"Scarborough Fair/Canticle" is a folk song that combines two traditional ballads, "Scarborough Fair" and "Canticle." The song gained popularity when it was recorded and released by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, but the version by Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell is also widely known. The lyrics of "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" tell a story of lost love and the longing to be reunited with a former lover. The narrator is sending a message to someone who lives in Scarborough Fair, asking them to remember the narrator to their ex-lover who was once a true love. The mention of "parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme" in the lyrics is a reference to the traditional herbs and spices often used medicinally or symbolically in folk remedies and rituals. Each herb is associated with certain qualities: parsley represents strength, sage signifies wisdom, rosemary symbolizes love and loyalty, and thyme represents courage and protection. The request for a "cambric shirt" in the lyrics refers to a fine, lightweight fabric traditionally used for high-quality clothing. The narrator asks the person in Scarborough Fair to ask their ex-lover to make them a cambric shirt without any seams or needlework. This could be interpreted as a symbol of the ex-lover's craftsmanship and attention to detail, emphasizing their importance in the narrator's life. Similarly, the request for an "acre of land" suggests a desire for stability and a permanent place in the ex-lover's life. It represents a commitment and a hope for a shared future. The song also mentions various activities such as tracing a sparrow on snow crested ground, washing a grave with silvery tears, a soldier cleaning and polishing a gun, and reaping with a sickle of leather. These activities, along with the reference to a clarion call, evoke imagery of longing, sadness, and the passing of time. Overall, "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" is a poignant tale of lost love and the yearning for a connection that was once strong and meaningful. The combination of traditional folk elements and poetic imagery in the lyrics adds depth to the emotional impact of the song.
