refrain: 
I forbid ye maidens all 
who let fly your lovely hair 
to go down to Carterhaugh 
for young Tam Lin is there 

Janet tied her kirtle green 
above her knee and not below 
and she's gone to carterhaugh 
just as fast as she can go 

 [bad word] to the roses growing wild 
she's pulled a single one 
when a wild young man appears 
and cries 'O, lady, let alone! 

'How dare you pull my roses out, 
How dare you break my tree 
How dare [bad word] in these green woods 
Without asking leave of me?' 

Says Janet fair 'this wood's my own 
My father gave it me 
And I can pluck myself a rose 
Without asking leave of thee.' 

Bold as brass, he takes her hand 
and color rises to her skin 
She looks the young man in the eye 
and knows him now for young Tam Lin. 

**refrain** 

Janet holds her petticoats 
well above her dirty knee 
and she's gone to her father's hall 
just as fast as she can hie. 

All the ladies of the court 
at their play turn red as rose 
except for Janet, fainting fast, 
green as growing grass she goes 

Out then speaks her father dear, 
doting, caring, meek and mild. 
'Janet, darling daughter mine, 
I fear you go with child.' 

'Father, if I be with child, 
be sure myself shall bear the blame. 
There's not a knight within your hall 
shall get the baby's name. 
Father, if I be with child, 
'twill prove a wondrous birth 
for well I swear it's not the get 
of any mortal man on earth.' 

**refrain** 

Janet's tied her kirtle green 
When near nine months are gone 
And she's away to Carterhaugh, 
To speak with young Tam Lin. 

But young Tam Lin will not be found 
and Janet's in despair 
to the forest floor she falls 
and swift her lover catches her 

Janet asks 'Tam Lin, my love, 
why is it in these woods you hide?' 
'The queen of faeries stole me hence, 
alas, when I was but a child. 

'My lordly sire was a skillful man 
and hunting he loved well 
but I was prey for the faerie Queen 
when from my horse I fell. 

'Ever since, in yon green hill, 
with the Queen I'm bound to dwell 
I'd never tire of living there 
for Faerie does me well 

'But at the end of seven years, 
the queen doth pay a tithe to [bad word] 
I am so fair and full of flesh, 
I fear 'twill be myself.' 

**refrain** 

Tonight's the night of Halloween, 
and the fairy court will ride; 
And she that would her [bad word] love win 
at Miles Cross must bide. 

'But how shall I thee ken, Tam-lin? 
Or how shall I thee know? 
Amang a troupe of faerie knights, 
The like I never saw?' 

'First let pass the horses black 
then let pass the brown  [bad word] ye to the milk white steed 
and pull that rider down. 

'They will change me in your arms 
into a deadly adder 
but hold me fast and fear me not 
I am the baby's father 

'They will change me in your arms 
into a bear or lion bold 
but hold me fast and fear me not 
I am the father of your child 

'At last they'll change me in your arms 
into a naked knight. 
Then cast your mantle over me 
and keep me out of sight.' 

**refrain** 

Gloomy, gloomy, was the night, 
And eery was the way, 
As Janet in her mantle green 
To Miles Cross did hie. 

The heavens dressed in baleful black 
and all was silent as the grave, 
But Janet waited in the dark 
Her own [bad word] love to save. 

Betwixt the hour of twelve and one, 
the north wind blew and tore and rent 
she heard the elfin bridles ring 
upon the wind where e'er it went 

Janet stood, with mind unmoved, 
The gloomy heath upon, 
And louder, louder rang the bells, 
As the fairy court came riding on.