Tam lin

I forbid you maidens all, that wear gold in your hair,
To travel to carterhaugh for younge tam lin is there.

None that go by carterhaugh but they leave him a pledge,
Either their mantles of green or else their maidenheads.

Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee,
And she's gone to carterhaugh as fast as go can she.

She's not pulled a double rose, a rose but only two,
When up then came younge tam lin says "lady pull no more."

"and why come you to carterhaugh without command from me?"
"i'll come and go" younge 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 clear 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 me tam lin" she said "how 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 the tithe to hell?
I so fair and full of flesh and fear'ed be myself.

But tonight is halloween and the fairy folk do ride,
Those that would their true love win at mile's cross they must hide.

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 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, and angry queen was she,
"woe betide her ill-farred face, an ill death may she die."

"had I known tam lin" she said "this night I did see
I'd have looked him in the eyes and turned him to a tree."

Traditional - arr fairport