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I forbid you maidens all that wear gold in your hair |
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To travel to Carterhaugh for young Tam Lin is there |
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None that go by Carterhaugh but they leave him a pledge |
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Either their mantles of green or else their maidenhead |
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Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee |
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And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as go can she |
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She'd not pulled a double rose, a rose but only two |
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When up then came young Tam Lin, says "Lady, pull no more" |
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"And why come you to Carterhaugh without command from me?" |
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"I'll come and go", young Janet said, "and ask no leave of thee" |
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Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee |
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And she's gone to her father as fast as go can she |
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Well, up then spoke her father dear and he spoke meek and mild |
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"Oh, and alas, Janet," he said, "I think you go with child" |
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"Well, if that be so," Janet said, "myself shall bear the blame |
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There's not a knight in all your hall shall get the baby's name" |
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For if my love were an earthly knight as he is an elfin grey |
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I'd not change my own true love for any knight you have" |
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Janet tied her kirtle green a bit above her knee |
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And she's gone to Carterhaugh as fast as go can she |
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"Oh, tell to me, Tam Lin," she said, "why came you here to dwell?" |
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"The Queen of Faeries caught me when from my horse I fell |
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And at the end of seven years she pays a tithe to Hell |
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I so fair and full of flesh and feared it be myself |
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But tonight is Hallowe'en and the faerie folk ride |
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Those that would their true love win at Miles Cross they must bide |
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First let past the horses black and then let past the brown |
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Quickly run to the white steed and pull the rider down |
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For I'll ride on the white steed, the nearest to the town |
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For I was an earthly knight, they give me that renown |
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Oh, they will turn me in your arms to a newt or a snake |
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But hold me tight and fear not, I am your baby's father |
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And they will turn me in your arms into a lion bold |
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But hold me tight and fear not and you will love your child |
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And they will turn me in your arms into a naked knight |
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But cloak me in your mantle and keep me out of sight" |
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In the middle of the night she heard the bridle ring |
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She heeded what he did say and young Tam Lin did win |
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Then up spoke the Faerie Queen, an angry queen was she |
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"Woe betide her ill-fought face, an ill death may she die" |
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"Oh, had I known, Tam Lin," she said, "what this night I did see |
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I'd have looked him in the eyes and turned him to a tree" |