Summary
Janet goes to Carterhaugh despite the warnings against it, to pick roses. There she encounters Tam Lin, and they argue. She returns to her family home, where her father observes that she is pregnant, and she refuses to say who her lover is. She returns to the woods to speak with Tam Lin again, and he reveals his human heritage and the threat against his life, including instructions on how she can save him. She does this, and angers the Queen of Faeries in the process.
Tam Lin
- 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 maidenheads. - 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 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." - 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'ed be myself - But tonight is Halloween
and the fairy folk 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 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-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."
Video
Version Notes
Originally provided by Willem Doornkamp, who ran The Sandy Denny Page (once at http://utopia.knoware.nl/users/doornkam/index.html) .
Added to site: September 1997
Featured in the movie How I live Now