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