Scarborough Fair
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 Lyrics
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Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For once she was a true love of mine
Have her make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seam nor fine needle work
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to weave it in a sycamore wood lane
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And gather it all with a basket of flowers
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Have her 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
Have her find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the sea foam and over the sand
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Plow the land with the horn of a lamb
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Then sow some seeds from north of the dam
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
And then she'll be a true love of mine
If she tells me she can't, I'll reply
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Let me know that at least she will try
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Love imposes impossible tasks
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Though not more than any heart asks
And I must know she's a true love of mine
Dear, when thou has finished thy task
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Come to me, my hand for to ask
For thou then art a true love of mine
The song Scarborough Fair is a traditional English ballad that has been passed down and adapted over the centuries. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66’s version of this song maintains the traditional melody while adding a layer of soft Brazilian rhythms and harmony. The lyrics of the song are structured as a sort of dialogue between two people in love, where the singer asks the other person to perform various impossible tasks, the completion of which will prove their true love. The song starts by asking if the person would go to Scarborough Fair and deliver a message to someone who lives there and was once a true love of the singer.
The following stanzas of the song describe the different tasks that the singer asks the person to accomplish, such as making a shirt without seam, creating a basket of flowers, finding land between foam and sand, plowing it with a lamb’s horn, sowing seeds from north of the dam, and reaping it with a sickle of leather. The final stanza of the song reminds the person that love imposes impossible tasks, but that completing such tasks can lead to the realization of true love. The song ends with a plea for the person to come back to the singer when they have finished the task, for they will then be a true love of the singer.
Overall, the song Scarborough Fair is a tale of unrequited love and impossible tasks. The singer demands seemingly impossible tasks from their beloved in order to prove that they love them. The song emphasizes that love can be difficult and require tremendous effort, but that it is worth it if it leads to a true connection with another person.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Will you take my message to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
These herbs represent the instructions for making a shirt
Remember me to one who lives there
Please remind her of the love we once shared
For once she was a true love of mine
She was my beloved partner in the past
Have her make me a cambric shirt
Ask her to craft me a shirt from cambric fabric
Without no seam nor fine needle work
Make sure the shirt has no seams or visible stitching
And then she'll be a true love of mine
If she completes this task, she will prove her love
Tell her to weave it in a sycamore wood lane
Instruct her to weave the shirt in a peaceful sycamore forest
And gather it all with a basket of flowers
Collect the finished shirt with a basket of colorful flowers
Have her wash it in yonder dry well
Wash the shirt in a nearby dry well without water or rain
where water ne'er sprung nor drop of rain fell
This dry well has no water source and remains dry
Have her find me an acre of land
Ask her to find an acre of land by the sea
Between the sea foam and over the sand
This land should be between the sea and the sand
Plow the land with the horn of a lamb
Use the sharp horn of a lamb to plow the land
Then sow some seeds from north of the dam
Plant seeds from the northern side of a dam
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
When it's time, cut the crops with a leather sickle
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
Gather the crops together with a bundle of heather flowers
If she tells me she can't, I'll reply
If she says she can't do it, I'll respond with a message
Let me know that at least she will try
Tell me that she will at least attempt the task
Love imposes impossible tasks
Love makes us ask for and do impossible things
Though not more than any heart asks
These tasks may not be more than what a loving heart demands
And I must know she's a true love of mine
I will know she is my true love if she carries out these tasks
Dear, when thou has finished thy task
My beloved, when you finish your tasks
Come to me, my hand for to ask
Come to me and ask for my hand in marriage
For thou then art a true love of mine
Once this is done, I will know you are my true love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Arthur Garfunkel, Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AlteredBates
Heavy Traffic is what made me fall head over heels for this one.
@JGordonAuthor
Me too
@RagingReality
Same.
@ericwilliams1575
Me as well
@cynthiaculiner9
You have no taste
@juanchavez8444
One of the best scenes ever
@mike44scv1
As a kid, I remember this song playing on the radio - on Thanksgiving morning 1968 as I was dressing to go out and play in the snow. Funny how music can bring back a snapshot in time.... when little else can.
@VoltVisionary
What a ultra beautiful experience
@consv
My favorite version of this song. Reminds me of summer in the 60's.
@conniee.
Yes, mine too, and that's the last time I think I heard it, was in the '60s on the radio.🤔😊 The title was always hard for me to remember later on through the years, but then a few days ago I remembered that Brazil 66 had made the version of this song that I had heard back in the '60s, I looked up Brazil 66 on YT, so when I saw the title, then I remembered, "yes, that's it" so here I Am.😄