TAMLIN
Oh, I forbid you maidens all
That wear gold in your hair
To come or go by Cartershay
For young Tamlin is there, my love
For young Tamlin is there
There's none that go by Cartershay
But they leave him a wad
Either their rings or their green mantles
Or else their maidenheads
May Margery sat in her castle tower
Sewing her silken seam
She looked from out her high window
And she saw the leaves growing green
She's let the seams drop to her foot
The needle to her toe
And she's away to Cartershay
As fast as she can go
She had not pulled a red, red rose
A rose but barely three
When up there started young Tamlin
Says, Let the roses be
Why pulls thou the rose, Margaret?
And why breakest thou the wand?
And why comes thou to Cartershay
Withouten my command?
Cartershay it is my own;
My father gave it me
And I will go to Cartershay
And ask no leave of thee
He's taken her by the milk-white hand
Among the leaves so green
And what they did I cannot say
The green leaves were between
Now since you've had your will of me
Come tell to me your name
But she nothing heard and nothing saw
And all the woods grew dim
May Margery's kilted her green, green skirt
A little above her knee
And she is to her father's hall
As fast as she can hie
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the ball
And out it's come Lady Margaret
Who was once the flower of all
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the chess
And out it's come Lady Margaret
As green as any glass
Out then spoke her old waiting maid
And she spoke meek and mild
And ever alas, sweet Margaret, she says
I think thou goes with child
Out then spoke an old grey knight
Lay over the castle wall
And ever alas, fair Margaret, for thee
But we'll be blamed for all
Oh hold your tongue, you ill-faced knight
Some ill death may you die
Father my child on whom I will
I'll father none on thee
Out then spoke her old father dear
And he spoke meek and mild
And ever alas, fair Margaret, he says
I think thou goes with child
If that I go with child, Father,
Myself must bear the blame
There's ne'er a lord about your hall
Shall get the baby's name
If my true love were an earthly knight
As he's an elfin grey
I would not give my own true love
For any lord here today
The horse that my true love rides on
Is lighter than the wind
With silver he is shod before
With burning gold behind
Out then spoke her mother dear
And ever alas, said she
I know an herb in the merry green wood
That will scathe thy babe from thee
May Margery's braided her yellow hair
A little above her breast
And she's away to Cartershay
Without a moment's rest
She had not pulled at Cartershay
An herb but barely one
'Till up there started young Tamlin
Says, Leave the herbs alone
Why pulls thou that bitter herb
Among the leaves so green?
And all to kill the bonnie babe
That we got us between
Now tell to me the truth, Tamlin
A truth - we will not lie-
If ever you were a mortal man
And christened the same as me?
Oh, I will tell the truth, Margaret
A truth - I will not lie -
It's truth I've been in holy chapel
And christened as well as thee
But once it fell upon a day
As hunting I did ride
As I rode East and I rode West
Strange chance did me betide
There blew a drowsy, drowsy wind
And sleep upon me fell
The Queen of Fairies she was there
And she took me to herself
And never would I tire, Margaret
In fairyland to dwell
And pleasant is the fairyland
But an eerie tale to tell
For aye, at every seven years
They pay a tithe to Hell
And I'm so fair and full of flesh
I'm feared 'twill be myself
The night is Halloween, Margaret
The morn is Hallowday
The win me, win me, and ye will
For all I know ye may
Just at the mirk and midnight hour
The elfin folk will ride
And they that would their true love win
At Miles Cross, they must bide
But how shall I thee ken, Tamlin
And how shall I thee know?
Among so many unearthly knights
The like I never saw?
