"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."
[Instrumental Interlude]
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."
[Instrumental Interlude]
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 Faeries caught me when from my horse I fell."
"And at the end of seven years she pays a t**he to hell.
I so fair and full of flesh and feared it be myself."
"But tonight is Hallowe'en and the faery folk ride.
Those that would their true love win at Miles Cross they must bide."
"So first let past the horses black and then let past the brown.
Quickly run to the white steed and pull the rider down."
"For I'll ride on the white steed, 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."
[Instrumental Interlude]
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 Faery Queen, an angry queen was she,
"Woe betide her ill-fard 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."
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."
[Instrumental Interlude]
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."
[Instrumental Interlude]
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 Faeries caught me when from my horse I fell."
"And at the end of seven years she pays a t**he to hell.
I so fair and full of flesh and feared it be myself."
"But tonight is Hallowe'en and the faery folk ride.
Those that would their true love win at Miles Cross they must bide."
"So first let past the horses black and then let past the brown.
Quickly run to the white steed and pull the rider down."
"For I'll ride on the white steed, 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."
[Instrumental Interlude]
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 Faery Queen, an angry queen was she,
"Woe betide her ill-fard 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."