Ancient English ballad,perhaps of Scottish origin but widespread in numerous versions throughout the British Isles, also present in the Child collection. It was reworked by Paul Simon in a version known all over the world, especially through the soundtrack of the film "The Graduate", with the addition of some verses of a pacifist nature under the title of "Canticle". For an in-depth analysis of its origins and its transformation over time, we recommend the appropriate page on the site of "Canzoni contro laguerra / Antiwar songs", as well as information on wikipedia. Only Simon and Garfunkel's version is published here.

Antica ballata inglese, forse di origine scozzese ma diffusa in numerose versioni in tutte le isole britanniche, presente anche nella raccolta del Child. E’ stata rielaborata da Paul Simon in una versione conosciuta in tutto il mondo , soprattutto attraverso la colonna sonora del film “Il laureato”, con l’aggiunta di alcuni versi di natura pacifista sotto il titolo di “Canticle”. Per un approfondimento delle origini e della sua trasformazione nel tempo si raccomanda l’apposita pagina nel sito di “Canzoni contro la guerra/ Antiwar songs”, oltre alle informazioni in wikipedia. Qui è pubblicata solo la versione di Simon e Garfunkel.

Information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough_Fair_(ballad)

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough_Fair_(brano_musicale)

https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?lang=it&id=1076

Scarborough Fair/Canticle

Simon & Garfunkel

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 (in the deep forest green)

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

(Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested ground)

Without no seams nor needle work

(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 strands

(And polishes a gun)

Then she'll be a true love of mine

Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather

(Blazing in scarlet battalions)

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

(Generals order their soldiers to kill)

And gather it all in a bunch of heather

(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

A1. SCARBOROUGH FAIR

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme

Remember me to one who lives there,

She once was a true love of mine.

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt

Parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme

Without no seams nor needlework,

Then she'll be a true love of mine.

Tell her to find me an acre of land

Parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme

Between the salt water and the sea strand,

Then she'll be a true love of mine.

Tell her to reap it in a sickle of leather

Parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme

And to gather it all in a bunch of heather,

Then she'll be a true love of mine.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme

Remember me to one who lives there,

She once was a true love of mine.

2. CANTICLE

On the side of a hill in the deep forest green

Tracing a sparrow on snow-crested ground

Blankets and bedclothes a child of the mountains

Sleeps unaware of the clarion call

On the side of a hill, a sprinkling of leaves

Washed is the ground with so many tears

A soldier cleans and polishes a gun

War bellows, blazing in scarlet battalions

Generals order their soldiers to kill

And to fight for a cause they've long ago forgotten.