Garrett has performed across the whole world and has also sung opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall to celebrate the arrival of the new century on Millennium Eve, in the grounds at the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum.
She played the lead role of Hanna Glawari, in the Welsh National Opera's production of The Merry Widow, which toured the United Kingdom in 2005. As of November 2006, Garrett was performing as Mother Abbess for six months, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music.
As a recording artist, Garrett has released eleven solo albums. Many of her albums have received gold and silver status. Soprano in Red received the Gramophone Award for "Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year". Garrett was also a featured artist on the platinum selling Perfect Day single released by the BBC in aid of Children in Need.
Garrett is a member of the board of the English National Opera. In 2002, she was awarded the CBE for services to music.
She is also a presenter on the UK commercial radio station "Classic FM".
Scarborough Fair
Lesley Garrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 may appear to be a simple request to deliver a message to someone living in Scarborough. As the song progresses, it becomes evident that the message is being delivered by someone who is asking the recipient to complete impossible tasks to prove their love. The lyrics "Love imposes impossible tasks, though not more than any heart asks" shows the inherent paradox of love; the lover is making impossible demands, but they are also acknowledging the fact that it is the nature of love to demand the impossible. The lyrics of the song also talk about weaving a shirt without any seam or fine needlework, plowing the land with a horn of a lamb, and asking to find an acre of land between the sea foam and over the sand.
The song is not just a simple love song. It has roots in medieval times and is a traditional English ballad with origins that can be traced back to the 17th century. The song is based on a melody called "The Elfin Knig," which is a German ballad. The ballad tells a story of a quest to overcome impossible tasks that were assigned to demonstrate true love. The song is often associated with Scarborough, a town in North Yorkshire, England, and the harbor fair held there. The song has inspired many cover versions by various artists, including Simon and Garfunkel, who added their lyrics to the song and made it popular in the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Are you planning to visit the Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Using these herbs to signify different tasks
Remember me to one who lives there
Please pass on my regards to someone who is staying there
For once she was a true love of mine
I used to be in love with her, one point in time
Have her make me a cambric shirt
I want her to make me a new shirt with light fabric
Without no seam nor fine needle work
Without having any visible stitching or any other decorations
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Once she does this task for me, she'll become my true love again
Tell her to weave it in a sycamore wood lane
Instruct her to weave the shirt in an open place surrounded by sycamore trees
And gather it all with a basket of flowers
She should collect all the materials needed for the shirt using a basket of flowers
Have her wash it in yonder dry well
I want her to wash the shirt in a well where no groundwater flows
where water ne'er sprung nor drop of rain fell
This well is dry, and rain or any water doesn't fall in it
Have her find me an acre of land
I want her to find me a piece of land measuring an acre
Between the sea foam and over the sand
The land should be situated between the seashore and the sand
Plow the land with the horn of a lamb
Instruct her to plow the land using a lamb's horn
Then sow some seeds from north of the dam
She should then plant seeds from an area north of the dam
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Once she does all of these tasks, she'll become my true love again
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
Instruct her to cut the harvest with a tool made of leather
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
She should then bundle up the harvest with plants such as heather
If she tells me she can't, I'll reply
If she tells me that she can't do these tasks, I will respond
Let me know that at least she will try
I want her to inform me that she will at least try to complete the tasks
And then she'll be a true love of mine
If she tries her best to do everything, then she'll become my true love again
Love imposes impossible tasks
Being in love often means having to do difficult and challenging things
Though not more than any heart asks
However, these tasks shouldn't be more difficult than what someone's heart can handle
And I must know she's a true love of mine
All of these tasks will prove that she truly loves me and wants to be with me
Dear, when thou has finished thy task
Once she has completed all of these tasks
Come to me, my hand for to ask
She should come to me and take my hand
For thou then art a true love of mine
This will confirm that she is my true love and the tasks were worth it
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ARTHUR GARFUNKEL, PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind