Tam Lin (Child 39)

Tam Lin (Child 39) - Anaïs Mitchell/Jefferson Hamer

Janet sits in her lonely room

Sewing a silken seam

And looking out on Carterhaugh

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