Artist: Anaïs Mitchell Song: Tam Lin (Child 39) Album: Child Ballads Tabber Email: [email protected] Dm Janet sits in her lonely room F Sewing a silken seam C And looking out on Carterhaugh Bb Am (D) Among the roses green And Janet sits in her lonely bower Sewing a silken thread And longed to be in Carterhaugh Among the roses red She’s let the seam fall at her heel The needle to her toe And she has gone to Carterhaugh As fast as she can go She hadn’t pulled a rose, a rose A rose, but only one When then appeared him, young Tamlin Says, “Lady, let alone” “What makes you pull the rose, the rose? What makes you break the tree? What makes you come to Carterhaugh Without the leave of me?” “But Carterhaugh is not your own Roses there are many I’ll come and go all as I please And not ask leave of any” And he has took her by the hand Took her by the sleeve And he has laid this lady down Among the roses green And he has took her by the arm Took her by the hem And he has laid this lady down Among the roses red There’s four and twenty ladies fair Sewing at the silk And Janet goes among them all Her face as pale as milk And four and twenty gentlemen Playing at the chess And Janet goes among them all As green as any glass Then up and spoke her father He’s spoken meek and mild “Oh, alas, my daughter I fear you go with child” “And is it to a man of might Or to a man of means Or who among my gentlemen Shall give the babe his name?” “Oh, father, if I go with child This much to you I’ll tell There’s none among your gentlemen That I would treat so well” “And, father, if I go with child I must bear the blame There’s none among your gentlemen Shall give the babe his name” She’s let the seam fall at her hell The needle to her toe And she has gone to Carterhaugh As fast as she could go And she is down among the weeds Down among the thorn When then appeared Tamlin again Says, “Lady, pull no more” “What makes you pull the poison rose? What makes you break the tree? What makes you harm the little babe That I have got with thee?” “Oh I will pull the rose, Tamlin I will break the tree But I’ll not bear the little babe That you have got with me” “If he were to a gentleman And not a wild shade I’d rock him all the winter’s night And all the summer’s day" “Then take me back into your arms If you my love would win And hold me tight and fear me not *I’ll be a gentleman” “But first I’ll change all in your arms Into a wild wolf But hold me tight and fear me not I am your own true love” “And then I’ll change all in your arms Into a wild bear But hold me tight and fear me not I am your husband dear” “And then I’ll change all in your arms Into a lion bold But hold me tight and fear me not And you will love your child” At first he changed all in her arms Into a wild wolf She held him tight and feared him not He was her own true love And then he changed all in her arms Into a wild bear She held him tight and feared him not He was her husband dear And then he changed all in her arms Into a lion bold She held him tight and feared him not The father of her child And then he changed all in her arms Into a naked man She’s wrapped him in her coat so warm And she has brought him home
