Tam Lin

歌詞

"Oh, I forbid you maidens all That wear gold in your hair To come or go by Carterhaugh, For young Tam Lin is there. "And if you go by Carterhaugh, You must leave him a wad— Either your rings or green mantle or else your maidenhead." She's away o'er gravel green And over gravel brown She's away to Carterhaugh To flower herself a gown She had not pulled a rosy rose, A rose but barely one, When by came this brisk young man Says, "Lady, let alone. "How dare you pull my rose, madam? How dare you break my tree? How dare you come to Carterhaugh Without the leave of me?" "Well may I pull the rose," she said "Well may I break the tree, For Carterhaugh is my father's— I'll ask no leave of thee." Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh He's ta'en her by the milk-white hand And there he's laid her down And there he's asked no leave of her As she lay on the ground "Oh tell me, tell me," then she said, "Oh tell me who art thee." "My name it is Tam Lin," he said, "And this is my story. "As it fell out upon a day, A-hunting I did ride. There came a wind out of the north And woe did me betide. "And drowsy, drowsy as I was The sleep upon me fell. The queen of fairies she was there and took me to her cell." Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh "At the end of every seven years They pay a tithe to Hell, And I'm so fain and full of flesh I fear 'twill be myself. "Tonight it is good Hallowe'en— The fairy court will ride, And if you would your true love win, At Miles Cross you must bide." Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh Gloomy was the night And eerie was the way This lady in her green mantle To Miles Cross she did go With the holy water in her hand She cast the compass round At twelve o'clock the fairy court Came riding o'er the mound First came by the black steed And then came by the brown Then Tam Lin on the milk-white steed With a gold star in his crown She's pulled him down into her arms Let the bridle fall The queen of fairies she cried out, "Young Tam Lin is awa'!" They've shaped him in her arms An adder or a snake She's held him fast and feared him not To be her earthly mate They've shaped him in her arms again Fire burning bold She's held him fast and feared him not Till he was iron cold They've shaped him in her arms To a wood black dog so wild She's held him fast and feared him not The father of her child They've shaped him in her arms at last Into a naked man She's wrapped him in her green mantle And knew she had him won The queen of fairies she cried out, "Young Tam Lin is awa'! "Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin Long before, long before you came from home Had I known, I would have taken out your heart And put in a heart of stone. "Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin That a lady, a lady would steal thee Had I known, I would have taken out your eyes And put in two from a tree. "Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin That I would lose, that I would lose the day Had I known, I would have paid my tithe to Hell Before you'd been won away."