Scarborough Fair
A Tapestry of Love: Unraveling the Meaning Behind Scarborough Fair
Lyrics
Have you been to Scarborough fair
Asking if the person has visited Scarborough Fair.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
List of herbs: Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Remember me to one that lives there
Instructing to convey greetings to someone living in Scarborough.
For once she once was a true lover of mine.
Recalling that she was once a true lover.
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Instructing to make a cambric shirt.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Repeating the list of herbs: Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
One with no seams, of fine needlework
Describing the shirt as seamless and finely crafted.
And then she'll be a true lover of mine.
Expecting that after making the shirt, she'll be a true lover.
Tell her to dry it 'pon yonder thorn
Instructing to dry the shirt on a thorn.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Repeating the list of herbs: Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
That never bore fruit since Adam was born
Choosing a thorn that has never borne fruit, symbolizing rarity.
And then she'll be a true lover of mine.
Anticipating that after this task, she'll be a true lover.
Ah, can you find me an acre of land
Asking if an acre of land can be found.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Repeating the list of herbs: Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Between the salt sea and the sea sand
Specifying the land's location between the salt sea and sea sand.
Or never be a true lover of mine.
Stating conditions for being a true lover.
And can you plough it with a sheep's horn
Asking if the land can be ploughed with a sheep's horn.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Repeating the list of herbs: Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
And sow it all over with one peppercorn
Instructing to sow the land with one peppercorn.
Or never be a true lover of mine.
Setting another condition for being a true lover.
And when you have done and finished your work
Asking to come back after completing the tasks.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Repeating the list of herbs: Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Then come to me for your cambric shirt
Requesting the completion of the cambric shirt.
And then you'll be a true lover of mine.
Expecting that after all is done, the person will be a true lover.
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