Tam Lin (Child 39)

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