

[@micheltanaka2420]

@@Pendragon667 Interesting, I never thought of the carpenter as a young man! I agree it makes sense, but I still think he's old to further stress how opposites the carpenter and the prince are: the prospects of marrying the young, handsome prince were probably not that good (she was just dreaming), whereas the carpenter is someone who can provide for her because he's old and established. Unrealistic X Realistic. And she elopes with the devil for an unrealistic dream, and reality crashes down on her...

[@tomengel8218]

great.ty for post

[@crystalmoreno2356]

My 💕

[@kerilyndesiree6188]

is this song about Queen Scota

[@johnmiller1620]

That sitar is brutal--he's hurting the number.

[@tunguskalumberjack9987]

I disagree. You’re being a snob.