Simon's career began with a short-lived music group with her sister Lucy as The Simon Sisters. They had a minor hit in 1964 called "Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod", and made three albums together before Lucy left to get married and start a family. Later, Carly Simon collaborated with eclectic New York rockers Elephant's Memory for about six months. She also appeared in the 1971 Milos Forman movie Taking Off, playing an auditioning singer, and sang "Long Term Physical Effects", which was included in Taking Off, the 1971 soundtrack for the movie.
Simon's major breakthrough was 1972's No Secrets. The album spawned several successful singles, including Simon's biggest hit, "You're So Vain". Simon continued to produce successful albums through the 1970s and early 1980s, moving into film scores after she was dropped by her record label in 1985. She performed the main title song for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me - "Nobody Does It Better" which was a worldwide hit in 1977.
Scarborough fair
Carly Simon Lyrics
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Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.
On the side of a hill in the deep forest green.
Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested brown.
Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt:
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
Without no seams nor needle work,
Then she'll be a true love of mine.
On the side of a hill a sprinkling of leaves.
Washes the grave with silvery tears.
A soldier cleans and polishes a gun.
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.
Tell her to find me an acre of land:
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
Between the salt water and the sea strand,
Then she'll be a true love of mine.
War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions.
General order their soldiers to kill.
And to fight for a cause they've long ago forgotten.
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather:
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
And gather it all in a bunch of heather,
Then she'll be a true love of mine.
Carly Simon’s version of the traditional English ballad, Scarborough Fair, starts with the lines “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.” This song is a conversation between two former lovers who are giving each other impossible tasks to fulfill before they can reunite. Scarborough Fair is an ancient trade fair in England, dating back to the 13th century, and the location is symbolic of the challenges faced by the singers. The herbs mentioned are symbolic too - parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, were seen as medicinal or magical, often used in healing or warding off evil spirits. In the song, they are representations of virtues such as love, loyalty, purity, and diligence.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Are you planning to attend Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
These are the herbs that are significant in the following verses.
Remember me to one who lives there.
Please send my greetings to the person who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.
I used to be in love with her.
On the side of a hill in the deep forest green.
Refers to the location and environment where the next scene is set.
Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested brown.
Depicts the image of a sparrow on snow and brown leaves that have fallen.
Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain
A child, who lives on the mountain, is sleeping peacefully with warm blankets and bedclothes.
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.
The child is sleeping and unaware of any warning or call to action.
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Ask her to sew a cambric shirt for me.
Without no seams nor needle work,
The shirt should be made without any seams or stitches.
Then she'll be a true love of mine.
If she makes this shirt for me, it will show her love for me.
On the side of a hill a sprinkling of leaves.
Depicts a location and environment similar to the first scene.
Washes the grave with silvery tears.
The wind and leaves make it seem like the grave is being washed by tears.
A soldier cleans and polishes a gun.
A soldier is cleaning and polishing his weapon.
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.
The soldier is sleeping and unaware of any warning or call to action.
Tell her to find me an acre of land
Ask her to find me an acre of land.
Between the salt water and the sea strand,
The land should be near the sea and saltwater.
Then she'll be a true love of mine.
If she can find this land for me, it will show her love for me.
War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions.
Describes the chaos and destruction of war.
General order their soldiers to kill.
Leaders are commanding their soldiers to kill.
And to fight for a cause they've long ago forgotten.
The soldiers don't remember what they're fighting for.
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
Ask her to harvest the crops with a leather sickle.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
These herbs are mentioned again, perhaps to tie the verses together.
And gather it all in a bunch of heather,
After harvesting, she should gather it all together in a bunch of heather.
Then she'll be a true love of mine.
If she can do this for me, it will show her love for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARLY E. SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind