Ballad of Impossible Tasks  
The modern, more recent, version of the ballad called “Scarborough Faire,”  
created by Simon and Garfunkel in 1966, actually had nothing to do with the  
longest held faire in Scarborough in Yorkshire, England. However, I’ve held to the  
theme of a maiden going to a faire carrying her wares of sage, rosemary, and  
thyme which were common herbs sold in the markets and fairs in the 1600s. And,  
I’ve held to the incident where she met with a “bold cavalier” who were known to be  
womanizers.  
In Child’s descriptions, a young maiden was the older, unmarried sister, and she  
desired to be married like her younger sister. When she saw a handsome cavalier,  
she hoped he could be the one, but unfortunately, … he was not.  
She walked the hills and carried her wares,  
Of savory sage, rosemary and thyme.  
‘Twas then that she met the bold cavalier,  
She hoped he could be a true love in time.  
“Oh, Are you going on to the faire?  
And every rose grows fairer with time.  
Oh, think of me from the one who lives there,  
And then you will be a true love of mine.”  
“Oh, Make for me a camb(e)ric shirt.  
You are a rose that blossoms in time.  
Without any seams, nor needle to work,  
And then you will be a true love of mine.”  
“Oh, We will wash it in yonder dry well.  
Oh, savory sage, rosemary and thyme.  
Where no water springs, nor rain ever fell,  
And then you could be a true love of mine.”  
The girl responds ….  
“Oh, Yes, I’m going on to the faire,  
And my … poor heart betrays me this time.  
I’ll do this for you .. If you’ll do these for me,  
And then I will be a true love of thine.”  
“Oh, Please go find me an acre of land.  
Oh, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.  
Between the sea foam and rocky strand,  
And then you will be a true love of mine.”  
“Oh, then go plough it with your own blowin’  
horn.  
Oh, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.  
And then sow it all with one pepper corn,  
And then I will be a true love of thine.”  
“And when you’ve done and finished your work.  
Oh, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.  
Oh, then you may have your camb(e)ric shirt.  
Only then we could be a true love in time.  

< Page 02 ..... Page 03 ..... Page 04 >

 

Make a free website with Yola