Current 93 - Tamlin

Lady margaret, lady margaret
was sowing at the sea
she's all dressed in black
and a thought came in her head to roam in the woods
to pull flowers to flower her hat, my boys
to pull flowers to flower her hat
so she hoisted up her petticoats a bit above the knee
and so nimbly she ran over the ground
and when she came to the merrygreen woods
she pulled those branches down, my boys
she pulled those branches down

Suddenly she spied a fine young man
he's standing by a tree
he says how dare you pull those branches down?
without the leave of me, my dear
without the leave of me
well she says this little wood it is my very own
my father gave it to me
i can pull these branches down without the leave of thee, young man
oh without the leave of thee
and he took a by the milk-white hand
and by the grass-green sleeve
he pulled her down at the foot of the bush
he never once asked her leave, my boys
oh he never once asked her leave
and when it was down she twisted about
to ask her true love's name
but she nothing saw
she nothing heard
and all the woods grew dim
and all the woods grew dim

There's four and twenty ladies all in the land
and they're all playing a chess
except it was the lady margaret
and she's green as any glass, my boys
oh she's green as any glass
and these four-and-twenty ladies all in the land
grow as red any rose
except the lady margaret she's pale and wan, my boys
oh pale and wan she goes
up then spoke the little serving girl
she lifted her hand and smiled
she said i think my lady's loved too long
and now she goes with child, my dears
oh and now she goes with child
up then spoke the second serving girl
oh ever and alas says she
that i think i know a herb in the merry green wood
that'll twine thy baby from thee
it'll rip off thy babe from thee

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Current
• 93
• Tamlin
• Apocalyptic
• folk

[rawtofu]

what album is this off of?

[Oroboros525]

You can find this song with "How great satanic glory faded" in the EP called Tamlin on Coptic Cat site ! : )

[rosasomniferum]

Did Tibet compose these lyrics? I recognise some of the content from traditional song, but not all.

[Oroboros525]

When I hear this song I think there is a traditionnal "sound".

[Oroboros525]

This painting is called "Lady Margaret Scott" painted by Ellis William Roberts (1860 -1930).

[Oroboros525]

I just wanted to represent Lady Margaret as i imagine her. Dress in black with a hat. And a white skin, so romantic...

[Svarogarn666]

Maybe the best song ever sung by David Tibet, revealing his obsession concerning the fight between the fairies' vanishing world, and the crescent christian one. I think the picture does not fit with the subject : whereas Tibet uses archaic terms, this picture seems to have been painted during XIXth century. And why does this piece of art stand so far behind tunes that are not worth being heard ???

[Sheecreature]

this is by far the best version i've ever heard of this old song.

[shithard]

@rawtofu SixSixSix: SickSickSick

[FirstfromtheRiver]

A truly beautiful work.

[Joysquigglesparkles]

@Oroboros525 Thank you for this share  -- Perfect for this time of year.

[InitiumThoth]

@rosasomniferum This is a traditional song. Though this version's variations on lyrics are IMO better than most.  Not to mention Mr. Tibet's unique touch. Fairport Convention's version is also good.

[ubbuu]

amazing lyrics of love

[WolfeBear]

Hello! Is this another version of the tale of Tam Lynn? I've never heard this. The first time I heard the other tale someone had sent it to me on a cd; I loved it so well I played i til it scratched and was unplayable. Yes; I should have burned it on puter, but didn't think of it. Someone with a fine Scottish Brough spoke the tale with good Faerie timed music of the same title. Had to do with the Dark Faerie Queen and getting Tam back to his human love.

[WolfeBear]

Hello! Is this another version of the tale of Tam Lynn? I've never heard this. The first time I heard the other tale someone had sent it to me on a cd; I loved it so well I played i til it scratched and was unplayable. Yes; I should have burned it on puter, but didn't think of it. Someone with a fine Scotish Brough spoke the tale with good Faerie timed music of the same title.

[GUSTAVnordwiking]

VERY BEAUTIFUL

[Z0mb1e3lv1s]

'There's four and twenty ladies all in the land' 420? Can this be..?