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Scarborough fair
[unknown] Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Man
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Without any seam nor 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
Which never sprung water nor rain ever 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
Both
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
Woman
Ask him to find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea-sand
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Ask him to plough it with a lamb's horn
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And sow it all over with one peppercorn
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Ask him to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And gather it up with a rope made of heather
For then he'll be a true love of mine
When he has done and finished his work
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Ask him to come for his cambric shirt
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Both
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
The song 'Scarborough Fair' is a traditional English ballad that dates back to the 17th century. It tells the story of a man who instructs his friend to pass on a message to his former lover, asking her to perform a series of impossible tasks to prove her love for him. The lyrics are filled with symbolic meaning, particularly the use of the herbs parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. The man instructs the woman to make him a cambric shirt without any seams or needlework and to wash it in a well that never sprung water nor saw raindrops. She must dry it on a thorn that has never borne blossoms and then he will call her his true love.
The woman then responds with her own impossible tasks for the man to complete, including finding her an acre of land between the saltwater and the sea-sand and ploughing it with a lamb's horn. The song ends with a reminder that true love is not easy, and imposes impossible tasks. This is why the message in the song is; if you say you can't complete these tasks, then I shall reply “Oh, let me know that at least you will try or you'll never be a true love of mine."
Overall, the song is a testimony to loyalty and devotion, though it also raises questions about the nature of love and the lengths people are willing to go to prove it.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Do you plan to attend the Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
These are the ingredients mentioned throughout the song, and serve as a repeating motif
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine
Please pass on my regards to my former lover who lives in Scarborough and was once my true love
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Without any seam nor needlework
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Ask her to make me a seamless cambric shirt, and if she complies, she will become a true love of mine
Tell her to wash it in yonder dry well
Which never sprung water nor rain ever fell
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Instruct her to wash the shirt in a well that has never been filled with water, and if she does, she will become a true love of mine
Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to dry the shirt on a thorn bush that has never once blossomed, and if she follows through, she will become a true love of mine
Ask her to do me this courtesy
And ask for a like favour from me
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Please request this of her, and in exchange, I will owe her a favor, and if she agrees, she will become a true love of mine
Remember me from one who lives there
For he once was a true love of mine
Please deliver my regards to my former lover who lives in Scarborough and was once my true love
Ask him to find me an acre of land
Between the salt water and the sea-sand
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Ask him to locate an area of land between the sea and the sand, and if he does, he will become a true love of mine
Ask him to plough it with a lamb's horn
And sow it all over with one peppercorn
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Request that he plow the land with a lamb's horn and plant it all with one peppercorn, and if he carries out these tasks, he will become a true love of mine
Ask him to reap it with a sickle of leather
And gather it up with a rope made of heather
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Instruct him to harvest the crop with a leather sickle and bind it with a rope made of heather, and if he does so, he will become a true love of mine
Ask him to come for his cambric shirt
For then he'll be a true love of mine
Tell him to come for his cambric shirt, and if he shows, he will become a true love of mine
If you say that you can't, then I shall reply
Oh, Let me know that at least you will try
Or you'll never be a true love of mine
If you say you can't comply with these requests, please promise to at least try, else you will never be a true love of mine
Love imposes impossible tasks
But none more than any heart would ask
I must know you're a true love of mine
Love demands difficult things, but no more than what any heart could endure. I need to know you are my true love
Contributed by Juliana G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bernardputersznit64
Lyrics
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt (in the deep forest green)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested ground)
Without no seams nor needle work
(Bedclothes the child of the mountain)
Then she'll be a true love of mine
(Sleeps unaware of the clarion call)
Tell her to find me an acre of land
(A sprinkling of leaves)
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
(Washes the grave with silvery tears)
Between the salt water and the sea strands
(And polishes a gun)
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
(Blazing in scarlet battalions)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Generals order their soldiers to kill)
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
(A cause they've long ago forgotten)
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
@hopper__
[Verse 1]
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
[Verse 2]
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
On the side of a hill, in the deep forest green
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested ground
Without no seams nor needle work
Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call
[Verse 3]
Tell her to find me an acre of land
On the side of a hill, a sprinkling of leaves
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Washes the grave with silvery tears
Between the salt water and the sea strands
A soldier cleans and polishes a gun
Then she'll be a true love of mine
[Verse 4]
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Generals order their soldiers to kill
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
And to fight for a cause they've long ago forgotten
Then she'll be a true love of mine
[Verse 5]
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
@jimmykjazz
When I was in Vietnam, this music helped me survive.
@jennymulhall816
I can’t imagine how surreal it must have been to listen to such beautiful music in the midst of what you lived through.
My own nation was not involved, so I don’t know anyone who was there, but what I have seen on the television leads me to be glad that you are still here, and enjoying good music.
I wish you well, Sir. ❤
@marcospadilla1793
🙏🏾💪🏽
@justinmikulenka9588
Thank you for sharing that,.. and for your undeniable courage 🙏
@40173k
God. That really got me.
@samanthaannbevens8612
Ty so much for your service.
@martinfidler9889
As a teenager my father suggested we watch The Graduate, we did and the music of S & G just blew me away. My father died two years ago today and I am listening to Scarborough Fair and thinking of him with tears in my eyes. Thanks Dad for all those things that you got right. I miss you..
@oscarcanero3460
Beautiful words
@frankcascioli9289
And with that, tears now in my eyes...
@deborahchesser7375
@@frankcascioli9289mine as well