Oh, first let by the black, black steed
And then let by the brown
But haste ye to the milk white steed
And pull the rider down
For I'll be on the milk white steed
With a gold star in my crown
Because I was an earthly knight
They gave me that renown
And they will turn me in your arms
Into a beast so wild
But hold me fast and fear me not
I'm the father of your child
And they'll change me in your arms
Into the red hot iron
But hold me fast and fear me not
I'll do you no harm
They'll turn me in your arms, my love
Into an awful snake
But hold me fast and fear me not
For I'm to be your mate
At last they'll turn me in your arms
Into the melting lead
Then throw me into clear well water
And throw me in with speed
And then I'll be your own true love
I'll turn a naked knight
Cover me with your green mantle
And cover me out of sight
My right hand will be gloved, Margaret
My left hand will be bare
Cocked up shall my helmet be
No doubt I shall be there
Gloomy, gloomy was the night
And eerie was the way
When Margaret in her green mantle
To Miles Cross she did gae
About the middle of the night
She heard the bridles ring
Margaret was as glad of that
As any mortal thing
First went by the black, black steed
And then went by the brown
But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed
And pulled the rider down
And thunder rolled across the sky
And the stars they burned like day
And out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
Crying young Tamlin's away
They turned him to a bear so bold
Then to a lion wild
She held him fast and feared him not
He was the father of her child
And then they turned him in her arms
Into iron like hot fire
She held him fast and feared him not
He was her heart's desire
They turned him, changed him in her arms
Into a hissing snake
She held him fast and feared him not
He was to be her mate
At last they turned him in her arms
Into the molten lead
She threw him into clear well water
And threw him in with speed
And then he turned a naked knight
She young Tamlin did win
She covered him with her green mantle
As blithe's a bird in spring
Out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
Out of a bush of broom
She that has gotten young Tamlin
Has gotten a stately groom
Out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
And angry queen was she
Shame betide her ill-starred face
And an ill death may she die
Out then spoke the Queen of Fairies
Out of a bush of rye
She has gotten the fairest knight
In all my company
If what I'd see this night, Tamlin
Last night I'd understood
I'd have torn out thy two grey eyes
And put in two of wood
If what I see this night, Tamlin
Last night I'd only known
I'd have taken out your heart of flesh
Put in a heart of stone
If I'd but half the wit yestereen
That I have bought today
I'd have paid my tithe seven times to Hell
E'er you'd been won away
___________
verses compiled by Michael Cooney from various sources. Sung by
Michael Cooney, Frankie Armstrong ("Here's a health to man and
maid"), Ann Briggs, etc.
Child #39
Tamlin Video (MV)
Unknown - Tamlin Lyrics
We currently do not have these lyrics.
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We currently do not have these lyrics.
If you would like to submit them, please use the form below.
TAMLIN
Oh, I forbid you maidens all
That wear gold in your hair
To come or go by Cartershay
For young Tamlin is there, my love
For young Tamlin is there
There's none that go by Cartershay
But they leave him a wad
Either their rings or their green mantles
Or else their maidenheads
May Margery sat in her castle tower
Sewing her silken seam
She looked from out her high window
And she saw the leaves growing green
She's let the seams drop to her foot
The needle to her toe
And she's away to Cartershay
As fast as she can go
She had not pulled a red, red rose
A rose but barely three
When up there started young Tamlin
Says, Let the roses be
Why pulls thou the rose, Margaret?
And why breakest thou the wand?
And why comes thou to Cartershay
Withouten my command?
Cartershay it is my own;
My father gave it me
And I will go to Cartershay
And ask no leave of thee
He's taken her by the milk-white hand
Among the leaves so green
And what they did I cannot say
The green leaves were between
Now since you've had your will of me
Come tell to me your name
But she nothing heard and nothing saw
And all the woods grew dim
May Margery's kilted her green, green skirt
A little above her knee
And she is to her father's hall
As fast as she can hie
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the ball
And out it's come Lady Margaret
Who was once the flower of all
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the chess
And out it's come Lady Margaret
As green as any glass
Out then spoke her old waiting maid
And she spoke meek and mild
And ever alas, sweet Margaret, she says
I think thou goes with child
Out then spoke an old grey knight
Lay over the castle wall
And ever alas, fair Margaret, for thee
But we'll be blamed for all
Oh hold your tongue, you ill-faced knight
Some ill death may you die
Father my child on whom I will
I'll father none on thee
Out then spoke her old father dear
And he spoke meek and mild
And ever alas, fair Margaret, he says
I think thou goes with child
If that I go with child, Father,
Myself must bear the blame
There's ne'er a lord about your hall
Shall get the baby's name
If my true love were an earthly knight
As he's an elfin grey
I would not give my own true love
For any lord here today
The horse that my true love rides on
Is lighter than the wind
With silver he is shod before
With burning gold behind
Out then spoke her mother dear
And ever alas, said she
I know an herb in the merry green wood
That will scathe thy babe from thee
May Margery's braided her yellow hair
A little above her breast
And she's away to Cartershay
Without a moment's rest
She had not pulled at Cartershay
An herb but barely one
'Till up there started young Tamlin
Says, Leave the herbs alone
Why pulls thou that bitter herb
Among the leaves so green?
And all to kill the bonnie babe
That we got us between
Now tell to me the truth, Tamlin
A truth - we will not lie-
If ever you were a mortal man
And christened the same as me?
