About the Song

“Scarborough Fair / Canticle” is Simon & Garfunkel’s haunting rendition of a traditional English folk song intertwined with a counterpoint melody penned by Paul Simon. Released on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, the track combines historical roots with modern poetic commentary, making it one of the duo’s most iconic works.

The Traditional Ballad
The song’s origins trace back to Medieval England, celebrating the Scarborough Fair, a bustling 45-day trading event that began every August 15th in Scarborough, a coastal town in England. It attracted merchants and entertainers from all over, becoming a cultural hub of its time. Over centuries, the song evolved into a folk standard, passed down orally and in various forms. Its lyrics tell the tale of a former lover setting impossible tasks for reconciliation, often interpreted as a lament for unfulfilled love.

Paul Simon’s Introduction to the Song
Paul Simon first encountered Scarborough Fair in the early 1960s while on tour in England. He heard a version by Martin Carthy, a prominent English folk singer. Inspired by Carthy’s arrangement, Simon adapted the melody and included it in the duo’s repertoire. However, Carthy accused Simon of borrowing his arrangement without proper credit. This misunderstanding strained their relationship until 2000, when Simon invited Carthy to perform the song with him in London.

The Arrangement
Simon & Garfunkel elevated the traditional ballad by layering it with a counter-melody, Canticle, which features lyrics from Simon’s earlier anti-war song The Side of a Hill. The juxtaposition of the two melodies creates a striking contrast: the timeless, melancholic love story of Scarborough Fair against the modern, somber themes of war and loss.

Production and Legacy
Produced by Simon and Art Garfunkel with Roy Halee, the track features ethereal harmonies and a delicate, almost otherworldly instrumental arrangement. It became a signature piece for the duo, further popularized by its inclusion in the 1967 film The Graduate

Controversy and Resolution
Years later, Simon acknowledged his mistake in not crediting Carthy’s arrangement and reached a financial settlement. Despite this, Carthy reportedly received none of the funds due to issues with his publisher.

Cultural Impact
“Scarborough Fair / Canticle” remains a staple of folk music, admired for its blend of ancient tradition and contemporary artistry. It stands as a testament to Simon & Garfunkel’s ability to reinterpret classic material with depth and innovation.

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 (deep forest green)
Parsley sage rosemary and thyme
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 (a sprinkling of leaves)
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (washes the grave with silvery tears)
Between the salt water and the sea strand (A soldier cleans and polishes a gun)
She’ll be a true love of mine

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Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather (War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions)
Parsley sage rosemary and thyme (General 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