Tam Lin lyrics

Artist  : Sandy Denny 
Song : Tam Lin



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 The words are different from the original (child)
version but this is a very close approximation of
the song as performed by sandy denny.

’’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 then 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’’

So 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 fairies 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 fear it be
myself

But tonight is halloween and the fairy folk ride
Those that would let true love win at mile’s
cross they must bide

So first let pass the horses black and then let
pass 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 fairy queen, an angry queen was
she
Woe betide her ill-far’d 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’’