Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Scarborough Fair


Traditional (Child ballad #2 "The Elfin Knight")
Covered by Simon and Garfunkel, Ewan MacColl, among many, many others
I can't ever sing this song without hearing Art Garfunkel's sweet voice in my head.
Rise Up Singing chapter: Dreams and Fantasies, p.32

Chords:
Am - G Am / C Am D Em / Am C - G / Am G Em Am

Here's a longer version of the lyrics than what R.U.S. gives:

Are you going to Scarborough fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine
(Those last two lines are used in Bob Dylan's "Girl From the North Country", and each song makes me think of the other for that reason.)

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine.

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without any seam or fine needlework
And then she'll be a true love of mine

Tell her to wash it in yonder dry well
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Where water ne'er sprung, nor drop of rain fell
And then she'll be a true love of mine

Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born
And then she'll be a true love of mine

Ask her to do me this courtesy
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And ask for a like favour from me
And then she'll be a true love of mine

Have you been to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me from one who lives there
For he once was a true love of mine

O will you find me an acre of land?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the sea foam and the salt sea sand
Or never be a true love of mine

O will you plough it with a ram's horn
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And sow it all over with one peppercorn
For then you'll be a true love of mine

O will you reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And tie it all up in a peacock's feather
(And gather it up with a rope made of heather)
For then you'll be a true love of mine

When you have done and finished your work
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Then come to me for your cambric shirt
And you shall be a true love of mine

If you say that you can't, then I shall reply
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Oh, Let me know that at least you will try
Or you'll never be a true love of mine

Love imposes impossible tasks
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
But none more than any heart would ask
I must know you're a true love of mine

1 comment:

  1. I thought you might enjoy machinima film about the folk song Scarborough Fair http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0b0AcCtnVo
    along with my speculative conjecture that this may have arisen from Spencer's poem The Faerie Queene
    http://bit.ly/zl4P2L
    Best Wishes.

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