Scarborough fair
Jean-Michel Pilc Trio 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
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 lyrics of the song Scarborough Fair by Jean-Michel Pilc Trio are reminiscent of a medieval ballad and are believed to date back to the 17th century. The song is a dialogue between a man and a woman, where the man asks the woman to perform impossible tasks in order to win his love. The refrain that appears after each verse is a reminder of the herbs that the woman should take with her to Scarborough Fair, where they symbolize the virtues of love, patience, purity, and fidelity.
The first verse of Scarborough Fair invites the listener to accompany the singer to Scarborough Fair and to deliver a message to a former lover. In the second verse, the singer asks the former lover to make him a cambric shirt, a task that requires great skill and patience to complete. The third and fourth verses are about gathering the materials for the shirt and washing it in a mythical dry well, respectively. In the fifth verse, the singer asks the former lover to find him an acre of land, and in the sixth, to plow it with a lamb's horn and sow it with seeds from the north. In the seventh verse, the singer tells the former lover to reap the harvest with a sickle of leather and gather it in a bunch of heather. The eighth verse acknowledges that the tasks are impossible, but the singer is willing to accept the attempt as proof of love. The final verse promises that if the former lover completes the impossible tasks, she will be a true love of his.
Overall, the song Scarborough Fair is a powerful reminder of love's power to inspire impossible tasks, of the challenges lovers face in trying to win each other's affection, and of the virtues of patience, purity, and fidelity that are essential to a fulfilling romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Would you be so kind as to go to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
These are the herbs that I would like used in my requests.
Remember me to one who lives there
Please pass my message along to someone in Scarborough Fair for me.
For once she was a true love of mine
We were once in love.
Have her make me a cambric shirt
Can you ask her to make me a shirt made of fine linen fabric?
Without no seam nor fine needle work
I want this shirt to be made without any seams or elaborate stitching.
And then she'll be a true love of mine
If she does this for me, then I will consider her a true love of mine.
Tell her to weave it in a sycamore wood lane
Can you request that she weave the shirt in a secluded area surrounded by Sycamore trees?
And gather it all with a basket of flowers
I want her to collect the shirt when it is finished with a basket of flowers.
Have her wash it in yonder dry well
In order to clean the shirt, I request that it be washed in a dry well.
where water ne'er sprung nor drop of rain fell
This well should be one where no water has ever flowed through or fallen into.
Have her find me an acre of land
Can you request that she find me some land?
Between the sea foam and over the sand
This land should be located between the sea foam and the sand.
Plow the land with the horn of a lamb
In order to prepare the land for planting, I want it to be plowed using a lamb's horn.
Then sow some seeds from north of the dam
I want the plot to be seeded with plants that come from the north of the dam.
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
When the plants are ready to be harvested, I ask that she use a sickle made of leather to cut them.
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
The harvested plants should be collected and tied together with a bunch of heather.
If she tells me she can't, I'll reply
If she cannot fulfill these requests, then I will respond with the following.
Let me know that at least she will try
Please inform me that she will at least make an effort to fulfill my requests.
And then she'll be a true love of mine
If she makes an effort to fulfill my requests, then I will consider her a true love of mine.
Love imposes impossible tasks
Love often requires people to do difficult or impossible things.
Though not more than any heart asks
These requests are not more than a heart in love could ask for.
And I must know she's a true love of mine
By carrying out these tasks, I will know for sure that she truly loves me.
Dear, when thou has finished thy task
My dear, once you have completed these 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
If you complete these tasks and ask for my hand in marriage, then you will truly be a love of mine.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ARTHUR GARFUNKEL, PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind