Tam Lin
Fairport Convention (Denny Sandy & Thompson Richard) Lyrics
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To travel to Carter Hall for young Tam Lin is there
None that go by Carter Hall but they leave him a pledge
Either their mantles of green or else their maidenhead"
Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to Carter Hall as fast as go can she
She'd not pulled a double rose, a rose but only two
When up there came young Tam Lin says "Lady, pull no more"
"And why come you to Carter Hall without command from me?"
"I'll come and go", young Janet said, "and ask no leave of thee"
Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to her father as fast as go can she
Well, up then spoke her father dear and he spoke meek and mild
"Oh, and alas, Janet," he said, "I think you go with child"
"Well, if that be so," Janet said, "myself shall bear the blame
There's not a knight in all your hall shall get the baby's name
For if my love were an earthly knight as he is an elfin grey
I'd not change my own true love for any knight you have"
Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to Carter Hall as fast as go can she
"Oh, tell to me, Tam Lin," she said, "why came you here to dwell?"
"The Queen of Faeries caught me when from my horse I fell
And at the end of seven years she pays a tithe to hell
I so fair and full of flesh and feared it be myself
But tonight is Hallowe'en and the faery folk ride
Those that would their true love win at Miles Cross they must buy
So first let past the horses black and then let past the brown
Quickly run to the white steed and pull the rider down
For I'll ride on the white steed, the nearest to the town
For I was an earthly knight, they give me that renown
Oh, they will turn me in your arms to a newt or a snake
But hold me tight and fear not, I am your baby's father
And they will turn me in your arms into a lion bold
But hold me tight and fear not and you will love your child
And they will turn me in your arms into a naked knight
But cloak me in your mantle and keep me out of sight"
In the middle of the night she heard the bridle ring
She heeded what he did say and young Tam Lin did win
Then up spoke the Faery Queen, an angry queen was she
Woe betide her ?ill-fought? face, an ill death may she die
"Oh, had I known, Tam Lin," she said, "what this knight I did see
I have looked him in the eyes and turned him to a tree"
The song "Tam Lin" by Fairport Convention (Denny Sandy & Thompson Richard) is a traditional Scottish ballad that tells a story of a young woman named Janet who defies a warning not to go to Carter Hall, where the elfin knight Tam Lin resides. She ignores the advice and goes to the hall, where she picks a rose, and Tam Lin appears to warn her to take no more. He then asks her why she has come to the hall without his permission, to which Janet replies that she will come and go as she pleases. Tam Lin explains that he was caught by the Queen of Faeries and is being held captive for seven years. He tells Janet that tonight is Halloween, and the faeries will ride, and those who want to win their true love must buy their way through at Miles Cross. He instructs Janet to wait for the white steed and pull down the rider, which turns out to be himself, and to hold him tight no matter what he turns into, whether a newt, a snake, a lion, or even a naked knight. Janet successfully holds onto Tam Lin, and he is freed from faerie captivity.
The lyrics of "Tam Lin" explore themes of love, bravery, and defying societal norms. Janet defies social expectations and follows her heart by going to Carter Hall and saving the elfin knight Tam Lin. Tam Lin's character embodies the idea that true love can conquer any obstacle. The faeries in the song serve as a cautionary tale, warning that greed and allegiance to the faeries can be dangerous and ultimately lead to downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
I forbid you maidens all that wear gold in your hair
I warn all the maidens to not wear gold in their hair
To travel to Carter Hall for young Tam Lin is there
Tam Lin resides in Carter Hall, hence, maidens must not go there
None that go by Carter Hall but they leave him a pledge
Whoever passes by Carter Hall has to give something to Tam Lin as an offering
Either their mantles of green or else their maidenhead
They pledge their satin dresses or their virginity to Tam Lin as a sign of respect
Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
Janet wore her green dress above her knee
And she's gone to Carter Hall as fast as go can she
Janet hurried to Carter Hall as quickly as possible
She'd not pulled a double rose, a rose but only two
Janet only picked two roses instead of two pairs of roses
When up there came young Tam Lin says 'Lady, pull no more'
Tam Lin stopped Janet from picking more roses and spoke to her
"And why come you to Carter Hall without command from me?"
Tam Lin questioned Janet's presence in Carter Hall
"I'll come and go', young Janet said, 'and ask no leave of thee'"
Janet replied that she does not need Tam Lin's permission to enter Carter Hall
Well, up then spoke her father dear and he spoke meek and mild
Janet's father spoke gently and calmly
"Oh, and alas, Janet," he said, "I think you go with child"
Janet's father thought that she was pregnant
"Well, if that be so," Janet said, "myself shall bear the blame
Janet said that she will take responsibility if she is indeed pregnant
There's not a knight in all your hall shall get the baby's name
Janet said that no knight from her father's hall will be the father of her child
For if my love were an earthly knight as he is an elfin grey
Janet's love, Tam Lin, is a fairy knight and not an earthly one
I'd not change my own true love for any knight you have
Janet would not replace Tam Lin with any earthly knight
"Oh, tell to me, Tam Lin," she said, "why came you here to dwell?"
Janet asked Tam Lin why he came to Carter Hall
"The Queen of Faeries caught me when from my horse I fell
Tam Lin was caught by the Fairy Queen after he fell from his horse
And at the end of seven years she pays a tithe to hell
The Fairy Queen must give up one of her subjects to the devil after every seven years
I so fair and full of flesh and feared it be myself
Tam Lin worried that he would be the Fairy Queen's tithe because he is young and healthy
But tonight is Hallowe'en and the faery folk ride
On Halloween, fairies go out riding in the mortal world
Those that would their true love win at Miles Cross they must buy
To win their true love, mortals must purchase it from the fairy queen at Miles Cross
So first let past the horses black and then let past the brown
Janet must wait for the black and brown horses to pass before intervening
Quickly run to the white steed and pull the rider down
Janet must quickly grab the rider of the white horse and pull him down
For I was an earthly knight, they give me that renown
Tam Lin was once an earthly knight, and he is famous for that
Oh, they will turn me in your arms to a newt or a snake
The fairies will turn Tam Lin into a newt or snake in Janet's arms
But hold me tight and fear not, I am your baby's father
Tam Lin assures Janet that he is indeed the father of her baby and she should not worry
And they will turn me in your arms into a lion bold
The fairies will turn Tam Lin into a lion in Janet's arms
But hold me tight and fear not and you will love your child
Tam Lin tells Janet to hold him tightly and not to be afraid, and that she will love their child
And they will turn me in your arms into a naked knight
The fairies will turn Tam Lin into a naked knight in Janet's arms
But cloak me in your mantle and keep me out of sight"
To avoid being seen by the fairies, Janet must cover Tam Lin with her mantle
In the middle of the night she heard the bridle ring
Janet heard the sound of a bridle ringing in the middle of the night
She heeded what he did say and young Tam Lin did win
Janet followed Tam Lin's instructions and successfully saved him
Then up spoke the Faery Queen, an angry queen was she
The Fairy Queen was angry after losing Tam Lin
Woe betide her ill-fought face, an ill death may she die
The Queen cursed Janet and wished her a painful death due to her actions
"Oh, had I known, Tam Lin," she said, "what this knight I did see
The Fairy Queen regretted not recognizing Tam Lin's true identity
I have looked him in the eyes and turned him to a tree"
The Fairy Queen realized that if she had recognized Tam Lin, she could have turned him into a tree instead of losing him to Janet
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TRAD. ARR. FRANKIE ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ralphnoyes4366
LOL. You have a good point there.
Fairport and the Airplane were often compared in the American rock press in the late 60s -- they peaked about the same time, and Sandy and Grace were -- unique, but both truly superb. Both were stellar frontmen -- frontwomen? -- for their bands -- and Fairport feels a good bit like early-mid Airplane.
How much did Fairport tour outside of Britain? I've seen little video, notably Sandy with Fotheringay in Hamburg -- and some early demo-like b+w solo performances on BBC.
But no Fairport, that I can think of. No early videos of her, Richard Thompson, and the band? It was unfortunate that Sandy left FP. They would have been one of the biggest bands in the world with her. And the artistry was VERY strong, too. They could have held the artistic high ground vs Zeppelin, even the Stones, even if they sold fewer records.
"But tonight ... is Halloween"
WHAT A LINE !!! You just HAVE to hear what happens next !!!
@ernestmoney7252
I forbid you maidens all that wear gold in your hair
To travel to Carterhaugh for young Tam Lin is there
None that go by Carterhaugh but they leave him a pledge
Either their mantles of green or else their maidenhead"
Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as go can she
She'd not pulled a double rose, a rose but only two
When up there came young Tam Lin says "Lady, pull no more"
"And why come you to Carterhaugh without command from me?"
"I'll come and go", young Janet said, "and ask no leave of thee"
Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to her father as fast as go can she
Well, up then spoke her father dear and he spoke meek and mild
"Oh, and alas, Janet," he said, "I think you go with child"
"Well, if that be so," Janet said, "myself shall bear the blame
There's not a knight in all your hall shall get the baby's name
For if my love were an earthly knight as he is an elfin grey
I'd not change my own true love for any knight you have"
Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee
And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as go can she
"Oh, tell to me, Tam Lin," she said, "why came you here to dwell?"
"The Queen of Faeries caught me when from my horse I fell
And at the end of seven years she pays a tithe to hell
I so fair and full of flesh and feared it be myself
But tonight is Hallowe'en and the faery folk ride
Those that would their true love win at Miles Cross they must bide.
So first let past the horses black and then let past the brown
Quickly run to the white steed and pull the rider down
For I'll ride on the white steed, the nearest to the town
For I was an earthly knight, they give me that renown
Oh, they will turn me in your arms to a newt or a snake
But hold me tight and fear not, I am your baby's father
And they will turn me in your arms into a lion bold
But hold me tight and fear not and you will love your child
And they will turn me in your arms into a naked knight
But cloak me in your mantle and keep me out of sight"
In the middle of the night she heard the bridle ring
She heeded what he did say and young Tam Lin did win
Then up spoke the Faery Queen, an angry queen was she
Woe betide her ?ill-fought? face, an ill death may she die
"Oh, had I known, Tam Lin," she said, "what this night I did see
I'd have looked him in the eyes and turned him to a tree"
@burniemaurins2382
I was fortunate to see this line up at the time this album came out, having worked in the business, I saw hundreds of bands, this one and this song and this album stands up against any of them, classic work.
@davidstevenson4702
Yep,memorable concert that was.
@robertcope629
How Sandy ever remembered the words, verses and details of this amazing story is little short of miraculous. The whole story is sung in olde English which makes Sandy's achievement simply mind boggling. The other band members added their wonderful contributions by playing out of their skins. Truly one of the most remarkable recordings EVER made in folk history. Sandy you were such an amazing talent.
@stonewarebirds3620
I am totally puzzled by your comment, it isn’t in old English, just normal traditional English and if you are singer this is what you do learn and know huge quantities of often very long songs. It may be the first version of this song that you know, but to me it sounds rattled out with none of the nuance or menace of say, Bill Jone’s beautiful version.
@robertcope629
You surely must know that no one speaks the type of English that Sandy sang on TamLin nowadays. Her language is either 17th or 18th century. As to someone called Bill Jone sorry never heard of him or her. And back to Sandy. She was one of the finest female folk singers ever alongside Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Maddy Prior and Jackie McShee from the 1960s and 70s.
@stonewarebirds3620
@Robert Cope perhaps you’d like to point to which part of the language seems old english to you? Surely you must know that old english related to pre william the conqueror? And perhaps you know so little of traditional ballads that you don’t realise there is nothing extraordinary about the language of Tamlin, and it isn’t hard to remember along with hundreds of other British Ballads, a lot of which come from Scotland or the borders. As for sandy denny’s voice that is personal preference and why not be more curious about different versions rather than so narrow minded?
@bobberto2681
@stonewarebirds like ""as fast as go can she"
@stonewarebirds3620
@Bob Berto your point being that you think that is “old English’??? I think the problem here is not understanding what ‘Old English’ is….Funnily enough all traditional folk songs, being traditional, having been passed down orally from person to person before people like Child and Williams started collecting them, are not written in contemporary English, but A) that isn’t the same as Old English (did you ever study Chaucer at school?) They simply use turns of phrase we don’t use these days, in the same way that many young people no longer use the kind of language i grew up speaking as Americanisms etc filter back in - ironically you will probably find many American words eg Ladybug are older than The words we use Ladybird - so i am sorry Tam Lin is not written in Old English, you can understand it for a start, have a look at Chaucer , i would genuinely be impressed if someone was able to sing in old English and B) Sandy Denny is not some kind of genius just because she could remember a folk song for crying out loud, you can understand every word of the song yes the turns of phrases are not common parlance anymore but even the youth of today would understand that phrase. The reference to tying her girtle a bit above her knee is probably about the most outlandish you get, but that’s simply because its a word for a style of clothes we don’t wear anymore. But having the odd word we don’t use anymore in a song doesn’t make the person singing it a genius for remembering it either.
If you want idolise Sandy Denny because you like the way she sings that is one point of view, and i don’t so i can be entitled to disagree with the man, but saying it is amazing that she could remember the words to a song simply because it isn’t ‘exactly the way we use language today’ is ridiculous, remembering the words to Tamlin or any other traditional song is no harder than lewrning and remembering a Poem from the 19th Century, which many people once had to do a school, and is in fact easier because melody and repetition helps the brain get hold if it.
Anyone who sings traditional songs will know tens if not over one hundred songs like this and be able to remember the words and the melody. Sandy Denny was and is not alone in this. I have just made a list of over 100 songs that i have sung my daughter at bed time, among them are about 10 or 15 traditional songs including Tam Lin. It really isn’t hard for a singer to remember and sing these songs.
@flsunracer7250
Sandy Denny transcends time. Her voice is like no other. Smoky, pure, beautiful. These new singers need to listen to these kind of masters. I LOVE her.
@user-io5fq3jv8q
Her voice reminds me of Mary Hopkin's voice.