Oh, I will tell the truth, Margaret
A truth - I will not lie -
It's truth I've been in holy chapel
And christened as well as thee
But once it fell upon a day
As hunting I did ride
As I rode East and I rode West
Strange chance did me betide
There blew a drowsy, drowsy wind
And sleep upon me fell
The Queen of Fairies she was there
And she took me to herself
And never would I tire, Margaret
In fairyland to dwell
And pleasant is the fairyland
But an eerie tale to tell
For aye, at every seven years
They pay a tithe to Hell
And I'm so fair and full of flesh
I'm feared 'twill be myself
The night is Halloween, Margaret
The morn is Hallowday
The win me, win me, and ye will
For all I know ye may
Just at the mirk and midnight hour
The elfin folk will ride
And they that would their true love win
At Miles Cross, they must bide
But how shall I thee ken, Tamlin
And how shall I thee know?
Among so many unearthly knights
The like I never saw?
Oh, first let by the black, black steed
And then let by the brown
But haste ye to the milk white steed
And pull the rider down
For I'll be on the milk white steed
With a gold star in my crown
Because I was an earthly knight
They gave me that renown
And they will turn me in your arms
Into a beast so wild
But hold me fast and fear me not
I'm the father of your child
And they'll change me in your arms
Into the red hot iron
But hold me fast and fear me not
I'll do you no harm
They'll turn me in your arms, my love
Into an awful snake
But hold me fast and fear me not
For I'm to be your mate
At last they'll turn me in your arms
Into the melting lead
Then throw me into clear well water
And throw me in with speed
And then I'll be your own true love
I'll turn a naked knight
Cover me with your green mantle
And cover me out of sight
My right hand will be gloved, Margaret
My left hand will be bare
Cocked up shall my helmet be
No doubt I shall be there
Gloomy, gloomy was the night
And eerie was the way
When Margaret in her green mantle
To Miles Cross she did gae
About the middle of the night
She heard the bridles ring
Margaret was as glad of that
As any mortal thing
First went by the black, black steed
And then went by the brown
But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed
And pulled the rider down
And thunder rolled across the sky
And the stars they burned like day
And out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
Crying young Tamlin's away
They turned him to a bear so bold
Then to a lion wild
She held him fast and feared him not
He was the father of her child
And then they turned him in her arms
Into iron like hot fire
She held him fast and feared him not
He was her heart's desire
They turned him, changed him in her arms
Into a hissing snake
She held him fast and feared him not
He was to be her mate
At last they turned him in her arms
Into the molten lead
She threw him into clear well water
And threw him in with speed
And then he turned a naked knight
She young Tamlin did win
She covered him with her green mantle
As blithe's a bird in spring
Out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
Out of a bush of broom
She that has gotten young Tamlin
Has gotten a stately groom
Out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
And angry queen was she
Shame betide her ill-starred face
And an ill death may she die
Out then spoke the Queen of Fairies
Out of a bush of rye
She has gotten the fairest knight
In all my company
If what I'd see this night, Tamlin
Last night I'd understood
I'd have torn out thy two grey eyes
And put in two of wood
If what I see this night, Tamlin
Last night I'd only known
I'd have taken out your heart of flesh
Put in a heart of stone
If I'd but half the wit yestereen
That I have bought today
I'd have paid my tithe seven times to Hell
E'er you'd been won away
___________
verses compiled by Michael Cooney from various sources. Sung by
Michael Cooney, Frankie Armstrong ("Here's a health to man and
maid"), Ann Briggs, etc.
Child #39
Oh, I forbid you maidens all
That wear gold in your hair
To come or go by Cartershay
For young Tamlin is there, my love
For young Tamlin is there
There's none that go by Cartershay
But they leave him a wad
Either their rings or their green mantles
Or else their maidenheads
May Margery sat in her castle tower
Sewing her silken seam
She looked from out her high window
And she saw the leaves growing green
She's let the seams drop to her foot
The needle to her toe
And she's away to Cartershay
As fast as she can go
She had not pulled a red, red rose
A rose but barely three
When up there started young Tamlin
Says, Let the roses be
Why pulls thou the rose, Margaret?
And why breakest thou the wand?
And why comes thou to Cartershay
Withouten my command?
Cartershay it is my own;
My father gave it me
And I will go to Cartershay
And ask no leave of thee
He's taken her by the milk-white hand
Among the leaves so green
And what they did I cannot say
The green leaves were between
Now since you've had your will of me
Come tell to me your name
But she nothing heard and nothing saw
And all the woods grew dim
May Margery's kilted her green, green skirt
A little above her knee
And she is to her father's hall
As fast as she can hie
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the ball
And out it's come Lady Margaret
Who was once the flower of all
Four and twenty ladies fair
Were playing at the chess
And out it's come Lady Margaret
As green as any glass
Out then spoke her old waiting maid
And she spoke meek and mild
And ever alas, sweet Margaret, she says
I think thou goes with child
Out then spoke an old grey knight
Lay over the castle wall
And ever alas, fair Margaret, for thee
But we'll be blamed for all
Oh hold your tongue, you ill-faced knight
Some ill death may you die
Father my child on whom I will
I'll father none on thee
Out then spoke her old father dear
And he spoke meek and mild
And ever alas, fair Margaret, he says
I think thou goes with child
If that I go with child, Father,
Myself must bear the blame
There's ne'er a lord about your hall
Shall get the baby's name
If my true love were an earthly knight
As he's an elfin grey
I would not give my own true love
For any lord here today
The horse that my true love rides on
Is lighter than the wind
With silver he is shod before
With burning gold behind
Out then spoke her mother dear
And ever alas, said she
I know an herb in the merry green wood
That will scathe thy babe from thee
May Margery's braided her yellow hair
A little above her breast
And she's away to Cartershay
Without a moment's rest
She had not pulled at Cartershay
An herb but barely one
'Till up there started young Tamlin
Says, Leave the herbs alone
Why pulls thou that bitter herb
Among the leaves so green?
And all to kill the bonnie babe
That we got us between
Now tell to me the truth, Tamlin
A truth - we will not lie-
If ever you were a mortal man
And christened the same as me?
Oh, I will tell the truth, Margaret
A truth - I will not lie -
It's truth I've been in holy chapel
And christened as well as thee
But once it fell upon a day
As hunting I did ride
As I rode East and I rode West
Strange chance did me betide
There blew a drowsy, drowsy wind
And sleep upon me fell
The Queen of Fairies she was there
And she took me to herself
And never would I tire, Margaret
In fairyland to dwell
And pleasant is the fairyland
But an eerie tale to tell
For aye, at every seven years
They pay a tithe to Hell
And I'm so fair and full of flesh
I'm feared 'twill be myself
The night is Halloween, Margaret
The morn is Hallowday
The win me, win me, and ye will
For all I know ye may
Just at the mirk and midnight hour
The elfin folk will ride
And they that would their true love win
At Miles Cross, they must bide
But how shall I thee ken, Tamlin
And how shall I thee know?
Among so many unearthly knights
The like I never saw?
Oh, first let by the black, black steed
And then let by the brown
But haste ye to the milk white steed
And pull the rider down
For I'll be on the milk white steed
With a gold star in my crown
Because I was an earthly knight
They gave me that renown
And they will turn me in your arms
Into a beast so wild
But hold me fast and fear me not
I'm the father of your child
And they'll change me in your arms
Into the red hot iron
But hold me fast and fear me not
I'll do you no harm
They'll turn me in your arms, my love
Into an awful snake
But hold me fast and fear me not
For I'm to be your mate
At last they'll turn me in your arms
Into the melting lead
Then throw me into clear well water
And throw me in with speed
And then I'll be your own true love
I'll turn a naked knight
Cover me with your green mantle
And cover me out of sight
My right hand will be gloved, Margaret
My left hand will be bare
Cocked up shall my helmet be
No doubt I shall be there
Gloomy, gloomy was the night
And eerie was the way
When Margaret in her green mantle
To Miles Cross she did gae
About the middle of the night
She heard the bridles ring
Margaret was as glad of that
As any mortal thing
First went by the black, black steed
And then went by the brown
But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed
And pulled the rider down
And thunder rolled across the sky
And the stars they burned like day
And out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
Crying young Tamlin's away
They turned him to a bear so bold
Then to a lion wild
She held him fast and feared him not
He was the father of her child
And then they turned him in her arms
Into iron like hot fire
She held him fast and feared him not
He was her heart's desire
They turned him, changed him in her arms
Into a hissing snake
She held him fast and feared him not
He was to be her mate
At last they turned him in her arms
Into the molten lead
She threw him into clear well water
And threw him in with speed
And then he turned a naked knight
She young Tamlin did win
She covered him with her green mantle
As blithe's a bird in spring
Out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
Out of a bush of broom
She that has gotten young Tamlin
Has gotten a stately groom
Out then spoke the Queen of the Fairies
And angry queen was she
Shame betide her ill-starred face
And an ill death may she die
Out then spoke the Queen of Fairies
Out of a bush of rye
She has gotten the fairest knight
In all my company
If what I'd see this night, Tamlin
Last night I'd understood
I'd have torn out thy two grey eyes
And put in two of wood
If what I see this night, Tamlin
Last night I'd only known
I'd have taken out your heart of flesh
Put in a heart of stone
If I'd but half the wit yestereen
That I have bought today
I'd have paid my tithe seven times to Hell
E'er you'd been won away
___________
verses compiled by Michael Cooney from various sources. Sung by
Michael Cooney, Frankie Armstrong ("Here's a health to man and
maid"), Ann Briggs, etc.
Child #39