MP3 audio of Scarborough Fair
Scarborough Fair was a relatively unknown folk song until Martin Carthy revived it in the early 1960s. Martin's version of the song is based loosely on one collected in the town of Whitby by Frank Kitson in the late 19th century — although the song is clearly more ancient than that. The actual fair mentioned in the song was held annually from 1253 to 1788. It lasted 45 days, started every August 15th, and was a popular gathering in Medieval times, attracting traders and entertainers from all over the country.
The refrain — ‘parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme’ — is thought to be the remnant of a late Medieval spell or charm, although there is much debate over the exact significance of the words. Some scholars say the herbs symbolise true love, while others say they were to ward off the evil eye, or that they represent the ingredients of a herbal contraceptive!
Martin taught his version of the song to Paul Simon who added his own musical ideas and released it as a single, which became an international hit after it was featured on the soundtrack of The Graduate, starring Dustin Hoffman, in 1968. It is now one of the best-known of all English folk songs.
Martin’s arrangement of the song is an interesting example of a polymetre. The vocal melody is played in 3/4, while the guitar accompaniment is in 6/8.
Lyrics
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For once she was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seam nor needlework
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strand
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to plough it with a lamb's horn
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And to sow it all o'er with one peppercorn
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 to thrash it all out with a bunch of heather
And then she'll be a true love of mine
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
For once she was a true love of mine
