About the song
Simon & Garfunkel’s rendition of “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” is a hauntingly beautiful adaptation of a traditional English folk song that showcases their distinctive harmonies and artistic depth. Originally, “Scarborough Fair” dates back to medieval England as a ballad about a young man issuing a series of impossible challenges to his former lover.
Paul Simon’s arrangement of “Scarborough Fair” intertwined it with “Canticle,” his own composition, which added a counterpoint reflecting the tumultuous social issues of the 1960s, such as civil rights and the Vietnam War. The song was included on their 1966 album “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,” which encapsulated the duo’s exploration of folk music intertwined with contemporary themes.
“Scarborough Fair/Canticle” became a hallmark of Simon & Garfunkel’s repertoire, blending intricate guitar work with their trademark vocal harmonies. The song’s ethereal quality and timeless melody resonated with audiences, leading to its enduring popularity.
Upon its release, “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” received widespread acclaim and reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Its success solidified Simon & Garfunkel’s status as leading figures in the folk rock movement of the 1960s.
The song’s lyrics, with their haunting imagery and melancholic undertones, evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing, capturing the essence of both traditional folk storytelling and contemporary introspection. Its inclusion in various films, television shows, and cultural references over the years further underscores its lasting impact on popular culture.
Simon & Garfunkel’s interpretation of “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” continues to be celebrated for its artistic innovation and emotional depth, showcasing their ability to reinterpret traditional folk music for a modern audience. Its enduring appeal speaks to the universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, making it a timeless classic in the annals of music history.
Video
Lyrics
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
(On the side of a hill, in the deep forest green)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested ground)
Without no seams nor needle work
(Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain)
Then she’ll be a true love of mine
(Sleeps unaware of the clarion call)
Tell her to find me an acre of land
(On the side of a hill, a sprinkling of leaves)
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
(Washes the grave with silvery tears)
Between the salt water and the sea strands
(A soldier cleans and polishes a gun)
Then she’ll be a true love of mine
Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather
(War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Generals order their soldiers to kill)
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
(And to fight for a cause they’ve long ago forgotten)
Then she’ll be a true love of mine
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine