| Oh, I forbid you maidens all
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| That wear gold in your hair
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| To come or go by Carterhaugh
|
| For young Tam Lin is there
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| If you go by Carterhaugh
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| You must leave him a wad
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| Either your rings or green mantle
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| Or else your maidenhead
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| She’s away o’er gravel green
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| And o’er the gravel brown
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| She’s away to Carterhaugh
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| To flour herself a gown
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| She had not pulled a rosy rose
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| A rose but barely one
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| When by came this brisk young man
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| Says, lady let alone
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| How dare you pull my rose, Madam?
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| How dare you break my tree?
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| How dare you come to Carter Hall
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| Without the leave of me?
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| Well may I pull the rose, she said
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| Well may I break the tree
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| For Carter Haugh it my father’s
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| I’ll ask no leave of thee
|
| Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
|
| Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
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| He’s taken her by the milk-white hand
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| And there he’s laid her down
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| And there he asked no leave of her
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| As she lay on the ground.
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| Oh tell me, tell me, then she said
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| Oh tell me who art thee
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| My name it is Tam Lin, he said
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| And this is my story
|
| As it fell out upon a day
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| A-hunting I did ride
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| There came a wind out of the north
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| And pulled me betide
|
| And drowsy, drowsy as I was
|
| The sleep upon me fell
|
| The Queen of Fairies she was there
|
| And took me to herself
|
| Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
|
| Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
|
| At the end of every seven years
|
| They pay a tithe to Hell
|
| And I’m so fair and full of flesh
|
| I’m feared 'twill be myself
|
| Tonight it is good Hallowe’en
|
| The fairy court will ride
|
| And if you would your true love win
|
| At Miles Cross, you must bide
|
| Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
|
| Oh, in Carterhaugh, in Carterhaugh
|
| Gloomy was the night
|
| And eerie was the way
|
| This lady in her green mantle
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| To Miles Cross she did go
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| With the holy water in her hand
|
| She cast the compass round
|
| At twelve o’clock the fairy court
|
| Came riding o’er the mound
|
| First came by the black steed
|
| And then came by the brown
|
| Then Tam Lin on the milk-white steed
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| With a gold star in his crown
|
| She’s pulled him down into her arms
|
| And let the bridle fall
|
| The Queen of Fairy she cried out
|
| Young Tam Lin is away
|
| They’ve shaped him in her arms
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| Into an roaring snake
|
| She’s held him fast and feared him not
|
| To be her lovely mate
|
| They’ve shaped him in her arms again
|
| Fire burning bold
|
| She’s held him fast and feared him not
|
| Till he was iron cold
|
| They’ve shaped him in her arms
|
| To a wood black beast so wild
|
| She’s held him fast and feared him not
|
| The father of her child
|
| They’ve shaped him in her arms at last
|
| Into a naked man
|
| She’s wrapped him in the green mantle
|
| And knew that she had him won
|
| The Queen of Fairies she cried out
|
| Young Tam Lin is away
|
| Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
|
| Long before, long before you came from home
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| Had I known, I would have taken out your heart
|
| And put in a heart of stone
|
| Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
|
| That a lady, a lady would steal thee
|
| Had I known, I would have taken out your eyes
|
| And put into a rowan tree
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| Had I known, had I known, Tam Lin
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| That I would lose, that I would lose the day
|
| Had I known, I would have paid my tithe to hell
|
| Before you’d been won away |