Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, and educated at Shrivenham School in Berkshire and the Commonweal School in Swindon. He was playing in several bands as early as age 15 when he bought his Gibson 335, a guitar that appears on nearly all of his records throughout his career, and a Vox AC30 amplifier. All previous guitars were "unsatisfactory" and required modification. He performed with local Swindon groups in clubs and dance halls playing mostly Buddy Holly songs. One of Hayward's early groups was All Things Bright, which opened for The Hollies and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. At age 17, he signed an eight-year publishing contract as a songwriter with the skiffle artist and record producer Lonnie Donegan, a move Hayward later regretted, as it meant the rights to all his songs written before 1974 would always be owned by Donegan's Tyler Music. In 1965 he answered an advertisement in Melody Maker and auditioned as guitarist for Marty Wilde and he went on to work with Wilde and his wife in The Wilde Three.
For the most part, Hayward has used a red Gibson ES-335, though he also uses other guitars in both performing and recording, including a 1955 Martin D-28 "Dreadnought", a James Olson six-string acoustic, a black Guild acoustic, a Squier Stratocaster (essentially an inexpensive Fender Stratocaster, as Squier is a subsidiary of Fender), a Fender Telecaster, a blonde Guild 12-string acoustic (tuned to "open C" for "Question"), and in 1967 a black Gibson Les Paul. Between 1965 and 1968, he was without his Gibson 335 and relied on other instruments, most notably a 1964 Fender Telecaster and a hand-built 12-string guitar he had renovated for Donegan (he eventually bought this guitar from Donegan's widow). However, in an interview included on the Lovely to See You concert DVD (2005), Hayward says the 1963 Gibson 335 has been with him since 1967. Recently, he has played a Collings D3 on stage and on recordings. Among other instruments, Hayward also played mandolin on A Question of Balance and sitar on In Search of the Lost Chord.
Written at the end of one love affair and the beginning of another, the song "Nights in White Satin" was, according to Hayward, "in adoration of all women". Hayward married model Ann Marie Guirron on 19 December 1970. His daughter Doremi, who sings on the track "Raised on Love" on Hayward's 1977 album Songwriter, was born on 3 December 1972.
In 2013, Hayward spoke of his learning Transcendental Meditation in 1967, along with other members of the Moody Blues.
Scarborough fair
Justin Hayward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seams nor needlework
Tell her to find me an acre of land
Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strand
Then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to reap it in a sickle of leather
Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme
And to gather it all in a bunch of heather
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
The lyrics of Justin Hayward's song Scarborough Fair have roots in a medieval British folk song of the same name, which serves as a ballad about a man who tasks a messenger to send a message to his former lover he can no longer have. The original ballad is also part of a riddle, where the lover must complete impossible tasks for a chance of love, relating to the unattainable nature of the singer's relationship with his love interest. In Hayward's version, the song is arranged with a gentle acoustic guitar, flute, and strings, and the chorus is repeated throughout the song, and delivers the message.
The singer sends a message to his former lover through the messenger, asking if she is going to Scarborough Fair, a medieval trading event, and urges her to remember him to one who lives there. He then goes on to request impossible tasks and conditions that must be fulfilled for the singer and his love interest to be together again, including the creation of a cambric shirt with no seams or needlework, finding an acre of land between the saltwater and the sea, and reaping it with a sickle of leather and gathering it in a bunch of heather. These repeated requests from the singer, after the first impossible task, highlight the unattainable nature of the love they once shared, and serve as a bittersweet sentiment in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Are you planning to attend the yearly fair that takes place in Scarborough? This question implies a desire to see the person the singer is addressing.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
These four herbs are mentioned repeatedly throughout the song, and their presence implies something of significance. They might represent practical advice or instructions for a task the singer wants the addressee to accomplish.
Remember me to one who lives there
The singer wants the addressee to convey a message to someone they both know who resides in Scarborough. This implies a longing to connect with the person and perhaps rekindle an old relationship.
She once was a true love of mine
The person the artist wants to send a message to is someone they have been romantically involved with in the past. They still care for them deeply and hope to rekindle their love.
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
The artist is giving clear instructions on what they want the addressee to tell their former lover to do. Making them a high-quality shirt implies a desire for a stronger romantic connection.
Without no seams nor needlework
The singer's request to eliminate any seams or needlework in the shirt implies an attention to detail and a desire for perfection. This could represent what the singer expects out of a romantic partner - someone who is meticulous and committed to doing things right.
Then she'll be a true love of mine
The repeated phrase 'she'll be a true love of mine' suggests that the singer sees this as a condition for their love to be rekindled. Their former lover will have to meet the singer's expectations in order to be with them again.
Tell her to find me an acre of land
The artist wants the addressee to instruct their former lover to find them a piece of land situated between the sea strand and salt water. This could indicate a desire for a serene and picturesque view, and perhaps alludes to the artist's romantic vision of the future.
And to gather it all in a bunch of heather
The heather represents another specific detail the artist wants their former lover to attend to. This attention to detail could mean they have a high set of standards and want someone who is willing to put in the effort to meet them.
Tell her to reap it in a sickle of leather
The artist is requesting that their former lover collect and harvest the acre of land using a sickle made of leather. This detail further emphasizes the artist's attention to detail and desire for perfection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mike Batt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeankaye6760
Justin puts his heart and soul into his songs.Gets lost in the music.Wonderful
@jmeyer4321
Classic Blue is a classic collection by a classic and classy
artist
@carlatamanczyk3891
Justin just has that Heavenly voice.
@robertahartley1
oh my gosh! I loved this song as a child and used to sing it in gradeschool...i didn't know Justin sang it...and so beautifully of coarse...what a special treat!
@barbaramoorwright2218
Beautiful and evocative.
@rachelemilyy
Justin has one of the most romantic voice in rock/pop. Listen to his version of Bright Eyes!
@aliciacoduras6140
I had never heard this version before. There is no doubt that Justin has a privileged voice and style to sing almost everything. Thank you master
@karengould8845
such a beautiful song :)
@sarahleach9997
really lovely justin
@user-vi5vq6jf5p
Uncredibly beautiful version
Justin is is a genious