263. Scarborough Fair (Child 2) - (Traditional)

There is little left of the original story of this ballad, the second in Francis James Child's collection. In an earlier version, "The Elfin Knight", the reason for making the impossible demands is so that the maiden won't have to marry the Elf who is wooing her. All we have now is the list of impossible tasks.

The song is well-known because it was popularised by Simon and Garfunkel who used it in their soundtrack for the film, "The Graduate".

It was also the inspiration for Dylan's song "Girl from the North Country".

You can watch a playlist of my renditions of the Child ballads here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B2D0D5657EA394E4

For lyrics and chords of my songs, please go to my website: http://www.raymondcrooke.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• song
• ballad
• love
• impossible
• tasks
• simon
• garfunkel
• dylan
• patricegoyaud

[WocketInMyPocket7]

Ive been playing this song intumentally for a long time, never knew there were words..! Amazing

[raymondcrooke]

@WocketInMyPocket7 I first heard it sung by Simon and Garfunkel in the movie "The Graduate". It was quite a popular song at that time thanks to them.

[ShayLee0501]

Very interesting introduction! I didn't know all that. I always thought it was a bittersweet sort of post breakup song, like a guy asks a girl to do something impossible and she returns the request tenfold, but both were motivated by spite tinged with affection... both knowing that they love each other but could never live with each other (like many couples today).

[raymondcrooke]

@ShayLee0501 That's probably too modern an interpretation.

[jhssuthrnmama]

I'm been distracting myself with your Child ballads this afternoon - amazing! I never heard of them before, but am always so fascinated to see how my Southern American culture (what's left of it) came from its Scots-Irish origins. Our soft r's & use of "yonder," clogging and fiddling, and now, these ballads... Do you know if there is any way to get an offline recording of at least some of them? I'd love to learn & sing these for my children, English or American versions either one.

[raymondcrooke]

@jhssuthrnmama There are many recordings of the Child ballads. Ewan MacColl recorded hundreds of them, as did John Jacob Niles in the USA. Joan Baez did several in her early recordings. You can probably find renditions you like by a bit of googling or try a specialist folk song record shop. They are certainly worth looking for.

[ShayLee0501]

@raymondcrooke I'm sure you're right. I think it comes from the fact I was originally taught a different or incorrect version in my primary school choir. From memory it was originally only the one request made by the man. That was to make him a shirt with no seams (which could be done through clever use of a loom, perhaps circular? haha) & then it was the girl who replied to the man with all the requests about plowing an acre of land 'between the sea foam & sea sand) with a sheep's horn etc.

[raymondcrooke]

@sublimeruca27 Thanks again.

[sublimeruca27]

@raymondcrooke amen to this =)

[sublimeruca27]

One of my favorite songs and as always you do a fantastic job singing it! True bard material.